LIVING A GLOBAL NETWORK OF PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE FUTURE U GUIDELINES AND CASE STUDIES FOR IMPROVING MANAGEMENT CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

INTRODUCING LIVING LAKES 2

GETTING STARTED 4

CASE STUDY: LAKE CONSTANCE 6 LIST OF MEMBERS (see map on page 5) CASE STUDY: 8

CASE STUDY: LAKE ST LUCIA 9 Columbia River Wetlands Nestos Lakes

CASE STUDY: LA NAVA 10 Mono Lake USA Wetlands of Larache Morocco

CASE STUDY: COLUMBIA RIVER 12 Lake Chapala Lake Victoria Africa WETLANDS Laguna Fuquene Lake St Lucia

Pantanal Lake Uluabat

WHAT THIS TOOLKIT Mar Chiquita The IS ABOUT The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads England Lake Tengiz

La Nava Lake Baikal Living Lakes is a network of environmental partnership organisations striving for the protection of lakes Lake Constance , Lake Poyang-hu worldwide. The Living Lakes partnership promotes and voluntary international collaboration among organisations Lake Biwa that carry out projects benefiting lakes, people, and Võrtsjärv-Peipsi lake system wildlife. This brochure explains how these partnerships and Russia Laguna de Bay The work in practice and ’s role as global sponsor, and suggests ways for businesses, NGOs and others to work Milicz Ponds . Mahakam Lakes together to promote lake and wetland quality. MESSAGE FROM THE MESSAGE FROM THE UNILEVER CHAIRMEN

understanding and responding to For Unilever, the world wide operating the demands of specific water ‘Global Partner’ of Living Lakes, it is of catchment areas is the basis for this course a daily matter to deal with Living Lakes toolkit. international exchange and co-operation. Through Unilever’s financial support Making partnerships work is not and managerial input we have been always easy, particularly in regions able to further develop the suffering high water stress, where . there are often historically entrenched positions, difficult And Living Lakes is growing. According environmental challenges, and to our long-term strategy, by 2005 the many competing demands for a network will comprise about 40 partner scarce resource. The partner lakes lakes and 50 associated members. It is Antony Burgmans Niall FitzGerald and wetlands of the Living Lakes Networking – an almost magic word important to work across a wide range network differ widely in character these days. We are all part of one of partners. What is still more important, Water is a shared resource and its care requires yet have many management issues in common. network or another. We benefit from however, is the quality of the us all to act responsibly. Unilever is playing its part In five selected case studies we illustrate the networks through making contacts, co-operation. Networks are run by – and wants to do more – to help ensure that in practical partnership approach to the exchanging information and learning organisations with people behind them. the future there is enough clean water to meet all improvement of lake conditions, and show how from others, including perhaps people Living Lakes is a ‘personal’ network based our everyday needs. As part of our approach to Unilever has engaged in different ways in support from quite different backgrounds. on confidence and reliability among the the sustainable use of water, Unilever is the of local projects. We hope this toolkit will partners – this applies to lake partners Global Sponsor of Living Lakes, a network of encourage more lakes and wetlands to adopt When the Global Nature Fund created and business partners alike. Mutual environmental partnerships which has now the Living Lakes approach, and promote new the Living Lakes network in 1998, we respect, reliance, and professionalism are grown to represent internationally important and useful partnerships between businesses, were well aware that the co-ordination of attributes of Living Lakes – for a common lakes and wetlands on five continents. Unilever’s NGOs and local authorities in the conservation such an international network would be vision and future. Water Initiative is one of our three sustainability of water resources. more difficult than one might expect. initiatives, the other two being Agriculture An effective exchange of information and and Fisheries. experience requires well-functioning structures and available resources – Working with a wide range of partners, otherwise the expected results and Unilever and an international panel of water synergies do not come off. The network experts developed SWIM, a practical has been growing continuously during management tool to help focus effectively the past five years, and we have learned on sustainable local water management a great deal – thanks to our well-versed projects of all sizes. The structured SWIM partner organisations of the lake regions (Sustainable Water and Integrated Antony Burgmans Niall FitzGerald throughout the world, and thanks to the Marion Hammerl catchment Management) approach to Chairmen of Unilever support of Unilever. President, The Global Nature Fund

1 INTRODUCING LIVING LAKES

Living Lakes is a global network of environmental partnership organisations striving for the protection of lakes worldwide. Conservationists at 23 member lakes on five continents are committed to the protection of the lakes in their respective countries. Together with decision makers and businesses, including Unilever as Living Lakes’ Global Partner, this network strives for the preservation of water quality, the habitats of rare animals, migratory birds and plants, and to encourage lake-sensitive economic development by the lake communities.

