Overview of Global Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Activities

Neno KukurićAlmaty, July 2013

What is a Transboundary Aquifer? Transboundary aquifer or transboundary aquifer system

means, respectively, an aquifer or aquifer system, parts of which are situated in different States;

Why do we need a TBA assessment? The fact: many aquifers cross the political borders

Potential cross-boundary problems: changes in groundwater flow, levels, volumes (quantity) and dissolved substances (quality).

Actions: TBA assessment, monitoring and appropriate management.

Benefits: eliminating potential sources of conflict and improving the overall benefit from groundwater.

Global, regional and aquifers-based assessment

ISARM (Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management) programme

Regional UNECE Assessments in Europe and Central Asia (EU WFD and other regional assessments)

GEF (Global Environment Facility) projects introducing TWAP

Concluding comments

Overview of global TBA assessments

ISARM Programme

The worldwide ISARM (Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management) Initiative is an UNESCO led multi-agency effort aimed at improving the understanding of hydrogeological, socio-economic, legal, institutional and environmental issues related to the management of transboundary aquifers.

ISARM operates as an umbrella programme, (co)organising various TBA-related activities around the world.

June 2000: in recognition of the importance of transboundary aquifer systems as a source of freshwater in certain regions of the world, UNESCO IHP Council decided to launch an ISARM initiative to promote studies on transboundary aquifers.

A cooperation was established with IAH (TARM commission), UNECE, FAO and other regional and international institutions.

A framework document in 2001, describing the main aspects of the internationally shared aquifers and setting up the basis for the TBA assessment

ISARM Background

TBA Assessment Methodology

Environmental issues Socio-economic framework Institutional settings

International legal framework

Hydrogeological Aspect Delineation and description Classification, diagnostic analysis and zoning Data harmonisation and information

management

Global Overview of ISARM activities

ISARM Regional Activities

Since its start in 2000, ISARM launched a number of regional initiatives designed to assess transboundary aquifer systems and to encourage aquifer sharing states to work cooperatively toward mutually beneficial and sustainable aquifer development.

Cooperation with regional organisations is crucial for success of ISARM activities.

The most numerous initiatives carried out in Africa(Tripoli 2002 , Cape Town 2005, 2007, Tripoli 2008, Nairobi 2010, 2011, Duala 2011, 2012…)

The most advanced assessment so far is of ISARM Americas (hydrogeology, legal and institutionalframeworks, socio-economic framework...)

South East Europe Caucasus and Central Asia in cooperation with UNECE

ISARM Western Asia in cooperation with GeologicalSurvey of China

TBA assessment in Africa

2002

2005

2009

2012

TBAs of the World - 2012

Atlas of Transboundary Aquifers Includes basic info about aquifers, regional cooperation and

references The first global publication (other

than a map – delineation process) Very limited info/no analysis

ISARM Portal

www.isarm.org

Global TBA Information System

UNECE TBA inventory & assessmentsThe UNECE Inventory 1999

Lesson learned - challenges of: TB groundwater assessment international data harmonisation

Added value: Pioneering role in addressing TBAs! Formulating TBA characteristics Pan European overview

The First UNECE Assessment 2007 followed the Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Responses

(DPSIR) framework adopted by the EEA - recommended a clear regional overview of current groundwater status (including

the transboundary impact and management measures), of pressures and of future trends and prospects.

Central Asia TBAs

Central Asia TBAs

Central Asia TBAs

UNECE TBA inventory & assessmentsThe Second UNECE Assessment

It is still difficult to implement a balanced IWRM approach, especially in areas with large rivers where groundwater easily remainsinsufficiently addressed.

EU WFD defines groundwater bodies (GWBs) rather than aquifers, causing the harmonisation difficulty at the borders of the EU.

Country-based questionnaires contain still unprocessed information that is potentially useful for TWAP

EU Water Framework Directive Concept of groundwater bodies Quality standards and threshold values Mapping approach

ESCWA 2012 - mapping approach SADC (GEF/others) Northern Africa (GEF/others) Others….

Other regional TBA assessments

GEF TBA assessment projects In the last decade, Global Environment Facility co- funded

several large TBA assessment projects Comparing with ISARM and UNECE, GEF projects concentrate

often on one aquifer (system) allowing in depth analysis.

