Action in Sustainability

Community-based Watershed Initiative in this UN-designated International Decade for Action and Environmental Education

Action in Sustainability is a community-based project which demonstrates how our human resource demands can be managed within ecological constraints. Using an inter-disciplinary process, we can specifically assess risk to human health from resource use practices, and explore the similarities and interactions between our human needs and those of the ecosystems in which we all must live together. Through a unified management approach to maintain and preserve our hydrologic systems, the flows of water that connect all water users can serve as a basis for the maintenance and protection of our valuable watersheds, sustaining watersheds and the people who need them.

Water to Drink – The Book
Watershed Technical Assistance, Education and Training
A Systems Approach to Science – Implementing Action in the Classroom
Unified in Our Diversity
Voices For Water

Water to Drink – The Book

Produced locally, the book Water To Drink: Sustaining Watersheds and the People Who Need Them reflects a community-based effort that has spanned to international levels through our consortium "Unified in Our Diversity". The book includes real-life examples with pictures and stories as well as educational and technical information. The related presentations, workshops and technical assistance demonstrate how community participants can get involved in preserving hydrologic systems while complimenting regional and international objectives. This community-based project is presented as an applicable reference for groups, individuals and agencies concerned with watershed management, for professional development in technical and field assistance, and for community awareness in the trade-offs and consequences of resource decisions that affect hydrologic systems. The diverse subject matter can be used directly from the book as a supplement for multi-disciplinary high school through university-level curriculum, and is designed to meet the specific needs of K-12 and adult age groups as well as support varied cultural applications and community interests. Material development for the book included assistance from community individuals, organizations and businesses which are pulling together in a common agenda to protect and manage our valuable watersheds.

For more details on the book and purchasing information, see http://anaturalresource.com/watertodrink.html.

Watershed Technical Assistance, Education and Training

We offer watershed technical assistance, education and training workshops which can be tailored to your needs and interests. These can vary from an evening presentation to community training seminars to field courses to curriculum development. "Water To Drink" books can be included in most programs with an educational discount. Some of the education/training options include:

1. An Enabling Environment: a 2-3 day workshop on setting goals and objectives in environmental program development. These have been applied in forest management issues in New England, for example, Watershed/Non-point source efforts in the San Juan Islands, Forest/Wildlife conflicts within Waterton National Park and have been used as a framework for a community management plan for the Island of St. John, developed in response to the disaster of Hurricane Hugo. The resulting publication "Integrating Resource and Community Issues" was produced in cooperation with the Virgin Islands National Park.
2. Connecting Land Use, Water Quality and Human Health – a field seminar (suggested 3-5 days) and course (either intensive training for practitioners or curriculum development) in understanding the risks to drinking water.
3. Sustaining Waters: From Hydrology to Drinking Water – an overview evening presentation and suggested 3-5 day field course. This introduces a systems approach to understanding watersheds – including reference to forestry, agriculture, urban development and other land use issues.
4. A Catalyst for Change: Disaster Relief and Prevention – Too much or too little rainfall is often deemed the culprit in water crises around the world, focusing on water "lacks and needs" instead of exploring the mechanisms of the hydrologic functions and processes that sustain us. This workshop explores the mechanisms for environmental impact and to what extent current events can be the result of our environmental decisions. This critical workshop is designed to assist with an applied approach to current issues in crisis relief and prevention. Suggested 2-day workshop with field trip.

A Systems Approach to Science – Implementing Action in the Classroom

This curriculum-based approach demonstrates scientific concepts and principles and the interaction within and among our natural and human systems. Designed to compliment coursework and initiate applied learning , this three-part series is designed to integrate standard science requirements with methods and benefits in Sustaining Watersheds and the People Who Need Them.

1. Combining Disciplines in Science Learning
   This material is a reference for groups, individuals and agencies concerned with interdisciplinary secondary through university curriculum, for professional development in technical and field assistance, and for community awareness in the trade-offs and consequences  of resource decisions that affect hydrologic systems.
2. Science Inquiry
   An inter-disciplinary methodology that specifically assesses risk to human health from resource use practices, and explores the similarities and interactions between our human needs and those of the ecosystems in which we all must live together.
3. Integrating Community Issues in the Classroom
   This community-based project demonstrates how our human resource demands can be managed within ecological constraints. Applicable to regions around the world, this unified approach is about our human and environmental qualities with user friendly concepts and how-to guides backed up by real life experiences.
4. Instructor Training in Watershed Curriculum and Action-based Activities

The publication "Water to Drink" is currently separated into distinct sections that can be applied directly to science inquiry, resource analysis and field activities. Appropriate strategies can be designed according to age group and resource availability. This workshop is geared to the instructor who wants to use an applied systems approach and to design appropriate activities to coincide with curriculum requirements.

Unified in Our Diversity

By joining our international community-based consortium "UNIFIED IN OUR DIVERSITY", you can volunteer to provide needed services. We need a web master, translators, audio/visual production artists, desk-top publishing and recording specialists, artists and other publication staff to assist in developing a childrens book and music series on nature. Administrative assistance is always welcomed; organizational skills, marketing, internet connections, etc. Please contact us at watertodrink@anaturalresource.com or fill out the appropriate information at the "Unified in Our Diversity" link on our web site.

Voices For Water – Balancing Culture, Arts and Environment
Collective Community Support, Outreach and Interactions

Disastrous conditions worldwide have triggered reactions in crisis relief rather than crisis prevention Applicable to regions around the world, this unified approach is about our human and environmental qualities with user-friendly concepts and how-to guides backed by real life experiences. From the poorest parts of Africa to Urban France to the wealthiest state in the USA, examples from surface to groundwater to marine environments demonstrate how the links between vulnerable natural areas, and the basins that they support are integral to the availability, adequacy and accessibility of our drinking water.

Our work has included projects that map hydrologic basins from the source to the drinking water supply. Though the use of music, dance and art, we have been able to build upon collective knowledge that contributes to scientifically sound data collection.