The Living Lakes partnership was established in together – NGOs, local authorities, other 1998 by the Global Nature Fund, an businesses and networks who may have much international foundation for environment and to offer as partners with a shared aim. Unilever’s WHY LAKES ARE IMPORTANT nature based in Germany. Its aim is the management skills can help to drive the protection of fresh water and the sustainable necessary actions required to achieve the best Lakes and wetlands are development of lakes and wetlands of solutions to improve lake conditions. Its among the world’s most international importance. There were four association with individual lake initiatives has important yet threatened founder member lakes: Lake Constance time and again proved useful to its partners in ecosystems. They are a (Bodensee) which is bordered by Austria, leveraging wider business support or gathering precious part of our Germany and Switzerland; Mono Lake in the community support in engaging with lake cultural and natural ; Lake Biwa in Japan; and South community projects of all sizes and complexities. heritage, providing a rich Africa’s Lake St Lucia. The network was resource for many sponsored by Unilever from the beginning, and Several of these partnership initiatives are human interests and in 1998 Unilever became Living Lakes Global described in this brochure in an attempt to activities, as well as Partner. A number of other companies also indicate the variety of issues involved. being habitats that support Living Lakes as a worldwide network or Sometimes projects are initiated by business, support a vast diversity more locally through individual member lake others by NGOs. There is no one-fits-all of animal and plant life. partnership initiatives. solution, because every lake is different, but Lakes and wetlands there are often issues in common. The store rainfall, subsequently releasing water gradually into the 23 The Indonesian As the Global Partner, Unilever not only experiences of the widely differing Living Lakes ecosystem. They improve the water quality by storing nutrients Mahakam Lakes contributes crucial funding to the global projects suggest possible approaches to setting and toxic substances in their plants and sediments. They are a (above) are the home organisation of Living Lakes but also supports up successful business-NGO relationships with a of the very rare source of renewable resources, such as reeds for construction, partnership projects with individual lakes and common interest in the preservation of lakes Irrawaddy dolphin fish for human consumption and pasture for grazing livestock. wetlands through its local companies. and freshwater. (see map opposite). They are also important for leisure activities. Above all, they are an essential source of freshwater for communities both on the But more than funding, Unilever contributes its lakeside and beyond. management expertise in bringing people

2 8 Years ago, the Spanish steppe lake La Nava was drained. Thanks to Living Lakes Spanish partners, it is a living lake again. WARREN MARR MARR WARREN 1 Mono Lake (above) 2 Chapala, the largest 7 The British Norfolk 9 Five million people 10 Monks in the 11 Intensive farming is located in the lake of Mexico is under and Suffolk Broads from three countries, Middle Ages created taking water for California Sierra Nevada severe threat of drying (above) are Britain's Germany, Switzerland, the bird paradise of the agriculture is a major and threatened by up within the next only wetland with Austria, take their water Milicz Ponds (above) problem for the Greek excessive diversion of few years if water status equivalent to from Lake Constance. in Poland. Nestos Lakes (above). water from its tributaries consumption is not a national park. 19 Lake Baikal to Los Angeles. drastically reduced. (above), the ‘pearl of Siberia’, is the deepest 3 The wilderness of lake in the world and the Columbia River the home of the rare Wetlands in Canada is 3 Baikal seal. home to several large mammal species such as 1 the grizzly bear. 18 19 7 15 2 10 20 4 Laguna Fuquene 9 17 is a shallow water lake 8 11 16 situated in the 4 14 21 Colombian Andes at an altitude of 2,500 metres. 22 20 Lake Biwa in Japan (above) suffers from 6 5 Mar Chiquita in 23 damage associated Argentina is breeding 5 13 with high resident and ground for up to 50,000 visitor populations. pairs of Chile flamingo. 12 21 95% of the world 6 Pantanal (below) population of the situated in the heart of 12 Eco-tourism creates 14 The wetlands of 16 The Dead Sea (below) 17 Lake Uluabat in endangered Siberian South America, is the jobs in the Greater Larache in Morocco are 417m below sea-level, is Turkey is crucial for Crane winters at Lake world’s largest wetland. St Lucia Wetland Park, an important resting in danger of drying up. migrating birds as Poyang-hu, China’s (left) South Africa’s oldest place for thousands of surrounding wetlands largest freshwater lake. nature reserve. European migratory birds. have become degraded by human activities. 22 Laguna de Bay in 13 The protection of 15 The rich fish stocks the Philippines is highly Lake Victoria, Africa’s of the Estonian-Russian 18 The Kazakh threatened by untreated largest lake, requires Võrtsjärv-Peipsi lake Lake Tengiz is the domestic waste from concerted international system provide livelihood largest intact steppe towns and cities

MICHAEL SUTOR SUTOR MICHAEL support. for local communities. lake left in Asia. surrounding the lake.