Projects: Nubian Aquifer System Guarani Aquifer System SADC (Limpopo Basin) NW Sahara Aquifer System Iullemenden Aquifer System DIKTAS Aquifer System

other GEF IW groundwaterprojects (MedParterschip, Eastern Desert of Egypt, ..

TDA - Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis

Transboundary specifics are usually found in (hydro)geological classifications, data and information management, legislation, organisational structure, etc.

Further than an assessment: consultation/cooperation mechanisms and agreeingon joint strategic actions (SAP)

Outcomes presented in reports but also databases, maps, websites

Accessibility : being improved (IW-LEARN)but still insuficient

GEF TBA assessment projects

GEF TBA assessment projects

TWAPTransboundary Water Assessment Programme

The term ‘transboundary waters’ , includes the Open Oceans, Large Marine Ecosystems, River and Lake Basins, and Aquifers with transboundary drainage basins or common borders.

The water-related ecosystems associated with these waters are considered integral parts of the systems.

TWAP Objectives

1. The assessment will respond to the need of GEF IW, other donors and governments to prioritize, and to focus scarce resources where they can be more cost-effective in addressing transboundary concerns

2. It will allow to monitor evolving trends, and the impacts of GEF IW programs, and those of other agencies and actors

3. It will bring to the global attention the vulnerability of transboundary water systems, and catalyze action

TWAP OutcomesFor all main transboundary River Basins, and Aquifers, all major Lakes, all LMEs, and for Open Ocean assessment units, TWAP will produce a synthesis of the data and information available, including information that can be generated as a proxy from databases and through modeling.

Based on this, TWAP will help in understanding:

•What kind of human and ecosystem use of the water resources is affected or impaired now (through conflicts, depletion, degradation)?

•What will be water use and conditions of use in near future?

•Where will this be occurring?

Conceptual framework for TWAP’s overall assessment

TWAP Groundwater

Objectives:

1.Provide a description of the present conditions and expected trends of Transboundary Aquifers (TBAs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) groundwater systems, to enable the GEF IW Focal Area to determine priority aquifers/regions for resources allocation.

2.Bring to the global attention the potentialities and the vulnerability of transboundary aquifer systems, and catalyze actions.

global groundwater consumption per sector

TWAP TBAs Methodology

Level 1: Baseline Global Assessment, aimed at identifying areas of global priority concern, also in view of possible projections.

Level 2: Regional, providing more in depth assessment of single transboundary water-bodies, aimed at proposing characterization standards and indicators for water-body management purposes.

TWAP TBA Scale and Scope

Scale

Global assessment – all international groundwater systems, however:

•TBAs: exclude very small systems (< 5,000 km2): 166 TBAs plus X

•SIDS: total of 43 SIDS to be assessed

Scope

Acquisition of sufficient information to understand characteristics and trends of groundwater systems and the interconnected socio-economic and environmental systems

Assessment will be:

•Based on existing information

•With a central role for national and regional experts

1.Core Group

2.Regional Organisations and Coordinators

3.Key Providers of Expertise and Data

TWAP TBAs: Partnership Arrangements

TWAP-TBAs: Execution ArrangementsCore Group

Overall Coordination and Oversight

UNESCO IHP, IGRAC, WWAP, FAO

Regional Coordinators and Expert Networks

(inventory, characterization, indicators)

OAS, SADC, UN Economic Commissions, others

Task Force on Remote Sensing and Modeling

&Information

Management System

IGRAC

Advisory Panel

Key Expertise and Data Providers

IAH, Geological Surveys, NGOs, Academia

Countries

Core GroupOverall Coordination and Oversight

UNESCO IHP, IGRAC, WWAP, FAO

Regional Coordinators and Expert Networks

(inventory, characterization, indicators)

OAS, SADC, UN Economic Commissions, others

Task Force on Remote Sensing and Modeling

&Information

Management System

IGRAC

Advisory Panel

Key Expertise and Data Providers

IAH, Geological Surveys, NGOs, Academia

Countries

Assessment of Transboundary Aquifers It’s all about people….

Thank you for your attention

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

World Meteorological Organization

Government of The Netherlands