Day 1 2.alice aureli introduction - unesco

3rd meeting of the IWRM and Water Diplomacy strategic pillar - Bern, 27-28 September 2012
UNESCO
International Hydrological
Programme (IHP)
Groundwater Resources Activities –
improving knowledge and capacity for the
management of a vital resource
Dr Alice Aureli
Chief of Section, Groundwater Resources and Aquifer Systems
UNESCO-IHP

Outline
UNESCO IHP mandate –IHP Council Resolution
IHP Groundwater activities
Transboundary Aquifers – ISARM
TWAP
 Financial support provided by SDC – 3 case studies to be carried out

International Hydrological Programme
The only global intergovernmental scientific programme on water resources in the UN system
Created in 1975 after the International Hydrological Decade
6 year phases, one unifying theme
Member States define needs and plans of phases
Growing emphasis on management and social aspects
Focus on gender equality and Africa

UNESCO‘s water familiy
 UNESCO-IHP
 UNESCO-IHE
 UN WWAP
 UNESCO regional offices, IHP national committees
 Category 2 centres: IGRAC
 Academia: UNESCO chairs, research institutes, universities

IHP VII (2008-2013)
Water dependencies:
Systems under Stress and Societal Responses

INTERDEPENDENCIES
SOCIETAL
RESPONSES
STRESS
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
Governance
Poverty
Ecosystems
at risk
Social
Challenges

INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL PROGRAMME (IHP) EIGHTH PHASE “WATER SECURITY: RESPONSES TO LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES” STRATEGIC PLAN IH-VIII 2014-2021

Studies on Aquifers and Groundwater resources. Some projects :
Transboundary Aquifers Management (ISARM)
Global Hydrogeological Map (WHYMAP)
Groundwater and Climate Change (GRAPHIC)
Groundwater for Emergency Situations (GWES)
 Projects executed by UNESCO at regional and global with GEF, UNEP, UNDP, FAO, UNECE, WB etc..
UNESCO IHP

WHY GROUNDWATER IS A PRIORITY?
The largest quantity of Fresh water resources of
the planet is contained in Aquifers

–Many countries still lack
–coherent policies and strategies for the management of aquifers and groundwater resources
–adequate legal settings
–and institutional arrangements
An attempt at cartographic anamorphosis, showing the groundwater extractions in each country
Jean Margat, UNESCO-BRGM 2008
Dependency on Groundwater

Groundwater IWRM and Sustainable development
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and its multi- faceted, integrative approach to water systems management has been widely considered as the solution to the world’s water issues,
IWRM still lack implementation in many part of the World
A failure to recognise the unique and special attributes of groundwater represents one of the lost opportunities of IWRM.
Groundwater is crucial for SD - consideration of the post MDGs 2015 and the SDG

Groundwater issues addressed by UNESCO-IHP Groundwater submarine discharge Groundwater and land subsidence Coastal aquifers management (saline intrusion) Management of aquifer recharge (artificial recharge) Groundwater dependent ecosystems Groundwater in arid zones Groundwater protection and vulnerability Groundwater in urban areas Endhoreic basins Application of Isotopes techniques Non-renewable groundwater resources Groundwater indicators for environmental sustainability

3rd meeting of the IWRM and Water Diplomacy strategic pillar - Bern, 27-28 September 2012 Groundwater data collection and assessment Groundwater - hydrological extremes and emergency situations Groundwater and climate change (adaptation measures) Application of satellite techniques Transboundary aquifer systems management Capacity building and training activities Institutional and legal tools for Groundwater management

Groundwater Resources under the Pressures of Humanity and Climate Change (GRAPHIC)
 Improve our knowledge on how groundwater resources respond to the impacts of climate change and human activities
 Evaluate tools and methods that could contribute to adaptation measures
 Conduct case studies, covering a wide range of subjects, scientific methods, and geographical and climatic settings
 Derive recommendations from scientific findings and communicate them to decision makers

20 case studies, covering different climatic, hydrogeological, and socio-economic settings
Scientific results and policy recommendations

Groundwater for Emergency Situations (GWES)
 Geological or climatic catastrophic events, natural and man-induced
 provision of clean drinking water is priority
 Groundwater resources need to be identified, prepared and managed in advance
 Guidelines for managers and decision makers published

UNESCO IHP - ISARM
The Intergovernmental Council of
UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP),
at its 20th Session held in June 2012
adopted the
Resolution IC-XX-3 on
the International Initiative on Transboundary Aquifer Resources Management (ISARM).

The IHP Council encouraged :
Member States to cooperate on the study of their transboundary aquifers;
and
 Requested to the IHP Secretariat to:
(i) support Member States in promoting studies in regard to transboundary aquifers in the framework of the existing IHP ISARM initiative; and
(ii) continue studies on transboundary aquifers and assist interested Member States in their studies of transboundary aquifers resources management including by promoting capacity building and awareness raising activities on existing instruments and discussions.

Resolution IC-XX-3

>300 International Rivers
UN Convention on Non Navigational Use of International Water Courses 1997 – Not yet ratified by sufficient number of countries If the 92-Helsinki Convention is ready to open to non UNECE countries
Around 500 Transboundary Aquifers
The UNILC Draft Articles provide guidelines for the management of transboundary aquifers (UNGA Resolution 63/124 on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers)
WHY TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS?

Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources
Management Initiative (ISARM)
Guidelines for the
management of
transboundary
groundwater resources

Global Overview of ISARM activities
Hydrogeological assessment of transboundary aquifers

Transboundary aquifers identified in the Americas, Asia, Africa, South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Caucasus and Middle East
ISARM – Inventory of TBAs and guidelines for sustainable management

TBAs in Africa
2002
2005
2009
2012

UNESCO - OAS ISARM AMERICAS
Phase II - Institutional and Legal issues (2006 - 2007)
Phase III - Regional Vision for Managing Transboundary Aquifers (2007 - 2008)
Phase I - Inventory of Transboundary Aquifers of the Americas-Hydrology- Geological characteristics (2003 - 2006):

Global TBA Information System

World-wide Hydrogeological Mapping and Assessment Programme - WHYMAP
First map of transboudary aquifers
Updates by IGRAC 2009 and 2012
Groundwater resources of the world
Transboundary groundwater and river basins

Protection and Sustainable Use of the Dinaric Karst Transboundary
Aquifer System (DIKTAS)
 Karstic environment highly vulnerable to
pollution releases through recharge areas
Competing uses of water resources: urban water
supply, hydropower, agriculture, flood protection,
groundwater dependent ecosystems and unique
biodiversity
Main Objectives:
 Transboundary nature of the Dinaric Karst AS
and the management implications recognized
by aquifers sharing states
 Development of mechanisms for coordination
and information exchange at national and
regional level
Countries: Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Croatia and
Montenegro (Slovenia, Italy and
Greece)

4.
• 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)

UNGA Resolutions: The Law of Transboundary Aquifers
The UN General Assembly adopted 2 Resolutions on the ‘Law of Transboundary Aquifers' (December 2008 and 2010) .
Legal Framework for the sustainable management of shared groundwater resources
UNESCO-IHP provided technical expertise to the UN ILC
UNILC Draft Articles: tool of international law that provides recommendations to Member States
The UNGA called upon UNESCO to support Member states in the implementation of the resolution

PART III
PROTECTION, PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
ARTICLE 10
Protection and preservation of ecosystems
Aquifer States shall take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve ecosystems within, or dependent upon, their transboundary aquifers or aquifer systems, including measures to ensure that the quality and quantity of water retained in an aquifer or aquifer system, as well as that released through its discharge zones, are sufficient to protect and preserve such ecosystems.
ARTICLE 11
Recharge and discharge zones
1. Aquifer States shall identify the recharge and discharge zones of transboundary aquifers
or aquifer systems that exist within their territory. They shall take appropriate measures to
prevent and minimize detrimental impacts on the recharge and discharge processes.
2. All States in whose territory a recharge or discharge zone is located, in whole or in part, and
which are not aquifer States with regard to that aquifer or aquifer system, shall cooperate with
the aquifer States to protect the aquifer or aquifer system and related ecosystems

Groundwater Governance
Project funded by the GEF and executed by UNESCO-IHP, FAO, IAH, WB.
Fundamental project component: 5 Regional Consultations (Latin America and the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, Arab States, Asia and Europe)
focus on the regional characteristics of groundwater governance
discuss priorities, visions and specific challenges in the region + Private Sector Roundtable
Global Diagnostic  Shared Vision  Global Framework for Action on Groundwater Governance
More info: www.groundwatergovernance.org

Groundwater Governance The distinction between management and governance is important. Broadly, groundwater management is the set actions to implement decisions that derive from the process of governance. “Groundwater governance is the process by which groundwater resources are managed through the application of responsibility, participation, information availability, transparency, custom, and rule of law. It is the art of coordinating administrative actions and decision making between and among different jurisdictional levels – one of which may be global”. (Adapted by Thematic Paper 5 drafting group after Saunier and Meganck. 2007. Dictionary and Introduction to Global Environmental Governance)

UNESCO’s work in Water Diplomacy and Water Education
UNESCO paved the way to concept of water diplomacy and promoted several mechanisms for the peaceful management of shared water resources (surface and groundwater)
UNESCO’s PCCP Programme (from Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential):
•focuses on the development of tools for the anticipation, prevention and mitigation of water conflicts through research and capacity building activities
•facilitates multi-level and interdisciplinary dialogues to foster peace, cooperation and development related to the management of transboundary water resources.
UNESCO’s Institute for Water Education – IHE

A GLOBAL INITIATIVE BEING LAUNCHED financed by the GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY AIMED AT BRINGING TO THE GLOBAL ATTENTION THE IMPORTANCE AND VULNERABILITY OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS SYSTEMS, AND ESTABLISHING A BASELINE FOR FOLLOW ON MONITORING OF TRENDS AND IMPACTS
TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM - TWAP

GEF Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP)
Indicator-based global assessments of 5 transboundary water systems: Aquifers, Rivers, Lakes, LMEs, Open Oceans
Largely based on existing data
Carried out in cooperation with partners at national, regional and global level
Provide guidance to the GEF for science-based allocation of funds

TWAP – Assessment of TBAs and SIDS
UNESCO-IHP: executing agency for the global assessment of transboundary aquifers and SIDS groundwater systems
Methodology developed by an international expert group led by UNESCO

(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

Level 1: global baseline assessment
Level 2: in-depth assessment in pilot TBAs (case studies)
TheTWAP assessment of Transboundary Aquifers will be carried out at 2 levels:
Reduced set of indicators
Covering 166 TBAs and 43 SIDS
Funded by the GEF and partner co-financing contributions
Full set of indicators
Covering only selected TBAs
Funded by co-financing contribution –SDC Main partner

Thank you!

Day 1 2.alice aureli introduction - unesco

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Day 1 2.alice aureli introduction - unesco