3 GETTING STARTED

You may be a business, or an NGO, so not all of the pointers here will be B. SELECT PARTNERS relevant to your situation. They are intended to help you structure your Assess possible partners – approach and indicate some of the barriers you may encounter, including Local NGOs (if you are a business) – those that may not be immediately obvious. choose one.

Local business partners (if you are an NGO) – A: SELECT A LAKE establish their reputations, priorities and company strategies. Do you share aims and Choose a lake or wetland that faces problems. ethics, and can you work together? If possible select one where the business has an impact through its operations, or where there is Local authorities/organisations – you should high demand for water to use and dispose of consider involving one initially; who is in company products. charge of lake issues; are there water-specific agencies or authorities? How does it tie into the global and local business strategy? TIPS FOR SUCCESS What is its local importance, both environmental and cultural? General

Is it easily accessible to company employees Look for opportunities to make a difference who may wish to become involved? with a lake that does not already enjoy high profile attention. What are the major problems of the lake? Define and measurable targets, with a Work out in broad terms what you hope to timetable and milestones, key players, roles, achieve through a lake partnership responsibilities. programme. Be realistic about possible achievements within a defined timescale. Familiarise yourself with the scientific data, and be aware of the expertise available.

Degradation of lakes comes from many sources: Be clear and open about your shared agenda Mahakam Lakes in Indonesia (top) suffers from and common goals. communities and their waste. Nestos Lakes in Greece (right) is blighted by illegal rubbish dumping. Although Lake St Lucia in South Africa (far right) If you are a business has so far successfully resisted titanium mining, extraction continues immediately outside the Establish the credibility of your chosen NGO, borders of the Park and is an ever-present threat. and the competition. Look for an established

4 track record, infrastructure, professionalism C. GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS D. THE ACTION PLAN and strength of networks with other NGOs. DO Can you summarise your message clearly? Break down the lake catchment into Administratively: Consider the lake project in terms of building manageable units Is your report clear, and focused to its the company reputation. Work out a clearly structured, possibly Define SMART (Specific, Measurable, target audience? eventually a legal framework for your Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound) Be realistic about what you can afford to partnership. objectives contribute in terms of finance, expertise and Do you know what you have omitted, and why? Ensure full stakeholder dialogue personal commitment. Assess your pooled strengths and weaknesses Give local citizens the tools to engage in including language barriers, missing skills, Does it reflect consensus? and own projects approaches to team work, working If you are an NGO Identify natural community leaders relationships between key players on Has the NGO enough information? Ensure communities know their limits Establish the reputation of the company. each side. Does it identify key priorities? Be familiar with their environmental and social Let communities devise their action plans Allocate the practical next steps and work Facilitate and provide support policies and activities. Understand where they Consider next actions, budgets, timetables, out strategies to fill the inevitable gaps. may fall short of your ideals. Do they do what responsibilities, communication plan on Be flexible they claim to do? this basis. Start with single community pilot project Practically: Work with those who may have started How will a business partnership affect your to tackle the problem. Respect existing NGO’s reputation? Start collecting lake data: historic, present and efforts to tackle problems forecast (including impacts and threats). How can the business help with advocacy, Produce a simple document for publicity purposes management expertise and volunteers? Discover who is responsible for key aspects of Anticipate problems and solutions the lake: local authorities and communities, interest groups, international conventions, stakeholders (agriculture, tourism, industry, etc). DON’T Impose actions and processes on a Study catchment area and activities. local community

Establish conflict areas. Schoolchildren and their teacher performing at BARRIERS Silethukukhanya school in the Dukuduku Forest in Define appropriate indicators (eg water Lake St Lucia, South Africa. Two NGOs and Unilever Uninformed stakeholders demand, ) covering social, South Africa are working on numerous long term Conflicting interests economic, cultural and ecological aspects. development projects, including many school Poor track records programmes and activities in the wider communities Living Lakes partners and supports convene at Mono Set a limit to your research. You can never bordering the lake. Competition and mistrust Lake in California for the World Lakes Conference Funding and dedicated resources 1999 to hear from NGOs, local authorities, politicians, cover everything. Assess all you have scientists and community leaders and discuss gathered and consider what is still missing Political appointees or agency heads problems and solutions to lake and wetland issues. that is important. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

