Linking Biodiversity and WASH Efforts in Africa
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Social
"Water, poverty, and environment are intrinsically connected," writes Bonnardeaux in the report, and integrated solutions can help manage the freshwater ecosystems people depend on, improving outcomes for conservation, water, and sanitation simultaneously and more cost effectively than individual solutions.
While he highlights several case studies of programs that integrate WASH and biodiversity conservation, including in Madagascar, Tanzania, South Africa, Gambia, and Senegal, Bonnardeaux emphasized that the report was not just about specific examples. Instead, he hoped to highlight commonalities of successful programs.
He found that health programs often have more immediate benefits to community members than those focusing solely on conservation. Joint programs, therefore, can create greater community buy-in, which is vital for environmental preservation. He also encouraged collaborative programs to hire more general staff who can serve both WASH and conservation interests, as too many specialists can keep each sector segregated from the other.
Read more:http://j.mp/SJTYh2