Forum on sustainable water management in Mediterranean areas - "TourMedEau - Gestion durable de l'Eau dans les Territoires Touristiques de la Méditerranée "

The forum on sustainable water management in Tunisia and Morocco and the first round of seminars of the project TourMedEau - Gestion durable de l'Eau dans les Territoires Touristiques de la Méditerranée -, will be launched in Al Hoceima, Morocco, from 9 to 10 October 2010.

Forum and seminars, focused on sustainable water management and their reuse for agriculture and tourism scopes, aim to raise a debate concerning the results obtained during the previous analysis phase. These aforesaid activities, organized by the NGO Agir and the Municipality of Al Hoceima, in collaboration with the Municipality of Villasimius and CRENoS (Centre for Economic Research North-South, University of Cagliari, Cirem section), are addressed to key stakeholders: research institutes, local authorities, policy makers, local population, economic players and NGOs working in the tourism sector.

Representatives of the University of Meknes, the Ensah (Ecole Nationale des Sciences Appliquées of Al Hoceima), the ONEP (Office National de l'Eau Potable, Morocco), the Association des utilisateurs de l'Eau (local NGOs) and local authorities responsible for environment, development and agriculture will attend the event, among others.

In line with the previous analysis phase, the workshops will deal with the following topics: technologies used in water treatment plants in ENPI MED countries; market supply and demand for water in Sardinia, Tunisia and Morocco; national legislation on water management in ENPI MED countries, with particular focus on reuse of wastewater; wastewater treatment plants currently present in Tunisia and Morocco; possible reuse of wastewater in the countries involved in the project in order to promote sustainable development in urban areas.

The TourMedEau project is funded by the European Union under the Ciudad Programme - Dialogue And Cooperation In Urban Development (through the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument - ENPI), planned to help local governments of ENPI regions in improving their ability to plan for a sustainable, integrated and long-term urban development, according to the principles of good governance.

In this scenario, TourMedEau contributes to promote dialogue and cooperation between public administrations of the two Mediterranean shores, in order to improve environmental sustainability in urban areas through a more efficient public management of water services.

"The choice of the Municipalities of Villasimius, Ajim and Al Hoceima, where implementing  the project is not accidental. - Explains Fatima Saidi, Mayor of Al Hoceima - For three municipalities, having both similar weather conditions and high tourist pressure, TourMedEau is a real opportunity of exchange and sharing, which we hope can help improve environmental sustainability in the Mediterranean tourist areas”.

Contact
http://www.open-med.eu/portal/en/ms_TOURMEDEAU.wp
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