931 



MAJOR PROGRAM X: 

 THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT AND TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE RESOURCES 



Water Resources 

 (X.3) 



Assessment/Potential Impacts ^ 



Subprogram X.3, Water Resources, covers implementation of the third 

 phase of the International Hydrological Program (IHP-III) . It is con- 

 cerned with establishing the scientific bases for the rational manage- 

 ment of water resources. Particular attention is being devoted to the 

 problems of arid and semiarid regions and of humid tropical regions. 

 This program is closely related to subprograms X.2 (Natural Hazards), 

 X.5 (Coasts and Islands), and X.6-9 (MAB activities). The annual bud- 

 get for the Water Resources Program (projects and staff costs) plus 

 overhead is about $4.4 million — the U.S. share would be $1.1 million. 

 Restricting attention only to program costs ($2.7 million per year), 

 the U.S. share is about $700,000 per year. Support for program acti- 

 vities from other sources, primarily UNDP, total $2.9 million per year, 

 or somewhat larger than the regular UNESCO program. 



U.S. scientists have played leading roles in the establishment, 

 implementation, and planning of the International Hydrological Program . 

 The program is structured around four major headings: (1) Hydrological 

 Processes and Parameters for Water Projects; (2) Influence of Man on the 

 Hydrological Cycle; (3) Rational Water Resources Assessment and Manage- 

 ment; and (4) Education and Training, Public Information, and Scientific 

 Information Systems. Eighteen themes and a multitude of projects and 

 subprojects engage scientists, technicians, and decision makers in coop- 

 erative national, regional, and multilateral activities directed toward 

 the rational management of water resources. The current phase, IHP-III, 

 is directed toward pragmatic application of water resource management 

 information by users through pilot/demonstration projects. Considerable 

 emphasis is now being devoted to technician-level training to complement 

 university and postgradauate training programs. 



The IHP Program is guided by a 30-member Intergovernmental Council 

 charged with establishing the program, evaluating it, recommending 

 scientific projects, and coordinating international cooperation among 

 member states, inter alia. A bureau of the Council works with the 

 UNESCO Secretariat in ensuring the execution of its program in accor- 

 dance with decisions of the Council. The United States has been 

 represented on the Council and bureau since their formation. National 

 committees in participating member countries form the network for pro- 

 gram coordination and cooperation among projects — it is expected there 

 will be 130 participating national committees in IHP-III by 1985. This 

 shows the extensive multilateral collaboration at the base of the Inter- 

 national Hydrological Program. There is considerable and necessary 

 interaction with the scientific interests of other intergovernmental 

 and nongovernmental organizations. UN specialized agencies involved 

 include FAO, WHO, IAEA, the regional economic commissions and parti- 

 cularly WMO. The. scientific content and significance of IHP program 



