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Foreword: Transboundary Water Management A Multidisciplinary Approach

For centuries, political and strategic considerations have been the major drivers behind the delineation of boundaries across the globe. Mountains, rivers, lakes and entire ecosystems (not to mention human settlements) have been assigned to the jurisdiction of different states, provinces and other administrative entities with little regard to their environmental cycles or effective management. Yet natural resources, and freshwater in particular, know no man-made boundaries, and indeed require internationally coordinated actions to be sustainably and effectively managed. It is only in recent years that transboundary waters, both surface and groundwater, have taken centre stage in international dialogue, as issues of water and food security force policy makers to take a more holistic view. Climate and global change are rapidly placing added pressures on the world's water reserves and the time has come to strengthen cooperation and build peace amongst states.

UNESCO's mission to ‘contribute to the building of peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information’ is achieved fully through its international water initiatives coordinated by the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP). UNESCO-IHP, established in 1975, is the only global scientific intergovernmental programme of the UN system devoted entirely to water resources, emphasizing the formulation of policy-relevant strategies for their sustainable management. Through its ISARM (Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management) and PCCP (From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential) programmes, UNESCO provides Member States with high level expertise and knowledge and assists them in the elaboration of policies for the sustainable management of transboundary waters.

Transboundary Water Management, edited by J. Ganoulis, A. Aureli and J. Fried, is the result of several years' of research in the field of international water resources. The UNESCO Chair that coordinates the International Network of Water-Environment Centres for the Balkans played an important role in organizing both the compilation of existing knowledge and the elaboration of sound policy recommendations. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that I welcome the publication of this title and commend it to Member States. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of shared natural resources is indeed paramount to finding solutions to multi-faceted challenges and I trust that future water managers, policy-makers and academics will find pleasure in reading this publication as well as benefit from its findings.

Gretchen Kalonji
UNESCO Assistant Director-General
for Natural Sciences

Preface

This book uses the term ‘transboundary waters’, as in Transboundary Waters Resources Management (TWRM), to mean waters crossing the borders of different riparian countries, which therefore are by definition countries sharing common surface and/or groundwater resources. The term is synonymous with ‘internationally shared waters’ and is in accordance with the terminology used by UNESCO in its international hydrological initiatives, such as the UNESCO/ISARM (Internationally Shared-Transboundary-Aquifer Resources Management) and the UNESCO/PC-CP (Potential Conflict-Cooperation Potential) programmes. It is considered to be a better choice than other similar expressions such as ‘international waters’, ‘multinational waters’ or ‘regional waters’, and avoids misunderstandings due to political sensitivities over national sovereignty in regions located near the borders.

‘Boundaries’ may also exist with different connotations between administrative regions or between cultural or ethnic entities located within the same country. In these cases both surface waters (rivers and lakes) and groundwaters (aquifers) may involve different administrations or various communities and their shared management should aim to resolve issues of potential regional or local conflicts in terms of water needs, water quality, environmental preservation or differences in legislation and economic issues. When the boundary is international and waters cross the borders of different riparian countries, then TWRM faces the major challenge of potential political conflicts and even war. The main issue in this case is how to convert these potential conflicts into collaborative actions. Such global TWRM challenges and general tools with which they may be addressed are explained in Part I: A Global View.

The book aims to serve as a practical guide for enhancing models of collaborative activities between riparian countries. In this context ‘collaboration’ means the active involvement of partners and institutions from both sides of the border, which includes exchange of information, interaction and dialogue between partners, in order to reach common decisions and find unified solutions to TWRM problems. In this sense, ‘collaboration’ is considered to be a more advanced stage of ‘cooperation’ or ‘coordination’. The first step in cooperation can be achieved by a simple exchange of information with no further interaction between partners; this may be called ‘passive cooperation’. A more advanced second step is engaging in dialogue and developing a consultation process; this may be called ‘coordinated cooperation’ and is a prerequisite condition for the third step, which is ‘active collaboration’. Only with active and effective collaboration can sustainable governance of transboundary water resources be achieved.