5 ANDREAS HAFEN 6 and minimal running costs. including: no emissions, use of fossil energy lake resident Joachim Kopf, offer advantages Solar boats (above) such as this one designed by Lake Constance (top) is a popular holiday destination. PROJECT AND NEW BEGINNINGS LAKE CONSTANCE: A MATURE LIVING LAKES CASE STUDY . Siberia and Scandinavia to the south. on the area as a stopover en route from of birds and plants, migrating birds rely reed marshes are home to threatened species and shorebirds that winter or nest here. Its marshes are critical to the 250,000 waterfowl within its watershed. The shallow waters and than 4.5 million people, half of whom live and is the source of drinking water for more bordered by Austria, Germany and Switzerland, of the lake and into North Sea. It is by the Rhine River which eventually drains out second largest freshwater lake, fed principally Lake Constance – Bodensee is Europe’s THE LAKE wildlife thrives again. but pollution levels are contained, and footing. Population levels continue to rise, Lake Constance on a more sustainable authorities and community effort have put of NGOs, industrial and political groups, local Lakes. Over twenty years later a combination became a founder member of Living in turn to create the Lake Constance Project, which Umwelthilfe joined forces with Lever Fabergé European habitats. In 1990 The Deutsche list of the 60 most important and threatened European Community included the lake in its agreed to protect the shoreline. In 1989 the known. In 1982 the bordering countries The problems of Lake Constance were well roosting areas. from their shallow-water feeding and discharge. Birds are regularly disturbed pollution from engines and wastewater boats are motorised, which has led to boarding on the lake. Two thirds of pleasure road traffic as well boat traffic and sail population, intensive horticulture, increased They include a fast-growing shoreline under control, other threats have grown. network of canals has brought these problems treatment plants and an underground sources. While investment in sewage to nutrient pollution from sewage and other health of the lake was in jeopardy, largely due the middle of 1970s it was clear that detergents and phosphate-based fertilisers. By to change, in great part due to chemical From the 1950s lake’s composition started - The 1992 Rio conference and the impetus of as well company awareness programmes. many sponsored programmes around the lake consumers and environmental groups, and conservation initiatives, new relationships with environmentally sustainable products, water began which was later reflected in new more major NGOs in three countries. A dialogue new working relationship between Lever and collaboration helped form a platform for collaboration. Besides providing funds, this working together in a genuine spirit of were some of the first in Germany to start traditionally in a position of conflict, and we partner. Business and environmentalists were Umwelthilfe we found a professional NGO later shown as the main culprit). In Deutsche were contributing to it (in fact agriculture was the lake, regardless of whether our products public we did care about the eutrophication of Lever Germany took the lead to show practices. began a major review of our environmental products as they are consumed, and we and the waste water, but the impact of products on water, not just in the factories potential adverse effects of some our as a whole we were increasingly aware of the Unilever on behalf of Lake Constance. Within Deutsche Umwelthilfe, an NGO campaigning Fabergé was then called, started to support “It was back in 1990 that Lever, as Lever Technical Business Support Manager Lever Fabergé – Sabine Tandela, BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE: NGO PERSPECTIVE Some of the many initiatives include: Lake Constance Foundation – HUBERT NEIDHARDT RESTAURANT OWNER Encouragement of organic farming and Marion Hammerl farmers’ markets, including information for I have been involved with the Lake “For more than 70 years, citizens groups local populations on sources of regional Constance project since the beginning. around Lake Constance have sought to organic supplies. Successful sustainable tourism is based on protect its water quality, sensitive habitats, three pillars: culture, landscape and and wildlife. But the problems facing Lake Co-operation with restaurants and hotels to gastronomy, and for that to work it is Constance towards the end of the 20th century promote local organic foods. important to cultivate a regional identity. had become daunting. Not only was the lake One must be efficient too. The success of and local freshwater systems threatened Workshops with mayors, local councillors, regional markets depends on an efficient environmentally, but the situation was further architects, forest owners and others to delivery chain, and here we are up against complicated by legal differences between its promote use of regional woods. large companies. We organise workshops three surrounding countries – Germany, Boats – study of anti-fouling paints, and “Our family has owned Grüner Baum of farmers, restaurant owners, butchers, Switzerland and Austria. There were numerous promotions to demonstrate the restaurant in Moos near Lake Constance for fishermen, community representatives and local authorities, many NGOs, as well as anxious effectiveness of environmentally friendly five generations. I took over from my father environmentalists to tackle these issues. communities and industries, all concerned anti-fouling substances. in 1982. Building on family and local about poor water quality in the catchment. traditions, I have specialised in fresh regional We have started projects such as farmers The lake was seen as an alternative freshwater Promotion of solar energy, especially products, maintaining quality, developing markets and delivery services. We aim to source, but that too was degraded. Everyone through solar boats. the best of old and new. We are in close source locally – from new furniture to agreed that radical changes needed to be touch with farmers and fishermen flowers from our own garden grown using made in terms of water management, tourism, Challenges throughout the seasons. A speciality is the our own compost. We show paintings from agriculture and other areas. Finding a way to Burbot Lota lota, a typical ancient fish local artists in the restaurant. We serve co-operate effectively was the challenge. Land use and planning – we are promoting species not offered by other restaurants local wines, beers, and even mineral waters. the introduction of environmental because of the long preparation involved. All these things add up.” The Lake Constance Environment Council management schemes into community (later the Foundation) was formed in 1994 land use planning. representing an alliance of 18 regional and Agenda 21 with its blueprint for sustainability efforts on the River Elbe near our Hamburg national NGOs from the three countries. From Differing priorities – some partners are more helped provide the framework that united head office and co-operate with Deutsche a position of mutual suspicion, they started to proactive than others. We want to motivate different stakeholders who might otherwise Umwelthilfe in the "Living Elbe" project. work together in a series of practical and involve everyone. have had problems working together. Industrial activities particularly threaten partnerships. Industries were approached and Collaboration – many organisations are not the Elbe and we have begun stakeholder encouraged to improve their environmental used to collaborating with business and With Lake Constance on a firm environmental dialogues to find a balance between economic performances. Farmers, foresters, tourism local authorities. We want to encourage footing, Lever Fabergé has started to split its and ecological interests. Our experience and businesses and others were urged to review partnerships. funding in order to support other water learnings from the Lake Constance their practices. A sustained and widespread projects. We are now concentrating our partnership are proving beneficial.” campaign caught the public’s imagination. Lack of finance – a problem for most NGOs.”

