groundwater governance in the arab world: taking stock and addressing the challenges
TRANSCRIPT
Groundwater Governance in the Arab World: Taking Stock and Addressing the Challenges
FAO, L&W DaysAmman – Jordan
15th to 18th of December 2013
Overarching research questionsWhy is there groundwater overdraft, and why is it so hard to curb or
regulate?What are the governance options available for different contexts,
and how can we make them work?
Research objectives•To contribute to finding solutions and mitigation measures to the groundwater crisis in the Arab world•To enhance capacity building mechanisms for groundwater governance at the aquifer, regional and national level •To support the generation and sharing of knowledge on groundwater governance in the Arab world
World experience
MENA experience
6 Country policy profiles
4 problem-aquifers
Desktop syntheses Situated policy analysesKnowledge
base
Policy narratives
Policy process
Bio-physical setting
Policy process
Legislation, policies, governance regimes, political economy,
Implementation of groundwater policy at national levelActor dynamicsInformal institutions Stakeholder opinions and perceptions
Hydrogeology, chemistry, abstraction levels, energy and water pricing
Implementation of policy at aquifer levelActor dynamicsLocal power relationsLand access Stakeholder opinions and perceptions
World experience
MENA experience
Country policy profiles
4 problem-aquifers
Desktop syntheses Situated policy analyses
Regional science-policy Dialogue
Knowledgedissemination
Typologies, contexts, outcomes, etc
Knowledgebase
Collective work on policies and three aquifers
Role games (computer
interface, social learning)
Policy briefsEng/arabic
Document deposi-tory &
bibliography
MENA groundwaterReference website
Network, Weblinks
White books & action plans (3 countries)
Awarenessraising
Capacity building
Groundwater govern. syntheses
Teaching material for univ. (arabic)
Linked-in
Aquifer-levelDialogues-----------
National/localstakeholders
involvement ingovernance
Problem Aquifer 1Tunisia – Cap Bon
• Finest agricultural area in Tunisia
• Highly productive and diversified aquifer
• Water table lowering leading to sea water intrusion and salinity (>15g/l)
• Complex dynamics, low implication of actors, and limited organizational means
Problem Aquifer 2Lebanon – Beqaa Valley
• Intense proliferation of individual wells impacts springs and surface water irrigation systems
• Decline in precipitation• Heavy use of fertilizers
and pesticides caused problems of groundwater pollution
Problem Aquifer 3Jordan – Azraq Basin
• Intensive pumping for the last 20 years, with abstraction exceeding safe yield by 260%
• Competing groundwater uses between agriculture and urban consumption
• Negative impacts on wetland ecosystems in the basin
Problem Aquifer 4UAE – Liwa Oasis
• UAE derives 72% of water demand from groundwater
• Liwa aquifer supporting agriculture with drip irrigation
• Competing uses between agriculture and increasing tourism in the area
• Policy implementation problems due to farmers’ perceptions of groundwater ownership