Since there is no single universal model for a collaborative approach to TWRM, this book presents an analysis of various effective models illustrated by case studies from around the world. Even though case studies are particular and not easily transferred to different situations, they are very helpful in showing relationships between different more or less independent variables, such as physical, hydrologic, hydrogeological, ecological, socio-economic conditions, institutional structures, stakeholders participation, legal agreements and political willingness. The main dependent variable that emerges from this process is the need for active collaboration and effective governance in TWRM.

Models of collaborative actions in TWRM depend on the approach used, for example, whether the model is developed by a particular scientific discipline, by a professional community or by different kinds of scientists.

For engineers, hydrologists, hydrogeologists or environmental professionals emphasis is placed on modelling the physical and ecological transboundary hydro-systems in terms of (i) delineating their natural borders (hydrologic basins for transboundary rivers and lakes or hydrogeological boundaries for groundwater aquifers), (ii) analysing relationships between physical and ecological variables such as precipitation, river flow, pollutant inputs, lake water quality, biodiversity or groundwater recharge and (iii) suggesting structural or non-structural measures in order to obtain solutions and improve TWRM. These models, conceptual or mathematical, are more or less accurate subject to data availability and precision and various assumptions and simplifications in modelling. They are useful for understanding how the physical and ecological transboundary systems behave under natural and anthropogenic inputs in terms of water quantity and environmental impacts. These kinds of models for transboundary aquifers, lakes and rivers are presented in Part II: Physical, Environmental and Technical Approaches.

For lawyers and social scientists (geographers, economists, sociologists) emphasis is placed on human factors, which can be very complex and difficult to analyse or predict, such as institutional cooperation, stakeholder participation and negotiation strategies. For lawyers the emphasis is on regulating provisions and duties of riparian countries in terms of access, utilization, protection, preservation and management of transboundary waters. The codification of such legal rules is very useful to the international community, even though this process may be somewhat general and unable to cover all specific cases. The main challenge is whether different national administrations will agree to implement international rules at the national level and at the same time coordinate their activities with riparian countries through bilateral or regional collaborative agreements. This challenge may be faced by raising public and stakeholders' awareness in participatory processes involving national institutions, academic partners and international organizations. All these approaches are presented in Part III: Legal, Socio-Economic and Institutional Approaches.

In the real world all the above issues and approaches coexist and are interrelated. To achieve effective TWRM these models, whether descriptive or prescriptive, should merge. In Chapter 8 of Part IV: Bridging the Gaps, two main strategies for achieving such integration are presented: (i) through effective capacity building and training in TWRM and (ii) by analysing a general framework of conflict resolution, based on how riparian countries may share benefits and risks. Both these strategies are supported by UNESCO's ISARM and PC-CP programmes.

The main contents of the book are based on updated papers first presented at the ‘IV International Symposium on Transboundary Water Management’, Thessaloniki, Greece, October 2008. Recommendations of this Conference on how to bridge the gaps are summarized in the ‘Thessaloniki Statement’, which is reported in Chapter 9 of Part IV.

I am very grateful to all authors and contributors to this book for their excellent collaboration during and after the conference. Personally and on behalf of my co-editors, Alice Aureli and Jean Fried, I would like to thank Dr. Frank Weinreich, manager of Wiley-VCH Water & Environmental books programme, for giving us the opportunity to publish this book, and to Lesley Belfit, Project Editor at Wiley-VCH, for her help with the publication process. My appreciation and special thanks go to Katie Quartano at the UNESCO Chair, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for her professional contribution to the reviewing and proofreading processes.