7 LIVING LAKES CASE STUDY LAGUNA DE BAY: CLEAR WATERS

THE LAKE LOCAL AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE NGO PERSPECTIVE Laguna de Bay is the largest inland body of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) Society for the Conservation of Philippine water in the Philippines. It is an indispensable Lennie Santos-Borja, Division Chief for Wetlands – Amy Lecciones, President source of water for fishing, irrigation, power Research and Development “The SCPW was established in 1998 to supply, recreation, navigation and drinking. “The LLDA is mandated by the government of advocate the conservation of the more than The lake has an average depth of 2.5 meters the Philippines to carry out the development 60 important wetland areas in the Philippines and is under constant pressure from the of the Laguna de Bay Region in its many and to serve as a forum for national and effects of development activities in its vast aspects including environmental management regional wetland issues. watershed of 2830 km2, which includes Manila and control, preservation of the quality of and Metropolitan Manila. Its most pressing human life and ecological systems, and the The decision to join the partnership was problems are siltation and pollution from prevention of undue ecological degradation. based on three major factors: domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes. Although the LLDA began with a developmental mandate, since 1975 it has It provided the opportunity for SCPW In 2001 Laguna de Bay joined the Living Lakes operated with a heavy bias on regulation to implement a site-based project Network through the efforts of Unilever and control. demonstrating wetland conservation strategies. Representatives of CLEAR, the tripartite partnership Philippines (ULP), the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Society for the In recent years the LLDA has recognised formed to conserve Laguna de Bay: Chito The concept appealed because of its Macapagal (), Amy Lecciones Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW). the need to be developmental and is now practical and holistic approach. (Society for the Conservation of the Philippine The tripartite body adopted the name CLEAR aggressively pursuing this role. Other Wetlands), Gel Tabia (Unilever Philippines), Graham (Conservation of Laguna de Bay’s Environment government agencies operate within It allowed us to work at community level Brown (Unilever), Jika Mendoza-Dalupan (Unilever Philippines), Joan Caldito (Laguna Lake Development and Resources), with the goal of increasing the region, and a key challenge is the through our partnerships with other Authority). Unilever contributes its marketing and environmental awareness among stakeholders harmonization of planning and environmental locally-based NGOs and people advocacy skills, helping in the conceptualisation of by soliciting the support of local industries and legislation to provide a framework under organisations (POs). events and the production of publicity material, communities in a unified effort to conserve which this development can take place. including the Laguna de Bay coffee table book the lake’s resources. CLEAR activities largely complement published in 2002. One of the activities has been to initiate government efforts to manage the lake wisely CLEAR is seen locally as a pioneering collaboration in training programmes with the through the LLDA. This is why CLEAR has partnership between government, civil society business sector. Living Lakes is an enabling focused mainly on information, education, and the private sector in the spirit of Agenda environment for this initiative. For example, and communication and other capacity- 21. Programmes in the first five-year plan in our seminars and training courses for building strategies. We are still defining our include a biodiversity survey, environmental pollution control officers (PCO), Unilever relationships with our partners including the education training courses, lake monitoring Philippines PCO lectures on good practice. major ones (LLDA and Unilever) and the programmes for community and industry, A lecture on the importance of Laguna de Bay various stakeholders. Providing accurate and ecology courses focusing on lake management, as a Living Lake is also a topic, emphasising timely information to stakeholders so they and advocacy and publicity campaigns to the responsibilities of stakeholders for the make informed decisions seems to be a niche encourage stakeholder support. future of the lake.” that CLEAR can fill.”

