1. Statement of Traditional Leaders Commitment to the Global
Environment Facility
Integrated Water Resource Management Demonstration Project in the
Nett Watershed:
"Ridge to Reef: Protecting Fresh and Marine Water Quality
in the Federated States of Micronesia"
Recalling the commitment made by the international community to fully
achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including inter alia to halve, by
2015, the proportion of people unable to reach or afford safe drinking water,
and to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation,
Acknowledging the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 28 th July
2010 and the United Nations Human Rights Council's Resolution of 30th
September 2010 declaring the right to safe and clean drinking water and
sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life
and all human rights,
Acknowledging also the "Koror Declaration" of 24th November 2010 in which
the Traditional Leaders of Micronesia call upon landowners, local traditional
leaders, and municipal, state and national governments to work together in
developing by 2011 "National Water and Sanitation Policies" based on the
principles of Integrated Water Resource Management.
Reaffirming the important roles and duties of Traditional Leaders as
caretaker and protector of their people and their natural resources and the
intimate connection between people, culture and natural resources, thus in
ensuring secure access to safe drinking water and sanitation in order to
sustain their communities as well as the Federated States of Micronesia's
unique biodiversity,
Recognising that the Federated States of Micronesia's Traditional Leaders co-
manage water sources with their respective municipal, state, and national
governments,
Deeply concerned for the status of freshwater resources of the Nett
Watershed on Pohnpei Island and the negative impacts of human activities
in Pohnpei's watersheds on freshwater and nearby lagoon water quality,
I, Iso Nahnken en Wehin Nett, made this demand in Kousapw Mesenieng,
Kolonia Town, Pohnpei Island on this 22 nd day of March, 2011, that the
populace of Nett Municipality along with concern entities commonly
administer the Nett watershed,
1. Call upon land owners, municipal, state and national government,
Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, and the community to work together in the
implementation of the Global Environment Facility supported Integrated
Water Resource Management Demonstration Project in the Nett Watershed,

2. and to ensure the planned results of this project are achieved in a timely
manner;
2. Remind all people of Nett Municipality that water is everyone's business
and that we all have an important role to play in protecting our freshwater
resources from pollution;
3. Declare my support to the development of a Comprehensive National
Water and Sanitation Policy for the Federated States of Micronesia, to not
only provide higher level policy support to initiatives in Nett Watershed, but
to also guide the longer-term sustainability of management and the
replication of good freshwater management practices elsewhere in our
coun try; and
4. Commit to foster information sharing with other traditional leaders on
Integrated Water Resour~nagement initiatives in the Federated States of
Micronesia.
His Excellency, Iso Salvador Iriarte, Iso I)Tahnken,Nett Municipality
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