The UNESCO Chair oN Sustainability at UPC, led by Dr. Jordi Morató, will be responsible for the creation of the WAMUNET Living Water Museum (UNESCO-IHP), coordinating and organizing all necessary actions between the Cauca Governor's Office, the CRC, and WAMUNET. The idea is to present the project at COP16, which will take place at the end of October 2024 in Cali.
Members of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at UPC visited the Colombian Massif in September 2024, together with the Government of Cauca, the CRC, and the San Sebastián Mayor's Office, engaging with various communities in the area, including indigenous and farming communities.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets as one of its objectives "to maintain, enhance, or restore the integrity, connectivity, and resilience of ecosystems...". Freshwater ecosystems are vital for the survival and well-being of humans. It is crucial for governments to integrate environmental protection into economic goals, valuing natural resources as essential for life and economic development.
The Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET), an initiative of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP), established in 2017, aims to promote education and awareness about water, highlighting both the natural and cultural heritage related to water.
Water Museums play a crucial role in the transition to a civilization that recognizes the vital role of water in all its dimensions (vital, environmental, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual). Furthermore, they are fundamental in promoting sustainable water management and its inclusion in educational, scientific, and governmental policies.
The Massif is not only strategic for Colombia but for the world, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978.
Being part of the UNESCO network of museums can increase the visibility and prestige of the region at an international level.
This can attract investments and additional support for projects related to water and sustainable development.
The population will benefit not only from the protection of the strategic ecosystems that are part of the Massif, but also from sustainable rural development plans.
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