Thessaloniki, Greece
January 2011

Jacques Ganoulis

List of Contributors

Thomas K. Alexandridis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
School of Agriculture
Laboratory of Applied Soil Science
Thessaloniki
Greece

Manolia Andredaki
Democritus University of Thrace
Department of Civil Engineering
Vas. Sofias 12
67100 Xanthi
Greece

Francesca Antonelli
World Wildlife Fund
European Policy Office
Via PO, 25/C
00198 Rome
Italy

Bo Appelgren
UNESCO International Hydrological Programme
N. Colesanti 13
01023 Bolsena
Italy

and

UNESCO International Hydrological Programme
1 rue Miollis
75732 Paris
France

Majed Atwi Saab
University of Zaragoza
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Department of Economic Analysis
Gran Vía 2
50005 Zaragoza
Spain

Marina Babi Mladenovi
‘Jaroslav Cerni’ Institute for the Development of Water Resources
Jaroslava Cernog 80
11226 Belgrade
Serbia

Alexey V. Babkin
State Hydrological Institute
Laboratory of Water Resources and Water Balance
Second Line, 23 V.O.
199053 St. Petersburg
Russia

Evangelos A. Baltas
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
School of Agriculture
Department of Hydraulics, Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering
Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Djana Bejko
University ‘Luigj Gurakuqi’
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Sheshi ‘2 Prilli’
L. Qemal Stafa, Rr. Vasil Shanto, Nr 21
4001 Shkoder
Albania

Georg Berthold
Hessian Agency for Environment and Geology (HLUG)
Rheingaustraße 186
65203 Wiesbaden
Germany

Roberto Bertoni
C.N.R. Institute of Ecosystem Study
Largo Tonolli 50
28922 Verbania Pallanza
Italy

Adriane Blum
Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)
3 avenue Claude-Guillemin
45060 Orléans
France

Ognjen Bonacci
University of Split
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Matice hrvatske 15
21000 Split
Croatia

Sabine Brels
University of Laval
Faculty of Law
2325 rue de l'Université Québec
Québec City, Québec
Canada G1V 0A6

Mitja Brilly
University of Ljubljana
Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
Jamova 2
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Serge Brouyere
University of Liège
HG-GeomaC
4000 Sart Tilman, Liège
Belgium

Anne Browning-Aiken
University of Arizona
Udall Centre for Studies in Public Policy
Tucson, AZ
USA

Brilanda Bushati
University ‘Luigj Gurakuqi’
Faculty of Economic Sciences
Sheshi ‘2 Prilli’
L. Qemal Stafa, Rr. Zog i Pare, Nr. 37
4001 Shkoder
Albania

Zsuzsanna Buzás
Ministry for Environment and Water
Futca 44-50
1011 Budapest
Hungary

Devinder Kumar Chadha
Global Hydrogeological Solutions
G-66 (Ground Floor)
Vikaspuri
New Delhi - 110 018
India

Eleni Charou
National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”
Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications
153 10 Aghia Paraskevi
Greece

Ioannis Chronis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
School of Agriculture
Laboratory of Applied Soil Science
Thessaloniki
Greece

David Coates
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
413 Saint Jacques Street
Montreal, Québec
Canada QC H2Y 1N9

Ana Carolina Coelho
Colorado State University
Department of Civil Engineering
Engineering Building - Campus Delivery 1372
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1372
USA

Alain Dassargues
University of Liège
DepartmentArGEnCo
4000 Sart Tilman, Liège
Belgium

Hubert Machard de Gramont
BRGM
Water Division
3 avenue Claude Guillemin
BP 36009-45060 Orléans
France

Lilian Del Castillo-Laborde
University of Buenos Aires
School of Law
Av. Figueroa Alcorta 2263
1425 Buenos Aires
Argentina

Mónica D’Elia
National University of El Litoral
Faculty of Engineering and Water Sciences
Ciudad Universitaria
Ruta Nacional 168-Km 472
S3000 Santa Fe
Argentina

Eglantina Demiraj
Polytechnic University of Tirana
Institute of Energy, Water and Environment
Durresi Street 219
Tirana
Albania

