News


More than 150 participants in the event, Medellin 2012. (Courtesy SDC)

Over the last years, Colombia has seen a rapid increase in awareness and knowledge on water footprint as was very clear at the II International Water Footprint seminar that took place on 29 and 30 October 2012 in Medellin. As supporter of the water footprint Assessment in Porce basin, Good Stuff International presented and participated in the seminar. Colombians are aware that the water footprint can inform water, agricultural and energy policies. And, the general public is clearly more aware of the water “hidden” in the products they consume. GSI sees promising outcomes in the coming years. We will keep on supporting our clients and partners to progress the application of the water footprint to improve water management in Colombia.

Good Stuff International is sincerely happy that the proposal with options for establishing the Lake Victoria Environmental Trust Fund (LVETF) has been approved and endorsed by the LVBC partner states and EAC stakeholders.

 

Good Stuff International has signed a partnership with the Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia in Colombia to provide technical support for the application of the water footprint assessment in the Porce river basin in Colombia. Porce basin is a priority basin in Colombia providing drinking water for the city of Medellin (second largest city in the country) and with perceived anthropic pressure due to the many sectors demanding water from the basin: agriculture, livestock, industrial, domestic, hydropower and mining.

 

Porce basin with the Porce II reservoir. Courtesy of Empresas Públicas de Medellín.

To our knowledge, this is the first time that the water footprint assessment is applied to a river basin in a way that a whole range of stakeholders is participating: public (at the local, departmental and national level), private, academic and international organisations are actively involved. We are sure this project will contribute to the understanding of the potential and challenges of the water footprint assessment as a tool to support water policy, and are very happy to be part of this team. This initiative is part of the SuizAgua Colombia Project from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and counts on financial and technical support from several national and international organisations. Read more about the project in the project summary, and do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to know more.

The city of Medellin seen from the Centro de Ciencia y Tecnología de Antioquia.