GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN THE TRANSBOUNDARY SYR DARYA BASIN

Project Preparation Phase – Inception Meeting

3-4 February 2014 UNESCO HQ, Paris - 1, Rue Miollis

Salle XIV (Floor -1)

Dr A. AureliUNESCO IHP Chief Groundwater Section

Project Executing Agency

Ongoing GEF Projects Executed by UNESCO

onGroundwater Resources UNDP/GEF –UNEP/GEF

Set up Coordination and Cooperation for the Sustainable Management of the Transboundary

Dinaric Aquifer System

• GEF / UNDP / UNESCO-IHP IGRAC regional Full -Size Project

• Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro

• Regional and international partners

• Post conflicts countries• 2010-2014

Objectives:• facilitate the equitable and sustainable utilization of the transboundary

water resources of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System, and• protect the unique groundwater dependent ecosystems that

characterize the Dinaric Karst region of the Balkan peninsula.

• The rise of several new sovereign states created new transboundary interlinkages

• TDA: Expansion and consolidation of the current scientific and technical knowledge base; preparation of thematic maps to guide management

• Development of mechanisms for coordination and information exchange at national and regional level

• Joint development and implementation of the Strategic Action Programme

Protection and Sustainable Use of the Dinaric Karst Transboundary Aquifer System (DIKTAS))))

Global Objective

• focus attention of the international community on the huge but vulnerable water resources contained in karst aquifers

• Replication of experiences in other Karst areas

“Groundwater Governance: A Global Framework for Action”–

 5 regional consultations-96 countries -

GOVERNANCE of GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

Providing policy makers with science-based guidelines for informed decision making

Framework for Action

Latin America & Caribbean19 countries

Sub-Saharan Africa19 countries

Arab States19 countries

Asia & Pacific17 countries

UNECE region22 countries + private sector

Regional Diagnostics / Recommendations

GEF-UNESCO-FAO-WB-IAH

Thanks to UNESCO-IHP Network

http://themedpartnership.org

Management of coastal aquifers and groundwater

In the frame of the Strategic Partnerhsip for the Mediterranean 12 Méditerranean participating countries + the Palestinian territories

Objectives: • Identify land source pollution to the mediterranean sea • reverse the trends in over-extraction and degradation of the coastal aquifers

quality through policy interactions and to provide appropriate capacity and technology for groundwater management

• Characterization and management of Groundwater supported ecosystems• Regional actions for Coastal Aquifer Management through the development of

a regional and national plan for actions relating to coastal groundwater.• Legislative, policy and institutional reforms for Coastal Aquifer ManagementOne main expected objective : Coastal aquifers supplement to the TDA-Med

International Waters Learning Exchange And Resource Network

Goal: Strengthen Transboundary Waters Management by facilitating information sharing and knowlegde management amongst GEF IW projects and partners Unique initiative in the GEF portfolio

Strong focus on groundwater protection and management

Improve effectiveness in combating land degradation in MENARID through an enhanced role of groundwater

IW LEARN Project (2011-2014)

A series of interviews and videos from events across the world looking at groundwater

issues!

Analysis of the global portfolio of GEF Projects on Groundwater in light of disseminating outstanding results, lessons learned and replicable practices

Community formed by practitioners, project managers and Ministries representatives. Structured targeted dialogues around main challenges and themes such asGroundwater Governance, Climate Change Adaptation, Traditional knowledge, Transboundary Aquifers, Managed Aquifer Recharge…

GEF- UNESCO IHP -IGRAC –TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS

ASSESSEMENTGEF Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP)

• (1) Provide a description of the present status of transboundary aquifers (TBA) and aquifers in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

• (2) Bring to the global attention the potentialities and the vulnerability of transboundary aquifer systems, and catalyze action.

TWAP Transboundary Aquifers - Objectives

The project builds on the achievements of the UNESCO International Shared Aquifer Resources Management

Initiative (ISARM)

UNESCO HAS FORMULATED INDICATORS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS

As Follow up of the UNESCO ISARM Inventory

UNESCO HAS FORMULATED INDICATORS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS

Characterization and better knowledge of selected aquifers in all regions

TWAP -TBA- use of indicators -

• Indicators:Smart combinations of variables in order to describe the complex aquifer system in 20 easy to understand and intuitive indicators

• To enable comparison of TBAs:Indicators will be aggregated per TBA and per national segment (1 value per TBA/national segment)

Objectives:• improve the knowledge on national groundwater

resources• recognition of the importance and vulnerability of

transboundary aquifer resources, • improve cooperation between countries • and • establish cross-border dialogue and cooperation

UNESCO project financed by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)Transboundary Aquifers- Groundwater Resources

Case Studies

Three case study TBAs i. The Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá (Trifinio)

Aquifer (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) – ii. The Stampriet Aquifer (Namibia, Botswana,

South Africa)

iii. The Pretashkent Aquifer (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan)

Transboundary Aquifers- Groundwater Resources case studies

THE PROJECT “GROUNDWATER RESOURCES GOVERNANCE IN TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS”GOALS AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

REGIONAL LEVEL

ENHANCED COOPERATION , COUNTRIES COOPERATE AND IMPLEMENT PRIORITY

ACTIONS FOR THE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AQUIFER.

PRETASHKENT CASE STUDIES GOALS: NATIONAL LEVEL

COUNTRIES IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON NATIONAL GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND ON THEIR TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS,

ACQUIRE CAPACITY TO BETTER MANAGE THE RESOURCE, ENHANCED NATIONAL WATER SECURITY AND IMPROVED OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

PRETASHKENT CASE STUDIES

OUTPUTS

Indicator Based Assessment of the aquifer environmental and socio-economic conditions,

Information Management Systems programs in each project aquifer

National studies and regional seminars

Countries CooperationMulti-country Consultative Meetings in the aquifer

Proposal and Recommendations for Harmonized monitoring

• Component 1It will focus on the assessment of the hydrogeological, environmental, socio‐economic conditions, legal and institutional frameworks, including the identification of transboundary concerns (diagnostic analysis) • Component 2 It will be dedicated to facilitate cooperation mechanisms among countries sharing the aquifers.

CASE STUDY PRETASKENT

COMPONENTS

Thank you