Milan Dimki
‘Jaroslav Cerni’ Institute for the Development of Water Resources
Jaroslava Cernog 80
11226 Belgrade
Serbia

Dragan Dolinaj
University of Novi Sad
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Climatology and Hydrology Research Centre
Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3
21000 Novi Sad
Serbia

Jean-François Donzier
International Network of Basin Organizations
c/o International Office for Water
21 rue de Madrid
75008 Paris
France

Radu Drobot
Technical University of Civil Engineering
Bd. Lacul Tei 124, Sector 2
020396 Bucharest
Romania

Viktor A. Dukhovny
Scientific Information Centre of Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Aral Sea Basin (SIC ICWC)
Massiv Karasu 4, Building 11
100187 Tashkent
Uzbekistan

Eleni Eleftheriadou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Civil Engineering Department
Hydraulics Laboratory
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Zsuzsanna Engi
West-Transdanubian Environmental and Water Directorate[JA20]
Department for Prevention and Protection from Water Damages
Gyor
Hungary

Darrell Fontane
Colorado State University
Department of Civil Engineering
Fort Collins, CO 80523
USA

Jean Fried
University of California
School of Social Ecology
Department of Planning, Policy and Design
Irvine, CA 92697
USA

and

UNESCO
Paris
France

Hans-Gerhard Fritsche
Hessian Agency for Environment and Geology (HLUG)
Rheingaustraße 186
65203 Wiesbaden
Germany

Jacques Ganoulis
UNESCO Chair and Network INWEB
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Department of Civil Engineering
Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Miltos Gletsos
Society for the Protection of Prespa
530 77 Aghios Germanos
Greece

Piero Guilizzoni
C.N.R. Institute of Ecosystem Study
Largo Tonolli 50
28922 Verbania Pallanza
Italy

Bojan Hajdin
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

André Hernandes
Ministry of Transport
National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT)
Parana Waterway Administration (AHRANA)
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima
SP-CEP 01451-000 Sao Paulo
Brazil

Vlassios Hrissanthou
Democritus University of Thrace
Department of Civil Engineering
Vas. Sofias 12
67100 Xanthi
Greece

Natacha Jacquin
L’Office International de l’Eau OIEAU
15 rue Edouard Chamberland
87065 Limoges Cedex
France

Andreas Kallioras
Technical University of Darmstadt
Institute of Applied Geosciences
Hydrogeology Group
Karolinenplatz 5
64289 Darmstadt
Germany

Kamal Karaa
Litani River Authority
Bechara el Khoury Street
Ghannageh Buld.
3732 Beirut
Lebanon

Katharina Kober
Mediterranean Network of Basin Organizations
Avda. Blasco Ibañez 48
46010 Valencia
Spain

Elpida Kolokytha
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Department of Civil Engineering
Division of Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Stanka Koren
Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia
Vojkova 1b
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Vladimir Kotov
EcoPolicy Research and Consulting
Moscow
Russia

Nikolaos Kotsovinos
Democritus University of Thrace
Department of Civil Engineering
Vas. Sofias 12
67100 Xanthi
Greece

Alexei V. Kouraev
Université de Toulouse
UPS (OMP-PCA)
LEGOS
14 Av. Edouard Belin
F-31400 Toulouse
France

and

State Oceanography Institute
St. Petersburg Branch
St. Petersburg
Russia

Balázs Kovács
University of Szeged
Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology
Egyetem 2-6
6722 Szeged
Hungary

Péter Kozák
ATIKOVIZIG
Directorate for Environmental Protection and Water Management of Lower Tisza District
Stefania 4
6701 Szeged
Hungary

Neno Kukuric
IGRAC International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre
3508 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands

Ralf Kunkel
Research Centre Jülich
Agrosphere Institute (ICG-4)
Leo-Brandt-Strasse
52425 Jülich
Germany

