World Rivers Day

   10:00 – 11:15 | Session 3: The conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems in a transboundary context: a dynamic relationship between transboundary water cooperation and biodiversity protection Moderator: Mr. Lionel Launois, Head of international affairs unit, Directorate for water and biodiversity, Ministry of Ecology, France Case studies at the transboundary and basin level: • Mr. Aleš Bizjak, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia and Chair of the Bureau of the Water Convention – Transboundary UNESCO Five-country Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube and the Mura River Biosphere Reserve • Mr. Jose Genaro Musayon Ayala, Head of National Water Authority, Peru – Transboundary cooperation and the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems in Peru • Ms. Sofia Perä, Project manager/ecologist, County Administrative Board of Norrbotten, Sweden – The TRIWA LIFE project on the Torne river, shared between Finland and Sweden: a successful exa...

   Global workshop on ecosystems conservation and restoration in transboundary basins. 10:00 – 10:45 | Opening Session. Moderator: Mr. Aleš Bizjak, Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia and Chair of the Bureau of the Water Convention. Welcoming Remarks: • H.E. Ms. Anita Pipan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations in Geneva • Ms. Claire Thuaudet, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Geneva • Mr. Romas Kamanga, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Zambia (tbc) • Ms. Veronica Manfredi, Director for Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition, EU Commission • Ms. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands • Ms. Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the UN Water Convention, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Leadership testimony: • Mr. Hussein Abdulameer Baga, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Water Resources, Iraq ...