UNESCO-IHP ISARM project and the cooperation with the UN ILC
UNESCO-IHP Transboundary aquifers
Hydrogeology and International Law Paris, France
7-9 March 2005
Raya M. Stephan Raya M. Stephan UNESCO
UNESCO--IHP ConsultantIHP Consultant
UNESCO IHP ISARM j t d th UNESCO-IHP ISARM project and the
cooperation with the UN ILC
• The UNESCO-IHP ISARM project
• Groundwater at the UN ILC
• Groundwater at the UN ILC
ISARM
Resolution XIV-12, June 2000
The intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s IHP, representing 160 Member States, p g :
recognized that transboundary aquifer systems are g y q y important sources of fresh water in some regions of the
world,
decided to adopt a resolution to promote studies in regard to internationally shared aquifers g y q
ISARM
Resolution XIV-12, June 2000
Launch of The Project on Internationally Shared
/Transboundary Aquifer Resources /Transboundary Aquifer Resources
Management
Multidisciplinary aspects of ISARM
• Legal
Treaties interstate agreements – Treaties, interstate agreements
• Scientific
– Hydrology hydrogeology conceptual modelling – Hydrology, hydrogeology, conceptual modelling
• Socio-economic
– Water security, accesibility, efficiency, poverty reductionWater security, accesibility, efficiency, poverty reduction
• Institutional Capacity Building
– Awareness raising, counterpart agenciesg, p g
• Environmental
– Sustainability, biodiversity, risks, vulnerability
The ISARM Project- Launch of Regional Inventories
Regional Inventories
EUROPE
Links & synergies with parallel activities y g p established e.g. UN ECE :
Under the UN ECE Water Convention 1992
Inventory of transboundary aquifers in Europe Inventory of transboundary aquifers in Europe
The ISARM Project- Launch of Regional Inventories
Regional Inventories
AFRICA
International workshop “Managing shared International workshop Managing shared aquifer resources in Africa”, Tripoli, June 2002
recommends, inter alia recommends, inter alia
the inventory and the assessment of shared aquifer resources in Africa
aquifer resources in Africa
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001385/138581m.pdf
The ISARM Project- Launch of Regional Inventories
Regional Inventories
• Americas
• Americas
ISARM launched in the Americas Workshop in p Montevideo (Uruguay) September 2003
The ISARM Project- Launch of Regional Inventories
Regional Inventories
• Balkans
Aquifer Resources Management, Mediterranean Consultative Meeting, Thessaloniki (Greece), Consultative Meeting, Thessaloniki (Greece),
October 2004
Major res lt : pdated in entor of transbo ndar aq ifers in Major result : updated inventory of transboundary aquifers in
South Eastern Europe
( i b )
(www.inweb.org)
(Phase I ISARM-Balkans)
2 K 9 B k & B t
Middle Sarmatian-Pontian GWB .22
2 K 9 B k & B t
Middle Sarmatian-Pontian GWB .22 2.Kupa
3.Kupa 4 U
7.Sava 1.Dragonja
9.Backa & Banat
10. Srem. 20.Central Serbia
8 21.Upper Pannonian-Lower Pleistocene 2.Kupa
3.Kupa 4 U
7.Sava 1.Dragonja
9.Backa & Banat
10. Srem. 20.Central Serbia
8 21.Upper Pannonian-Lower Pleistocene 4.Una
5.Cetina
6.Neretva 12.SW Serbia 11.West Serbia
16. Gaber-Nesla 17 Z l
19.East Serbia
23.Sarmatian & 24.Upper Jurassic -Lower Cret.GWB 4.Una
5.Cetina
6.Neretva 12.SW Serbia 11.West Serbia
16. Gaber-Nesla 17 Z l
19.East Serbia
23.Sarmatian & 24.Upper Jurassic -Lower Cret.GWB
Sandansky 13. 14.
17. Znepole 18.Tran 15.Zemen
37.Nastan
38S l 46Rezovska
45.Malko Tarnovo 43.Svilengrad
44.Topolograd Sandansky
13. 14.
17. Znepole 18.Tran 15.Zemen
37.Nastan
38S l 46Rezovska
45.Malko Tarnovo 43.Svilengrad
44.Topolograd
30.Pelagonija
& 31.Florina Gevgelija 32.
Sandansky 34.
29.
Dojran
.33 35.Gotze Delchev 36.Orvilos
38.Smolyan 39.Rudozem 40.Erma Reka
46.Rezovska 41.Svilengrad
42.Orestiada 25. 26 Pagoni28.
47.Meric 30.Pelagonija
& 31.Florina Gevgelija 32.
Sandansky 34.
29.
Dojran
.33 35.Gotze Delchev 36.Orvilos
38.Smolyan 39.Rudozem 40.Erma Reka
46.Rezovska 41.Svilengrad
42.Orestiada 25. 26 Pagoni28.
47.Meric 25. Vjosa 26.Pagoni27.Mourgana
25. Vjosa 26.Pagoni27.Mourgana
The ISARM Project- Launch of Regional Inventories
Regional Inventories
• Mediterranean ESCWA countries
Current activities :
Study the Basalt aquifer : Syria and Jordan
Develop a management framework for transboundary surface and groundwater resources: Syria and Lebanon
The outlook will be the development of management
f k l t d if (t h i l i l l l
framework on selected aquifers (technical, social, legal and environmental aspects)
The ISARM Project
an example of successful cooperation among UN
A i IGO NGO S i ifi I i l
Agencies, IGOs, NGOs, Scientific International Associations
UN ECE, IAH , FAO, OAS, UN-ESCWA, OSS, , , , , , , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Groundwater at the UN ILC
2002 : the ILC includes in its programme of work
h i f “Sh d N l R ”
the topic of “Shared Natural Resources”
• “confined” transboundary groundwaters
• Oil
• Oil
• Natural gas
Groundwater at the UN ILC
Background
• Convention on the law of non navigational uses
• Convention on the law of non-navigational uses of international watercourses 21 may 1997
D fi t
Defines a watercourse as :
A system of surface waters and groundwaters constituting by irt e of their ph sical relationship a nitar hole and virtue of their physical relationship a unitary whole and normally flowing into a common terminus (article 2 a)
Groundwater at the UN ILC
The definition leaves out of the scope of the
C i f h d / if
Convention most of the groundwaters/aquifers
• Resolution on « confined » transboundary groundwater 1994
Recommends to States the application of the principles contained in the draft articles to regulate transboundary
d t groundwater
UNESCO-IHP and the United Nations UNESCO IHP and the United Nations
International Law Commission (UNILC) 2002
Withi th f k f UNESCO IHP ISARM j t
Within the framework of UNESCO-IHP ISARM project, a multidisciplinary ad-hoc task force of experts has been established by UNESCO in close cooperation with FAO and IAH to assist the UNESCO in close cooperation with FAO and IAH to assist the Special Rapporteur of the UNILC on the preparation of a new International legal instrument on Transboundary Aquifers
UNESCO-IHP/ISARM scientific i t t th S i l R t
assistance to the Special Rapporteur
• Experts groups meeting in Paris and in Tokyo
• Preparation of documents and technical notes
• Meetings/working group sessions with the ILC members in Geneva
members in Geneva
UNESCO-IHP/ISARM scientific i t t th S i l R t
assistance to the Special Rapporteur
• First report on outline (2003)
• Second report (2004): transboundary Second report (2004): transboundary aquifers
I l d d ft ti l
Includes seven draft articles