Richard Laster
Hebrew University
Faculty of Law and Faculty of Environmental Studies
Jerusalem
Israel

and

Laster Gouldman Law Offices
48 Azza Street
92384 Jerusalem
Israel

Efthalia Lazaridou
Omikron LTD
Environmental Department
Agricultural Road Straitsa
57001 Thessaloniki
Greece

Maria Lazaridou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Department of Biology
Laboratory of Zoology
Thessaloniki
Greece

Milojko Lazi
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Louis Lebel
Chiang Mai University
Unit for Social and Environmental Research
239 Huay Kaew Road
50200 Chiang Mai
Thailand

Lászlò Lenart
University of Miskolc
3515 Miskolc-Egyetemvaros
Hungary

Flavia Rocha Loures
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
International Law and Policy
Freshwater Program
1250 24th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1193
USA

Rodrigo Maia
Universidade do Porto
Department of Civil Engineering
Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-465 Porto
Portugal

Sotir Mali
University of Elbasan
Rruga Rinia
Elbasan
Albania

Daphne Mantziou
Society for the Protection of Prespa
530 77 Aghios Germanos
Greece

Daene C. McKinney
The University of Texas at Austin
Center for Research in Water Resources
10100 Burnet Rd., Bldg 119
Austin, TX 78703
USA

Petra Megli
Geological Survey of Slovenia
Dimieva ulica 14
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Saša Milanovi
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Dragana Milovanovi
Ministry of Agriculture
Forestry and Water Management
Directorate for Water
Bulevar umetnosti 2a
11070 Belgrade
Serbia

Miodrag Milovanovi
‘Jaroslav Cerni’ Institute for the Development of Water Resources
Jaroslava Cernog 80
11226 Belgrade
Serbia

Marin-Nelu Minciuna
National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management
Sos. Bucuresti-Ploiesti 97
013686 Bucharest
Romania

Jean-Marie Monget
Mines ParisTech
Earth & Environmental Sciences
60 Boulevard Saint-Michel
75272 Paris
France

Barbara J. Morehouse
University of Arizona
Institute of the Environment
Marshall Building
845 N. Park Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85721
USA

Rosario Mosello
C.N.R. Institute of Ecosystem Study
Largo Tonolli 50
28922 Verbania Pallanza
Italy

Jacques Mudry
University of Besançon
UMR Chrono-Environnement
F-25030 Besançon
France

Yannis Mylopoulos
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Civil Engineering Department
Hydraulics Laboratory
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Udaya Sekhar Nagothu
Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk)
Fr. A. Dahlsvei 20
1432 Ås
Norway

Miriam Ndini
Polytechnic University of Tirana
Institute of Energy, Water and Environment
Durresi Street 219
Tirana
Albania

Benjamin Ngounou Ngatcha
University of Ngaoundéré
Faculty of Sciences
B.P. 454 Ngaoundéré
Cameroon

Elena Nikitina
Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute for World Economy and International Relations
Prosouznaya st. 23
117997 Moscow
Russia

Dragana Ninkovi
‘Jaroslav Cerni’ Institute for the Development of Water Resources
Jaroslava Cernog 80
11226 Belgrade
Serbia

Jožef Novak
Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia
Vojkova 1b
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Petar Papic
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Marta Paris
National University of El Litoral
Faculty of Engineering and Water Sciences
Ciudad Universitaria
Ruta Nacional 168-Km 472
S3000 Santa Fe
Argentina

Milana Panteli
University of Novi Sad
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management
Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3
21000 Novi Sad
Serbia

Didier Pennequin
BRGM
Water Division
3 avenue Claude Guillemin
BP 36009-45060 Orléans
France

Christian Perennou
Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc
13200 Arles
France

Marcela Perez
National University of El Litoral
Faculty of Engineering and Water Sciences
Ciudad Universitaria
Ruta Nacional 168-Km 472
S3000 Santa Fe
Argentina

Andrej Perovic
University of Montenegro
Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
20000 Podgorica
Montenegro

Sotiris Petropoulos
Harokopio University of Athens
Department of Geography
70 El Venizelou Str.
17671 Athens
Greece

