dws-deltas2014-alliance-lee-huizinga-wang-770pxDutch-based knowledge network organisation Delta Alliance announced two new members, Kenya and Taiwan. Membership agreements were signed on the occasion of the international conference Deltas in Times of Climate Change that took place in Rotterdam from 24-26 September.

With Kenya and Taiwan joining the network, fourteen deltas over the whole world are now members.

Ambassador of Taiwan in the Netherlands, James Lee (left on top photo) and Vice president professor Yu Wang (right) of Academia Sinica signed the agreement, together with chair of the board of the Delta Alliance, Tineke Huizinga-Heringa (middle).

The former Egyptian Minister for Water, Mohammed Abdel Motaleb signed an agreement to reaffirm Egypt's membership.

dws-deltas2014-alliance-egypt-motaleb-350pxFormer Egyptian Minister for Water, Mohammed Abdel Motaleb reaffirmed Egypt's membership.

Acquiring new knowledge
In 2009 the Delta Alliance was set up as an international knowledge-driven network for enhancing safety and sustainability in the delta regions of the world.

Fourteen deltas have joined the Alliance, namely those in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA (California), USA (Louisiana) and Vietnam.

Together they acquire the know-how needed to further develop their deltas and thus deal with the threats that are specific to delta regions.

Comparison of deltas on vulnerability
During the conference programme manager Wim van Driel and Deltares researcher Tom Bucx presented two recent studies by Delta Alliance in which river deltas are compared regarding the vulnerability to among others extreme weather events, climate change, sea level rice, subsidence and urbanisation.

According to Van Driel the assessments show that the Ciliwung delta, Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta and Nile delta cope with very high land and water demands due to high population pressures. Combined with a moderate (Nile) to inadequate (Ciliwung and GBM) infrastructure these pressures lead to significant problems.

Ongoing wetland loss
The California Bay-Delta and Mississippi River delta have moderated land and water pressures, but their major problem lies in the rapid declining nature values, such as ongoing wetland loss in Louisiana. Furthermore, the assessment shows current flood vulnerability in combination with the weak flood protection system resulting in relatively high flood risks.

The Ayeyarwady delta faces a similar situation with underdeveloped infrastructure and high vulnerability to extreme events such as cyclones, storm surges and extreme rainfall. Also the Incomati and the Tana delta combine a moderate land and water pressure with degrading natural resources and an insufficient infrastructure.
dws-deltas2014-delta-alliance-assess-table-770px-

Also read on this website
● Deltas 2014: Highlights of an inspiring river delta conference in pictures, 3 October 2014 
● Deltas 2014: Launch of 12 building blocks for a sustainable delta approach, 2 October 2014
● Deltas 2014: Concept of floating cities grabs imagination at international congress on river deltas, 26 September 2014
● Deltas 2014: Aqgri+ wins Climate Business Challenge award for water re use stations in Vietnam, 26 September 2014
● Deltas 2014: Early start climate adaptation in river deltas allows opting for cheaper natured-based solutions, 25 September 2014
● Deltas 2014: leading conference on coming to grip with complex coastal and river deltas, 19 September 2014

More information
Delta Alliance
Wageningen, the Netherlands
+31 317 482 308
www.delta-alliance.org