Raya Marina Stephan

Currently the Nile and the Orontes River basins are in the international spotlight as tension escalates between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in the former and between Syria and Turkey in the latter. In this article we investigate the cooperation dynamics between nation states in the two basins. We analyze the obstacles to cooperation that prevent the...

The unique landscape, where wetlands are located, needs to be monitored and reserved, since their continuity depends on the balanced input-output water system. The hydrologic setting of wetlands is always creating unique ecosystems for flora (e.g., pollens, etc.) and fauna (e.g., migratory birds, etc.). In Lebanon, wetlands are well pronounced, and...

In the framework of the GEF/UNEP-MAP Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem, UNESCO-IHP executed a component on “Management of coastal aquifers and groundwater”, which included an activity on “Implementation of eco-hydrogeology applications for management and protection of coastal wetlands”. UNESCO-IHP sought the coo...

Science plays a significant role in policy decisions related to the management and protection of water resources, at both national and transboundary levels. Legal frame- works provide analytical tools to develop the linkages between science and policy and to implement science-based policies and decisions. Law and policy play prominent roles in the...

Today two global conventions, the Convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses (1997) and the Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes are part of the available international legal framework for managing transboundary water resources. In addition to these two inst...

Most of the earth’s groundwater is in transboundary aquifers. This vital water resource will certainly be affected by climate change. This article reviews the global climate change framework to investigate how it considers water, and groundwater in particular. It then considers the international legal regime applicable to groundwater resources to e...

This policy brief is an outcome of the efforts of dedicated members of the West Asia – North Africa (WANA) Forum. The process started with a WANA Forum consultation on water, ‘Toward Supranational Mechanisms in Addressing the Challenges of Water Scarcity in WANA’ on February 22nd-24th, 2011 which took place in Amman, Jordan.

Ecosystems are part of the landscape; many of them are integrated into the water cycle and are able to provide services that contribute to human well-being. Water management in general, and groundwater management in particular, lead to modifications of groundwater flow networks causing significant changes in the quality and quantity of groundwater...

A “wetland” often occurs where there are considerable water resources, and there is a de"ned hydrologic regime that discriminates it from other water bodies. The unique landscape where wetlands are located needs to be monitored and preserved, since wetland continuity depends on a balanced input-output water system. The hydrologic setting of a wetla...

report from MedPartnership.

Towards Integrated Management of Transboundary River Basins over the WorldAntarctic Subglacial Lakes and Waters: The Challenge to Protect a Hidden ResourceProgressive Development of International Groundwater Law: Awareness and CooperationThe Role of Key International Water Treaties in the Implementation of the Convention on Biological DiversityThe...

In 2002, the UN International Law Commission added to its program of work the topic of Shared Natural Resources: transboundary groundwater, oil and gas. Six years later, the UN ILC completed its work on the first sub-topic by adopting at second reading nineteen draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers. The draft articles were then deferr...

A central challenge facing nations today is how to ensure that both people and the natural environment have adequate freshwater to sustain and nourish their existence. In many parts of the world, communities actually compete with nature for dwindling supplies, to the detriment of both. Most often, though, water for the environment is not a priority...

In December 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution on the law of transboundary aquifers including in its annex the 19 draft articles that had been prepared by the International Law Commission (ILC). In this Resolution, the UN GA "encourages the States concerned to make appropriate bilateral or regional arrangements for the proper manage...

IntroductionMonitoring Obligation in Framework InstrumentsMonitoring Obligation in Specific LegislationMonitoring in Aquifer and River Basin AgreementsConclusions References

In the framework of the UNESCO/OAS ISARM Americas project, a questionnaire on Sustainable Socioeconomic and Environmental Aspects of Transboundary Aquifers was addressed to the participating countries. The questionnaire inquired about interactions between countries sharing one or more aquifers, during the past twenty years. Forty nine transboundary...

This chapter presents the development of international law in transboundary aquifers. While few years ago, State practice over transboundary aquifers was very scarce and almost non-existent, the situation is now showing signs of change. States sharing an aquifer are seeking to establish cooperation mechanisms over their common resource, and are int...

The management of groundwater is complex, and when complicated by political boundaries, it can become a source of conflicts. Education and training are major instruments in teaching people to jointly manage their common water resources, according to sustainable development principles, especially emphasizing partnerships and the knowledge of each ot...

It is now widely accepted that groundwater, though not as visible as surface water, is ubiquitous in the global landmass, is contained in the pore spaces of rock formations (aquifers), and its science, hydrogeology, has rapidly developed over the last 35 years. This science has contributed to the well-being and development of the human population i...

It is now widely accepted that groundwater, though not as visible as surface water, is ubiquitous in the global landmass, is contained in the pore spaces of rock formations (aquifers), and its science, hydrogeology, has rapidly developed over the last 35 years. This science has contributed to the well-being and development of the human population i...

Given the fact that the largest number of cases of shared water occur in aquifers, it is surprising that so little is written about this. The Trialogue Model of Governance assumes interfaces between three actor-clusters; Governance, Science and Society. International law plays a significant role in facilitating the quality of these interfaces by co...

The aim of this chapter is to present the existing legal framework for the management of groundwater in the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Territories) and possible recommendations to achieve sustainable development. In Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, a legal regime for groundwater exists. Nevertheless, in these...