Fotis Pliakas
Democritus University of Thrace
Civil Engineering Department
Engineering Geology Laboratory
Vas. Sofias 12
67100 Xanthi
Greece

Dušan Polomi
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Irina Polshkova
Russian Academy of Sciences
Water Problems Institute
3 Gubkina Street
119333 Moscow
Russia

Joerg Prestor
Geological Survey of Slovenia
Dimieva ulica 14
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Samir Rhaouti
Sebou River Basin Organization
BP 2101 Rue Abou Alaa Al Maari
VN30000 Fes
Morocco

Lena Salame
UNESCO
Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential (PC-CP) Programme
Paris
France

Julio Sánchez Chóliz
University of Zaragoza
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Department of Economic Analysis
Gran Vía 2
50005 Zaragoza
Spain

Samuel Sandoval-Solis
The University of Texas at Austin
Center for Research in Water Resources
10100 Burnet Rd., Bldg 119
Austin, TX 78703
USA

Spase Shumka
Agricultural University of Tirana
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food
Koder-Kamza
Tirana
Albania

Bach Tan Sinh
National Institute for Science and Technology Policy and Strategy Studies
Science and Policy Studies Centre
Hanoi
Vietnam

Eva Skarbøvik
Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk)
Fr. A. Dahlsvei 20
1432 Ås
Norway

Stylianos Skias
Democritus University of Thrace
Civil Engineering Department
Engineering Geology Laboratory
Vas. Sofias 12
67100 Xanthi
Greece

Charalampos Skoulikaris
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Civil Engineering Department
Hydraulics Laboratory
54124 Thessaloniki
Greece

Alkis Stamos
Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration
Department of Geology and Geological Mapping
Olympic Village, Entrance C
13677 Acharnae
Greece

Marianthi Stefouli
Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration
Department of Geology and Geological Mapping
Olympic Village, Entrance C
13677 Acharnae
Greece

Raya Marina Stephan
Water Law expert
International consultant
38 rue du Hameau
78480 Verneuil sur Seine
France

Zoran Stevanovi
University of Belgrade
Faculty of Mining & Geology
Department of Hydrogeology
Djusina 7
11000 Belgrade
Serbia

Pierre Strosser
ACTeon s.a.r.l., Le Chalimont
BP Ferme du Pré du Bois
68370 Orbey
France

Galina Stulina
Scientific Information Centre of Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Aral Sea Basin (SIC ICWC)
Massiv Karasu 4, Building 11
100187 Tashkent
Uzbekistan

János Szanyi
University of Szeged
Department of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Petrology
Egyetem 2-6
6722 Szeged
Hungary

Peter Szucs
University of Miskolc
35152 Miskolc-Egyetemvaros
Hungary

Rebecca L. Teasley
The University Of Minnesota Duluth
Department of Civil Engineering
221 SCiv 1405 University Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
USA

József Török
ATIKOVIZIG
Directorate for Environmental Protection and Water Management of Lower Tisza District
Stefania 4
6701 Szeged
Hungary

Nikolaos Tsotsolis
Region of Central Macedonia
Thessaloniki
Greece

Ofelia Tujchneider
National University of El Litoral
Faculty of Engineering and Water Sciences
Ciudad Universitaria
Ruta Nacional 168-Km 472
S3000 Santa Fe
Argentina

and

National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)
Av. Rivadavia 1917
C1033AAJ Buenos Aires
Argentina

Guido Vaes
HydroScan Ltd.
Tiensevest 26/4
3000 Leuven
Belgium

Anastasios Valvis
University of Peloponnese
Department of Political Science and International Relations
Corinth
Greece

Jac van der Gun
IGRAC International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre
3508 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands

Slavek Vasak
IGRAC International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre
3508 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands

Evan Vlachos
Colorado State University
Department of Civil Engineering
Fort Collins, CO 80523
USA