8 LIVING LAKES CASE STUDY LAKE ST LUCIA: COMMITTED SOCIAL AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES

THE LAKE NGO PERSPECTIVE Unilever South Africa – Andrew Kinmont, Lake St Lucia is a 70 km long shallow estuary The Wildlands Trust – Andrew Ventner, Corporate Affairs Manager on the eastern coast of South Africa at the Executive Director “We began our involvement with St Lucia southernmost end of the Mozambique “The fundamental issue we face in St Lucia is 1998 in the Khula Agri-Village community, coastal plain. It is the heart of Great St Lucia Third World rural poverty in a World Heritage working particularly with the school and Wetland Park, a protected natural area with area. High density populations round the lake through contributions to lakeside environmental five distinctive ecosystems. Unreliable rainfall edge, unemployment, conflicting land claims, projects. Apart from a funding in excess of leads to extremes of drought and flooding, poaching and other issues are some of the 1 million Rand, the programme has included a and periods of highly salty conditions.The challenges. We see our role as brokers and committed contribution of Unilever staff time, area is regarded as critical for the survival of a lobbyists in a structured partnership including many weekends of voluntary work. large number of species including South programme to alleviate some of the problems St Lucia is a glamourous and popular destination, Africa’s largest populations of hippopotamus, and provide opportunities for employment and it has not been difficult to recruit and Nile crocodile and white-backed and pink and conservation for a sustainable future. retain company volunteers. Activities include: backed pelican. Workshops, field trips and activity days. We are involved in many developments, However, the integrity and long term survival including those facilitated through the Contributing managerial expertise. of the lake and surrounding area is not Simunye Community Tourism Association secure. The lake is surrounded by a mix of whose members are working to conserve the Development of a school computer commercial agriculture, forestry and lake in numerous small projects. They include laboratory with on-going maintenance impoverished rural communities. Agriculture fencing and managing reserves, sustainable programme, provision of library resources. and forestry impact heavily on the watershed, market gardening, controlled permit systems Walk-through exhibit at Cape Vidal. through water extraction and land for resource management, training of nature degradation from poor farming practices. guides, management and funding Environmental awareness resource material. Similarly, the rural communities have an programmes, and much more. Community Confiscated fishing nets demonstrate the scale of enormous impact. Illegal harvesting, run-away awareness and participation is increasing New community projects include the creation illegal commercial activities on Lake St Lucia (top). fires, littering and a simple desire for land, all the time. of the Sacred Forest within the grounds of a The Eco-Partners Programme is using limited funds leading to land claims and political pressure school, tree planting programmes, sustainable to bring about empowerment to the villagers of on the park. Communication and consultation is essential water management programmes and a great Simunye through a programme of tourism deal more. Unilever’s commitment to St Lucia initiatives (above). Amon Sithole, chairperson for successful community-based projects, and Simunye Community Tourism Association says, Two NGOs, the Wildlands Trust and the part of our work is to help facilitate has helped our partners leverage support “We Zulus are historically sensitive and nature Wilderness Foundation, together with discussions and help find solutions to the from other businesses. It has also provided loving people. We wish to restore our heritage, Unilever South Africa, have worked together critical issues we face. On a wider canvas we us with valuable team-building and and the way to do this is through sustainable since 1998 to address core conservation work closely with Unilever South Africa in management experience, tapped into the projects that bring job opportunities and conserve volunteer ethic and helped us develop what we have regionally.” needs, facilitate sustainable development particular, and other partners and businesses of lake communities and nurture support concerned with the sustainability of environmental and social awareness among for conservation. Lake St Lucia and its surrounding area.” future business leaders.”

