N E W S L E T T E R N o 5 O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 2
Dan Claasen chairs GIWA appointed Ambassador
steering group
­ The world's water issues are complex and
marine science institutions in the Middle
Experts from governments and inter-
pressing in many parts of the world and their
East and Southern Africa.
national organisations in twelve differ ent
assessment is urgent.
He took part in the creation of GIWA
countries were assembled when the GIWA
These are words by the newly appointed
and is pleased to see that GIWA is bringing
steering group held its fi fth meeting in
ambassador for GIWA, Professor Emeritus
together the marine, coastal and terrestrial
Kalmar 8­9 October.
Gotthilf Hempel. He represents SCOPE in
the steering group of GIWA and was named
The new chairman for the steering group Dan
Ambassador at the fi fth steering group
Claasen from Environmental Information
meeting in Kalmar on October 8­9.
Assessment and Early Warning, UNEP, led
As ambassador professor Hempel will
discussions on a number of issues, ranging
assist in the process of tailoring the GIWA
from the results from the scaling and scoping
assessment and advice, to the needs of
exercise to the format of the fi nal report.
GIWA's implementing agency, of local and
Also new at the steering group meeting
regional administration and of the interested
were Alexei Maximov from GEF in Russia,
part of the public. He will also make an effort
Anders Jägerskog from the Swedish In ter-
to make GIWA better known in the science
national Development Co-operation Agency
community.
and Inesis Kiskis, Lithuania, repre senting the
Professor emeritus Gotthilf Hempel was
World Bank.
born in 1929 in Göttingen, Germany. He
The steering group listened to reports
received his Ph.D. in 1952 in Heidelberg
from the different parts of the GIWA project
and turned from general zoology to marine
and had discussion on the peer review
ecology and fi sheries research. He worked
process. The outline of the global report and
in various marine laboratories in northern
the implementation plan were analysed. The
Europe and North America, and for UNESCO/
steering group expressed satisfaction with
The newly appointed Ambassador for GIWA, professor Gotthilf Hempel.
IOC and FAO until he became full professor
the development of the GIWA project and
in Kiel, Germany. From 1981 to 1997 he
aspects. On the long-run he expects GIWA's
the results obtained.
became the founder of four marine science
contribution to be threefold:
institutes in Germany. Over the years he had
­ GIWA is producing the assessments for
a great number of students from Europe and
all parts of the globe, making full use of
developing countries. He was in charge of
efforts of other agencies and projects, he
many expeditions to all parts
says. It is also establishing a
"I am pleased to see
of the Atlantic. He published
network for monitoring with
that GIWA is bringing
about 250 articles and various
water issues, both marine and
together the marine,
books on fi sheries biology,
freshwater. A third task is to
coastal and terrestrial
marine ecology and science
strengthen the scientifi c,
aspects."
policy.
technical and administrative
Since 40 years Professor Hempel is
capacity to cope with water issues in all parts
engaged in international organisations and
of the world. Training on the job will be an
kept leading positions in ICES, SCOR, IOC
important part of this activity.
IABO, ICSU/IGBP and European Science
­ I myself am particularly interested in
Dag Daler, Scientifi c Director of GIWA, at steering group
Foundation. Since he retired in 2000 he is still
scientifi c capacity building, says Ambassador
discussions with Salif Diop from DEWA and Chairman
Dan Claasen, UNEP.
busy in fostering partnership projects with
Hempel.

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Dear GIWA friends,
Students take
Snow is falling in Kalmar and winter is
interest in GIWA
here. In this dark time of the year I would
like to enlighten you with a report from
UN Day on October 24 was celebrated also in Kalmar, hometown
the GEF 2nd Biennial IW which took place
of the GIWA headquarters. A GIWA exhibition was presented at the
in Dalian, China, 25 ­ 29 September.
public library, along with local groups working for international
The conference provided an in depth
organizations such as the Red Cross and Amnesty International.
overview of GEF´s involvement in the
International Waters. More than 250
representatives from all the GEF IW projects were present to report
on the status of their projects.
The conference was conducted as plenum sessions and breakout
workshops. The agenda and the conduct of the conference provided
ample time and opportunities to exchange experiences and lessons
learned across projects and geographical areas, but also and not
least to network with others active in the fi eld of environment
and water, to build partnerships and initiate collaborations for the
future.
GIWA was represented by Professor Marcia Marques, the
GIWA Latin American coordinator, and Professor Felix Stolberg,
coordinator for the GIWA work in the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Aral
Sea sub-regions, and myself.
Students in Kalmar take an active interest in the work of the United Nations and GIWA.
Here they are celebrating the UN Day October 24.
On this UN Day a new youth section of the local UN Association
of Sweden was launched. University students have organized this
group in collaboration with two internship students at GIWA,
Raphael Magin and Renato Jose de Queiroz Leite.
Raphael Magin, age 22, is a student in politics and management
at the University of Konstanz in Germany. Renato Leite, age 26, is
studying at the environmental engineering department at Rio de
Janeiro State University in Brasil. Rapahel and Renato are assisting
the GIWA staff on the political analysis process.
Al Duda, GEF Secretariat, Vladimir Mamaev, UNEP/DGEF, and Laurence Mee, Plymouth
Upcoming events...
University, meeting with GIWA coordinators Marcia Marques and Felix Stolberg at
the GIWA exhibition in Dalian.
18-20 November in Mexico: 1st International
Congress of Transboundary Waters.
GIWA presented the status of the project, the global comparative
matrix and the results from the Black Sea and the Latin American
Mid-November in Mombasa, Kenya, and Maputo,
sub-regions. The presentations were given in plenum sessions and
Mocambique: Training in CCA and discussions on
GIWA also presented an exhibition with posters detailing the sub-
scaling/scoping report.
regional work. Great interest was given to the major fi ndings of the
19-21 November in Pretoria, South Africa: EIS-
GIWA indicating that on the global scale, the most severe problems
Africa Meeting (Environmental Information Systems
in the aquatic ecosystems are unsustainable exploitation of fi sheries
Databank)
and habitat destructions in the coastal zone.
16-23 March 2003, in Kyoto, Japan: 3rd World
Good news provided from the conference was also the message
Water Forum
that the replenishment of the GEF now was approved by USA, the
11-14 August 2003: Stockholm Water Symposium
EU and major donor countries. This gives hope and opportunities
for the future.
18-20 August 2003, in Kalmar, Sweden: Joint
GIWA-University of Kalmar Conference on
Dag Daler
Transboundary Waters.
Scientifi c Director
GIWA Co-ordination Office
Web Site: www.giwa.net E-mail: info@giwa.net
Postal Address: Global International Waters Assessment, GIWA
Telephone Secretariat: +46 480 44 73 50
SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
Fax +46 480 44 73 55

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