Frank Wendland
Research Centre Jülich
Agrosphere Institute (ICG-4)
Leo-Brandt-Strasse
52425 Jülich
Germany

Rüdiger Wolter
Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)
Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau
Germany

George Zalidis
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
School of Agriculture
Laboratory of Applied Soil Science
Thessaloniki
Greece

Chapter 1

Introduction and Structure of the Book

Jacques Ganoulis

This book is a practical guide that suggests methodological tools and answers to different questions related to Transboundary Water Resources Management (TWRM), including both surface and groundwater aquifer resources. Some of these questions may be formulated as follows:

• How could data and information from riparian countries be harmonized to better understand the physical characteristics of transboundary hydro-systems?
• Are hydrological and hydrogeological models available to predict different scenarios in TWRM?
• What methodology is available to delineate transboundary aquifers?
• What is the current status of international law in terms of sharing transboundary surface waters and groundwater aquifers between riparian countries and what are the main legal issues?
• How could international law improve the utilization and effective protection of shared water resources?
• How could public and stakeholder participation contribute to the implementation of integrated TWRM?
• What methodology is available for integrating different collaborative models of TWRM?
• How could potential conflicts in sharing transboundary waters be transformed into collaborative actions?

In this practical guide, different collaborative models and TWRM tools are identified and explained, not just theoretically or conceptually but through specific case studies from around the world. These case studies are grouped together in such a way that the wide range of tools available to effectively explain, address, assess, understand and resolve TWRM problems in the real world become apparent.

The book is organized in four parts, which are described below.

1.1 Part I – A Global View

Part I is divided into two chapters (Chapters 2 and 3). Chapter 2 presents the importance of transboundary waters worldwide and the need for collaborative approaches to address global challenges of TWRM. The role of different disciplinary tools and regulatory instruments (technical, environmental, legal and socio-economical) for an effective collaborative approach is also explained.

Chapter 3 describes significant worldwide initiatives, such as the INBO (International Network of Basin Organizations) network, the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Transboundary Waters Convention (1992), the UN Watercourses Convention (1997), the UN International Law Commission articles on shared natural resources (oil, gas and including shared groundwaters in 2002), UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme (IHP) components dealing with transboundary surface and groundwater resources, the UN CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992) and the European Union Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD, 2000). The importance of building international cooperation and management networks at the transboundary river catchment scale is emphasized (Chapter 3.1) and the role of international laws for transboundary water courses and aquifers is analysed (Chapters 3.2–3.4). The EU-WFD as a driving force for implementing the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in transboundary regions is further explained (Chapters 3.5 and 3.6) and illustrated by characteristic case studies both from the EU and non-EU countries (Chapters 3.7–3.9).

1.2 Part II – Physical, Environmental and Technical Approaches

Part II is divided into two chapters, the first of which (Chapter 4) describes physical, environmental and technical approaches for transboundary aquifers, and the second (Chapter 5) covers transboundary lake and river basins. Chapters 4.1–4.3 are quite general and explain how hydrologic and hydrogeological approaches may be used to assess not only porous transboundary aquifers (Chapter 4.1) but also karst aquifers, which are globally very important sources for water supply (Chapter 4.2). The need to share information between neighbouring countries and to harmonize data is emphasized in these sections and the use of mathematical modelling as a tool for assessing groundwater hydrodynamics in transboundary aquifers is highlighted (Chapter 4.3).

Characteristic case studies from around the world, illustrating the application of the hydrogeological and scientific tools previously analysed, are reported in the second part of Chapter 4. In these case studies further details are given on how to assess and model transboundary aquifer systems, with examples from South America (Chapter 4.4), Africa (Chapter 4.5), Asia (Chapter 4.6) and Europe (Rhine Valley, Chapter 4.7), an aquifer shared by Hungary and Romania (Chapter 4.8), an aquifer shared by Serbia and Hungary (Chapter 4.9) and aquifers around Slovenia (Chapter 4.10).

