Community-Based Response to Gulf of Mexico Water Quality Issues Miriam Ramos-Escobedo, William Deutsch, and Sergio Ruiz-Córdova Global Water Watch, Auburn University The GWW-GoMA project was primarily funded by the U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
China Philippines México USA-Alabama Thailand Ecuador Perú Argentina Brazil Kenya 2
The Project Fostering Environmental Stewardship of the Gulf of Mexico: A Trans-Boundary Network of Water Education and Monitoring for Animal Producers, Classrooms and Community Volunteers PROJECT OBJECTIVES: 1. Conduct environmental education activities for underserved populations and volunteer water monitors to teach about the Gulf of Mexico and water issues. 2. Merge formal and non-formal educational activities that teach water science and environmental monitoring and protection. 3. Develop an Environmental Education Centers Directory for six Mexican and five U.S. States to link education centers and promote information exchange. 4. Train middle school and high school students to monitor water quality. 3
Project Locations The Gulf of Mexico Watershed 4
Outputs Objective 1: CBWS training and monitoring
Outputs Objective 2: Merge formal and non-formal education
Outputs Objective 3: Environmental Education Directory 7
Outputs Objective 2 and 4: Study Tour for Educators and Farmers Training students to monitor water quality 8
Accomplishments Science-Based Watershed Stewardship for Agricultural Producers, Educators, and Students Activity México U.S. Total Total Workshops 61 66 127 Total Participants 873 1,658 2,531 Student Participant 446 1,084 1,530 International Trips 12 10 22 Monitoring Sites 221 775 858 Monitoring Events 4,183 19,882 24,065 The project yielded thousands of water data records from volunteer monitors who keep monitoring and sending more water data records in the thousands. 9
Accomplishments Environmental Education Activity Mexico U.S. Total EOLS Sessions 4 14 18 Educators Trained 78 109 187 Student Participants 224 1,011 1,235 EE Directory Entries 31 152 183 The GWW-GOMA Project were not limited to elementary and high school students; at least seven B.S. and one M.S. theses were completed in Mexico with partial assistance from the project. 10
Water Monitoring in Veracruz Before GWW-GOMA 2 Groups After GWW-GOMA 15 Groups 11
Impacts 1. Participants and the general public have learned about the importance of taking a watershed approach to solving problems of the Gulf of Mexico. 2. Data have been used to remediate pollution problems and influence watershed management plans and water policy. 3. Agricultural producers in Veracruz and Alabama, have become more aware of the potential negative impacts of their operations on Gulf water quality, and learned about sustainable alternatives. 4. An Environmental Education Centers Directory of six Mexican and five U.S. States is available online. 5. Students have benefited from place-based environmental education including outdoor classrooms and personal involvement in collecting valid water data. 12
Impacts Rain water harvest Data to action: facing pollution problems 13
Expansion of CBWS activities Leverage to other projects 1. GWW Mexico consolidation as an organization Outcomes 2. Participation in many Payment for Environmental (Hydrological) Services projects and Adaptation to the climate change. 3. National funds through FMCN, TNC, ONU, IUCN, CONAFOR,CONABIO, CONANP, SEMARNAT-CECADESU. 4. Partnerships with NGOs: SENDAS, A.C, DECOTUX, A.C., VECINOS DE ZONCUANTLA, A.C., BIOSCENOSIS, A.C., ESPACIO AUTÓNOMO, A.C., ALTERNARE, A.C., FONDO MONARCA, A.C., FONCET, A.C., SOCIEDAD DE HISTORIA NATURAL DEL SOCONUSCO, A.C. 5. Partnerships with State and Federal agencies, SEDEMA, SEMARNAT, SAGARPA, SEP, SEV, INIFAP, CONANP, CIGA-UNAM, ACES. 6. Joined proposal submitted to EPAEE, NOAA, GoMRI and other in development (USAID). 14
GOMA had unique impacts on each country : Conclusions VERACRUZ, MEXICO Young group Addressing pollution problems through monitoring Platform to develop the interest about CBWM in NGOs and government agencies. Introduced CBWM and GWW approaches to different levels of formal education. EE Directory 33 members ALABAMA, US Mature group Addressing pollution problems through monitoring Platform to consolidate Watershed Management Plans. Environmental Education activities EE Directory 152 members 15
Conclusions The challenges of protecting and restoring the Gulf of Mexico, and practically any waterbody or watershed of any size, are impossible to solve solely through professional research and regulation. Community involvement through standardized water monitoring and mutual learning is effective in mobilizing thousands of people from numerous stakeholder groups, and should be a component of any coastal or inland watershed management strategy. Environmental education projects, like this one, help students to acquaint themselves with water and watershed issues; instilling behavioral attitudes and skills to become responsible citizens that will play a vital role in achieving full sustainability in the near future. 16
Contact us at: Global Water Watch 559 DeVall Drive, CASIC Building, Rm. 204 Auburn University Water Resources Center Auburn, Alabama, USA 36849 www.globalwaterwatch.org Tel: 1-888-844-4785 email: gww@auburn.edu
Colateral Impacts? Colima Chiapas Coahuila Veracruz Chihuahua Nuevo León Edo. de México Quintana Roo Guanajuato Michoacán Guerrero Yucatán Jalisco 13 States and more coming! from Alabama to Veracruz to Mexico 18