Berlin - Friday, 18.07.2003 „Transboundary Watermanagement“ 14 - 24 July Workshop on

Berlin - Friday, 18.07.2003

„Transboundary Watermanagement“ 14 - 24 JulyW

ork

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Ecosystem Analysis and Integrated Ground Water ManagementEcosystem Analysis and Integrated Ground Water Management

Dr.

H. K

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Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung GmbH

”Political Implications of TransfrontierGround and Surface Water Pollution with the

Potentially Result of Significant Lossesof Productive Agricultural Land"


Dr.

H. K

ehl


source: Autorite du Bassin du NigerLe Modele Mathematique du Fleuve Niger

Novembre 1982

Transboundary Waters - Common Pool ResourcesTransboundary Waters - Common Pool Resources

The 1997 UN-Convention on International Watercourses

(Law of the non-navigational uses of internationally shared fresh water resourses - surface and ground water)

This definition calls the attention of states to the interrelationship between all parts of the system of surface and ground waters that form an international watercourse.

“Thus it should be clear immediately that an effort on one part of the system will generally transmitted to other parts” (Stephen McCaffrey, 2001 - Int. J. Global Environmental Issues, Vol. 1, Nos. 3/4,p.251)


Dr.

H. K

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(Law of the non-navigational uses of internationally shared fresh water resourses - surface and ground water)

source: UNESCO

Article 2 defines watercourse "as a system of surface waters and ground waters constituting by virtue of their physical relationship a unitary whole ..."


Dr.

H. K

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Nil

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iver

Bas

inN

ile

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Article 5 provides that watercourse states shall in their respective territories utilise an international watercourse in an Equitable and Reasonable Manner.

Riparian NationsRiparian Nations


Dr.

H. K

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Article 6 provides that in pursuing these ends all Relevant Factors and Circumstances are to be taken into account and contains a list of Factors and Circumstances that come within that category.


Dr.

H. K

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Article 7 provides that watercourse States shall, in utilising an international watercourse in their territories, take all appropriate measures to prevent the causing of Significant Harm to other watercourse states.


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Article 7 provides also that where Significant Harm nevertheless is caused to another watercourse state, the state whose use causes such harm shall, in the absence of agreement to such use, take all appropriate measures having due regard for the provisions of Articles 5 and6 , in consultation with the affected state, to eliminate and mitigate such harm, and where appropriate discuss the question of Compensation.

etc.


Dr.

H. K

ehl


The United Nations Convention on the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in March by104 votes in favour, 3 against and 26 abstentions brings new dimensions to the dispute over the sharing of the waters of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers between Turkey, Syria and Iraq.

The situation of TodayThe 1997 UN-Convention on International

Watercourses


Dr.

H. K

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source: Aaron T. WolfBonn 2001

„There are 261 watersheds which cross the political boundaries of two or more countries.

These internatioal basins cover 45,3% of the land surface of the earth, affect about 40% of the world‘s population, and account for approximately 60% of global river flow.


Watercourses

According to Wolf (2000)


Dr.

H. K

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These basins have certain characteristics that make their management especially difficult, most notable of which is the tendency for regional politics to regularly exacerbate the already difficult task of understanding and managing complex natural systems.


Watercourses



Dr.

H. K

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Watercourses


The Convention entails a transition from the prudence of a single watercourse state to the shared prudence of watercourse states.



Dr.

H. K

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Watercourses



To many analysts, this is one essence in which the Convention imposes constraints on Unilateral Development raising the old question of water and sovereignty:

Unlimited Territorial Integrity &Unlimited or Absolute Sovereignty theories.“


Dr.

H. K

ehl


PreconditionTransboundary Waters

Common Pool Resources

In general, ecosystems, especially transboundary rivers don‘t ask for national boundaries.

There is a long history of conflicts over water, including in regions such as:

Pau

l Klee

Jordan River Basin (shared by Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine)

Nile River Basin (shared by 10 nations)

Ganges / Brahmapudra River Basin (shared by 6 nations)

Euphrates / Tigris River Basin (shared by Turkey, Syria and Iraq)

Colorado River Basin (shared by 7 U.S. states and Mexiko)

etc.etc.


Dr.

H. K

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PreconditionTransboundary Waters


Water related disputes and conflicts are going to get worse, because of:

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Population growth and higher demand

Combination of politics and geostrategic issues

Growth in irrigation demand for food production

Different interpretation of environmental values

etc.etc.


Dr.

H. K

ehl


What can be done?Transboundary Waters


Cooperation & Negotiations to share benefits.

Long-term commitment towards international conventions.

Early implementation of supranational watershed management commisions.

Capacity Building: Implementation of Development Assistance Agencies, because water-related needs must be coordinated and focused, relating quality, quantity, ground water, surface water, and local socio-political settings in an integrated fashion. Enhancing the capacities of regional, national and local level institutions.


Dr.

H. K

ehl


What can be done?Transboundary Waters


Integration of universities & agencies.

Enabling of stakeholder participation

Involvement of civil societies forconflict management.

Inventory control & ecosystem monitoring withremote sensing, and use of Geographical Information Systems for analysis of indicators of conflict and cooperation over international freshwater resources.

Education and training for interdisciplinary research.


Dr.

H. K

ehl


What could be the results?Transboundary Waters


Enhancement of surface and ground water quality for agriculture.

Fair supply and distribution of common pool resources.

Reduction of political disputes about transboundary water.

And last but not least, international protection and sustainable ecosystem management.

Reduction of salt dilemma in irrigation water (ground & surface water pollution), especially for riparian states.

So

urc

e:

D.W

olf

e

Salinization of agricultural land as the result of

changes in vegetation and water requirement

Documents

Berlin - Friday, 18.07.2003 „Transboundary Watermanagement“ 14 - 24 July Workshop on