For transboundary surface waters (Chapter 5), such as lakes and rivers, the hydrological monitoring data collected by individual countries are usually non-comparable, and even incomplete. This unfortunate situation is documented in (Chapter 5.1) and is also the case for the majority of hydrogeological data of groundwater aquifers. The non-comparability of monitoring data is a major obstacle in harmonizing information available from individual countries and applying global directives like the EU-WFD. International guidelines, such as those published by UN organizations like the WMO (World Meteorological Organization), could help remediate this situation.

However, despite the lack of systematic comparable monitoring systems, three case studies illustrating successful collaboration models are presented in Chapter 5: Lake Maggiore, shared between Italy and Switzerland (Chapter 5.2), Prespa Lakes, shared between Greece, Albania and FYR of Macedonia (Chapters 5.3 and 5.4), and the Kobilje River, shared between Slovenia and Austria (Chapter 5.5). This chapter also illustrates other problems in transboundary river basins, such as impacts from climate change (Chapters 5.6 and 5.7), identification of water bodies according to the EU-WFD (Chapter 5.8), sediment transport (Chapter 5.9) and river flow periodicities (Chapter 5.10).

1.3 Part III – Legal, Socio-Economic and Institutional Approaches

This part is also divided into two chapters (Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 6 deals mainly with legal approaches; in Chapter 6.1 explanations are offered as to how international law on transboundary aquifers may be used. In Chapter 6.2 it is shown how adequate water policies may reduce over use of water in agriculture.

Regional and bilateral legal agreements can enhance effective cooperation between countries. Examples of this are given for the Aral Sea basin, Central Asia (Chapter 6.3), for the Kidron Valley, Middle East (Chapter 6.4) and for the Prespa Lakes basin in the Balkans (Chapter 6.5). A comparison between the rivers Mekong in SE Asia and Maritsa/Evros/Meriç in SE Europe illustrates how regional agreements can contribute to transform conflicts into cooperation (Chapter 6.6).

Adequate delineation of water resources regions adapted to specific regional conditions is also an important issue. The EU-WFD stipulates that water resources management should be performed on a river basin basis. Different criteria may be used to define water resources management regions in order to better promote the application of IWRM and contribute to transboundary water conflicts resolution. Examples are provided from the USA (Chapter 6.7) and Greece (Chapter 6.8).

Chapter 7 focuses on socio-economic and institutional approaches, which are very important for the implementation of technical and legal collaborative models in transboundary waters. Stakeholder participation, social learning and institutional design are important tools for achieving effective TWRM and reducing water insecurities and this is analysed in Chapters 7.1 and 7.2. Case studies from South America (Chapter 7.3) and the Balkans (Chapters 7.4–7.6) demonstrate particular issues and problems in transboundary cooperation.

Economic governance, such as the model of common pool management of transboundary water resources (Chapter 7.7) and applications of game theory (Chapters 7.8–7.10), all important tools for facilitating negotiations in conflict resolution issues, is also discussed.

1.4 Part IV – Bridging the Gaps

To deal with the complexity of real world problems, where no distinction is made between different dependent physical and socio-economic processes, there is a need for the various approaches described in Parts II and III to be integrated. This process of integration could be facilitated in two main ways. Firstly, through education and capacity building, where special training programmes can show how multidisciplinary approaches can be coordinated to achieve an integrated view of a problem and solve it effectively in the real world (Chapter 8.1). Secondly, by taking into account a general framework for risk analysis in conflict resolution, where risks and benefits could be shared between riparian countries and “win-win” solutions to transboundary disputes can be achieved (Chapter 8.2). Both these processes are based on specific programmes developed by UNESCO.

Figure 1.1 illustrates a collaborative model for TWRM based on the various contributions to this book. This uses the following seven steps and may be adapted to any particular case study of transboundary waters:

Figure 1.1 Seven steps of the TWRM collaborative model, showing the relevant chapter/section numbers of the individual contributions from this book.

Part One

A Global View