Cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions

Abstract

Transboundary aquifers (TBAs) are shared by different political entities, and their management often requires multilateral efforts. However, despite their strategic importance in sustaining ecosystems and human communities, the level of cooperation over TBAs remains generally low. Lack of awareness and political willingness are often cited for this. This paper further demonstrates the need for and relevance of TBA cooperation through an overview of real cases of cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions across the world. The product of an extensive review of academic and grey literature, this study provides key insights into the types of cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions, as well as the TBA settings where cases have been identified. This allows for important lessons on the scope of TBA cooperation to be drawn. Notably, the evidence-base suggests that in large TBAs, joint management interventions could often be prioritized over the border area. It also shows the need for proactive cooperation mechanisms to develop joint management interventions, not only to mitigate or remediate cross-border groundwater impacts, but also to prevent them.