9 LIVING LAKES CASE STUDY LA NAVA: RESTORING A WETLAND

NGO PERSPECTIVE international partners in Europe) helped us Fundación Global Nature Spain – convince the Castilla y León authorities of the Fernando Jubete importance of partnerships in making radical “As a biologist I was aware that the La Nava changes. Further progress came in 1999 with steppe lake had disappeared with the 1950s an international press conference in Palencia, drainage programme, and with it many forms supported by Lever Fabergé Spain and the of wildlife that were once abundant. Contrary Global Nature Fund which attracted a great to their expectations, local people had not deal of publicity. Today the situation is much gained from the programme – in fact it had improved and we enjoy the support of the led to serious problems. Their horses, cattle local mayors and their communities in our and sheep needed water. Waterfowl they had negotiations over issues such as permissions, previously hunted had moved away. Crops land, water – including difficult management died of drought. The drained lake clearly was problems – and money for restoration. offering few advantages and we had to do something about it. Our achievements have come after many legal hurdles, the establishment of careful irrigation I traced the outline of the original lake from techniques and strict control of water quality. an old map. I sought advice and help from We work to a defined programme to restore THE LAKES authorities and scientific experts, and the wetland, to inform and involve the public The wetlands complex of La Nava and Boada eventually in 1990 some 60 ha of the lake in and to improve sustainable tourism to help is located in the province of Palencia in the the town of Fuentes de Nava was flooded the local economy. We have been talking to north of Spain. The area used to be a lagoon again. A restoration project was designed and farmers about sustainable agriculture, and we until the 1940s, one of the country’s three submitted to the European Union, which was have now established clear guidelines for the largest wetlands of more than 4000 ha, and a then executed by the Environment Authorities next few years. key wintering and migration site for of Castilla y León. thousands of birds, as well as a nesting site The worst problems were experienced in early for endangered species. Winters are bitterly Problems and learnings years when farmers, politicians and residents cold, summers scorchingly hot. In the 1950s We are a small NGO, and the international watched incredulously as water flooded their So far 307 ha of La Nava in Spain have been support offered by Living Lakes and Unilever former grazing lands that had been so converted back to wetlands, and once again the the area was drained for farming, with area is a breeding ground for endangered species consequent loss of wildlife habitat. In 1990 has been crucial in making our case. Until carefully drained decades before. Jealousies and other wildlife. A phased management plan is Fundación Global Nature Spain started the recently, few Spanish authorities or businesses and misunderstandings between local tackling issues such as control of water abstraction, restoration of the La Nava lagoon, helped by have wanted to work with NGOs, often councils added to the hurdles. But gradually improved sewage treatment, improved agricultural EC money and local council support. This was seeing them as competitors. Examples of these difficulties have been overcome, and practices – including creation of buffer zones, followed in 1998 by the neighbouring Boada other Living Lakes collaborations (eg Mono today the wetland has the approval of the improved biodiversity and sustainable tourism initiatives to boost the local economy de Campos wetland, supported by Lever Lake Committee and Californian authorities, local population, and local councils are Fabegé Spain and other companies. or Lake Constance and its regional and working together.

10 subsequent partnership restoration projects in LIVING LAKES CO-OPERATION La Nava, Boada and Villacañas. They include: Membership of Living Lakes has brought many advantages, including knowledge Conservation projects including sharing. La Nava and Lake Constance reforestation, species surveys. exchanged know-how on sewage treatment, Infrastructure construction including bird organic farming, sustainable tourism, and observatory, new water treatment systems. the land-use plans of communities. La Nava and Norfolk Broads in the UK (left), an area Publications including publicity material for of managed rivers, marshes and fenland, education, press, exhibitions. co-operate on habitat restoration, bio- manipulation of shallow lakes, vegetation Participation in international conferences and recreational management. and other public events.

Organisation of work experience for “The early support of Lever Fabergé Spain Castilla-La Mancha, by means of a LIFE Nature children of Lever Fabergé Spain employees. enabled us to keep going against the odds. Project, and the Living Lakes network played We could show that the La Nava restoration a decisive role in its execution. As with concerned not just ecologists but a range of La Nava and Boada lakes, the Villacañas Benefits to Lever Fabergé Spain include: stakeholders, from large companies to wetlands restoration project has received Participation in projects in alignment with individuals who were originally unaware of the support from Lever Fabergé Spain throughout overall Unilever policy which have been programme. On a practical level we could pay its programme.” enthusiastically supported by Lever Fabergé the rent on the wetlands, meet management Spain employees since 1997. expenses, and more recently carry out public Lever Fabergé has contributed a bird observatory, works. We have found that joint projects with BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE Empathy among the public: Lever Fabergé Lever Fabergé Spain are easier, quicker and Lever Fabergé Spain – José Luis Galiana visitor information boards and other educational Spain’s concern for environmental materials to La Nava (top). Lever Fabergé’s more practical than those with government. “Most Lever Fabergé Spain’s products are used conservation helps us to communicate with employees and their children enjoy outings to We prepare an annual budget and work with clean water, and therefore the progress new groups of potential clients, especially La Nava, Boada and Villacañas wetlands on programme, complete individual projects and of our business is closely related to the long- young people. Widespread support for the occasions such as International Wetlands Day (above). report on the progress – achieving our term conservation of drinking water resources. campaign encourages further participation objectives far faster than if we had to go Lever Fabergé Spain has been involved with La and employee involvement. through the normal bureaucratic channels. Nava’s restoration since 1997. We signed a covenant with Fundación Global Nature Spain The on-going relationship between Next Steps in 1998 when business-NGO co-operation was Lever Fabergé Spain and Fundación Based on our expertise, in 1999 the European unusual. Publicity following the Palencia Global Nature enables the continuing Union asked us to reclaim another three conference dramatically raised the profile of step-by-step restoration programme to Spanish lakes in Villacañas (Toledo), in the campaign, and we have supported proceed confidently.”

