22 May 1989

12th plenary meeting

Water resources and progress in the implementation of the Mar del Plata Action Plan

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 32/158 of 19 December 1977,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 34/191 of 18 December 1979, by which the Assembly requested the Committee on Natural Resources to review during the 1980s the progress made by Governments in the implementation of the Mar del Plata Action Plan and provide guidance to the supporting water-related activities undertaken by the organizations of the United Nations system,

Recalling further its resolutions 1979/67, 1979/68 and 1979/70 of 3 August 1979, 1981/80 and 1981/81 of 24 July 1981, 1983/57 of 28 July 1983, 1985/49 of 25 July 1985 and 1987/7 of 26 May 1987 concerning the implementation of the Mar del Plata Action Plan,

Aware that some of the major obstacles confronting developing countries in their endeavour to implement the Mar del Plata Action Plan are lack of financial and technical resources and insufficient expertise in water resources management,

Considering the need to give high priority to strengthening the capacity of the developing countries to assess their water resources through the collection, analysis and dissemination of hydrological and hydrogeological data,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on improved efficiency in the management of water resources and developments in co-operative action in the field of shared water resources and on progress achieved and foreseen in the implementation by Governments of the Mar del Plata Action Plan,

Taking note of the oral report on the work of the panel of experts, carried out under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme in March 1989, regarding issues to be incorporated in the proposals for a comprehensive strategy to implement the Mar del Plata Action Plan, made before the Committee on Natural Resources at its 204th meeting, on 30 March 1989, by the representative of the United Nations Secretariat,

1. Expresses its deep concern regarding the obstacles that make it difficult for the developing countries to prevent natural disasters, such as flooding, which endanger the lives of a large number of their inhabitants and have negative effects on the process of development, especially of agriculture;

2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on improved efficiency in the management of water resources and on developments in co-operative action in the field of shared water resources, part one of which contains the views of Governments on the report of the Interregional Symposium on Improved Efficiency in the Management of Water Resources: Follow-up to the Mar del Plata Action Plan, held in New York from 5 to 9 January 1987 and includes possible solutions to the problems facing countries, particularly developing countries, in dealing with water resources management;

3. Urges the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts and increase their activities in water resources management, including recycling of waste water, with a view to strengthening the capacities of developing countries in water resources development through, inter alia, the assessment, analysis and dissemination of hydrological and hydrogeological data;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources at its twelfth session a comprehensive report on strategies and measures necessary for the implementation of the Mar del Plata Action Plan, as requested in Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/7.