Nature for water
UNITED Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030, and includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. Water is an essential part of life, yet it is now in peril. Twenty-five years ago, countries across the world agreed to learn more about water-related issues, discuss and take action on these issues to make a difference to millions of lives that suffer from lack of clean, potable water. It is observed annually on March 22 to raise awareness about the importance of water and sustainable development. This year’s theme is “Nature for Water,” which emphasizes the potential for nature-based solutions (NbS) to address mounting water-related problems facing the planet. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature developed the nature based solution concept which promotes nature conservation and development, such as introducing agroforestry and restoring wetlands to improve access to food. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources takes the lead in the celebration, looking at the role of nature in addressing the biggest water-related problems in the early 21st century. Although we are surrounded by water that provides us with food and jobs, clean water is still scarce in most places. Davao City sits on a watershed which may no longer be healthy enough to provide for the increasing number of population or to bear the threats that go with development. The Talomo-Lipadas watershed provides 97 percent of our drinking water and is one of the eight watersheds in the city. The non-government organization PCEEM has identified unregulated water extraction, deforestation, land use conflict, improper cultivation of hilly lands, poor waste management, and limited government resources as the water-based issues that we need to respond to the soonest possible time. We still enjoy good quality drinking water but if we are unable to improve our waste water management and check our agro industrial wastes, we will surely be heading towards disaster. Keeping our water safe means taking care of nature. Government takes the lead but all of us should be involved and take part in caring for our precious resource.