11 LIVING LAKES CASE STUDY COLUMBIA RIVER WETLANDS: FINDING A LOUDER VOICE

THE LAKES NGO PERSPECTIVE Within the Canadian Southern Rockies, East Kootenay Environmental Society – the Columbia River Wetland covers some Anne Levesque, 27,430 ha of pristine wetlands between the Corporate Relations Director Purcell and Rocky mountain ranges. Fed by “The East Kootenay Environmental Society, mountain streams, they are the headwaters established in 1987, works alongside of the Columbia River system – the fourth community groups, other stakeholders and largest body of water by volume in North local and regional decision makers to promote America. This is an area of publicly and the and long-term privately owned mountains, meadows, viability of communities in south-eastern forests, grasslands and other critical habitats, British Columbia. EKES’ wide programme including world-class wetlands that are home attracts strong grassroots and regional to endangered species and the staging support, but issues here have federal grounds for flights of North America’s implications too. The region is over 4000 km migratory birds. The region boasts numerous away from Toronto and Ottawa, the country’s large mammal species including the largest business and political hub, but federal decision inland population of grizzly bears in North makers must become aware of the region if America, and the most southern population we are to manage it sustainably for the long of mountain caribou which needs protection term. One aim is to harmonise legislation if it is not to become extinct. between provincial and federal governments, so that the law respects biodiversity, Just 60,000 people live here, although many thousands more visit all year. The area is When Unilever Canada approached us in

LARRY TOOZE LARRY developing a tourism-based economy as an 1999 we were anxious: although we have The Columbia River Wetlands suffer alternative to the declining forestry and links with local businesses we had never from their beauty. Hugely popular mining businesses, but unfortunately tourism accepted money directly from a large for recreational activities including developments are focusing on initiatives that company before, and we feared it might lead watersports and heli-activities, and encroach on wilderness areas and sensitive to unacceptable pressures. But we needed to a wide variety of wildlife including habitats. Golf courses, mega-ski resorts and find a way to get our message to Eastern grizzly bears, they are argued over by scientists, environmentalists, holiday homes are the main focus of Canada and international visitors. Membership developers and others. Much of the developments. ‘Wilderness tourism’ is of Living Lakes and the support of Unilever cost of providing the infrastructure expanding too: snowmobiles, all-terrain Canada has gradually strengthened our case to support its visitors falls on the vehicles, jet boats and heli-holidays are and raised the profile of the region and our relatively small local population. putting increased pressure on the most campaigns. EKES has recently requested remote areas including waterways, as well further support from Unilever Canada in areas as populations of endangered species. where we lack experience and expertise.”

12 FURTHER READING

THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE through a brand strategy exercise. Unilever Agriculture Unilever Canada – Catherine McVitty, personnel are also helping EKES communicate www.unilever.com Corporate Relations Manager the importance of their work within Canada click on links to Environment & Society: “Since the early 1990s Unilever Canada has and beyond. The 2004 Living Lakes Sustainability initiatives: Agriculture been part of a major partnership water conference in the Columbia River Wetlands programme, the Task Force to Bring Back the will provide an opportunity to re-launch the Don River which flows through heavily organisation, with a newly focused identity. Fish industrialised areas including Unilever www.unilever.com Canada’s site in Toronto. Unilever’s Our president and CEO Kevin Boyce adds, click on links to Environment & Society: Sustainability initiatives: Fish involvement began based on local interest, ‘We recognise that our partnership with EKES and expanded to include the entire can extend beyond the traditional financial Don watershed. It remains key to the support to a sharing of expertise and company’s water stewardship activities. knowledge that brings value to both our Water organisations,’ As our staff learn more about www.unilever.com We wanted to expand our water partnership the project, they are increasingly enthusiastic click on links to Environment & Society: programme, ideally with a project that might about finding ways to contribute.” Sustainability initiatives: Water suit Unilever’s global sponsorship of Living Lakes. We knew the Columbia River Wetlands was a unique wetland region in the Canadian Rockies and we contacted the East Kootenay SWIM Environmental Society to offer to help through www.unilever.com the Living Lakes network. Although the region click on links to Environment & is a three-hour flight and two-hour drive away Society: Sustainability initiatives: Water: SWIM from Toronto, Unilever has a sales office in Calgary. Nevertheless, part of our challenge has been to find ways to involve our employees in the programme. Credits Writing Juliet Walker An opportunity arose when it became clear Design Red Letter Design, London that, despite their record of accomplishments, Photography © copyright Living Lakes unless indicated otherwise EKES was having difficulty in getting their Printing Scanplus, London message heard outside British Columbia. In Paper The pulp used in the manufacture of this paper January 2003 six members of Unilever’s is from renewable timber produced on a fully sustainable basis. The virgin pulp is bleached by marketing department and a representative an elemental chlorine free basis (ECF). This paper from one of the advertising agencies visited is suitable for recycling. British Columbia to lead the EKES staff

13 MICHAEL SUTOR MICHAEL

Pantanal Wetlands, South America

[email protected] www.unilever.com

[email protected] www.globalnature.org U www.livinglakes.org LL/RLD/SP/5000/0303 2