Transboundary Aquifers and their Management in the Context of Globalisation

Abstract

It is widely accepted that current globalisation is exerting unprecedented driving forces in all endeavours of human society, including its use of natural resources such as groundwater. These driving forces can be considered to provide measurably significant benefits, though at the same time also less obvious negative impacts. The positive benefits include economic gains to some sectors, while the negative impacts include rapid over exploitation of natural resources. Transboundary aquifers are found all over the world and their use and exploitation is largely a local concern, since groundwater governance still seems to lag well behind surface water resource management. Where there are transboundary aquifers shared by two countries, each with significantly different socio-economic status, the differing requirements and priorities have to be addressed, to ensure that equitable and sustainable development can take place without degradation of the common aquifer system. Globalisation is also having another transboundary impact - that of creating pressures on national natural resources from decisions made through multi national organisations and corporations. Recognition of this impact is already is already taking place, and some solutions are being adopted. Where this recognition is lacking, and decision making is left too late, the result in environmental resources losses, with serious impacts on human wellbeing may be irreversible. This paper explores these issues with regard to the direct impact of globalisation and the indirect impact on natural resources, in particular aquifer resources

Keywords: transboundary aquifers, groundwater dependent ecosystems, globalisation, global change, depletion of aquifer storage, valuation of aquifer resources