The International Year of Fresh Water was officially launched at the United Nations in New York on December 12, 2002 by Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and managing fresh water. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has set up a special website, which provides a platform for countries and individuals all over the world to share their ideas, initiatives, and events for the Year 2003.

For more information, visit www.unesco.org/water/iyfw2/.

In the spirit of this year's theme, IFA is launching this web page dedicated to the link between water and fertilizers for World Water Day on 22 March. Proper fertilization helps crops absorb water more efficiently. At the same time, it is important that appropriate management ensures that fertilizers are used in the current proportions and amounts at the right times to facilitate optimal uptake by plants and to minimize runoff to the environment, which can create the potential for negative impacts on waterways.