Routledge Transboundary Water Management: Principles and Practice

The management of water resources across boundaries, whether sub-national or international, is one of the most difficult challenges facing water managers today. The upstream exploitation or diversion of groundwater or rivers can have devastating consequences for those living downstream, and transboundary rivers can provide a source of conflict between nations or states, particularly where water resources are scarce. Similarly, water based-pollution can spread across borders and create disputes and a need for sound governance. This book is the first to bring together in a concise and accessible way all of the main topics to be considered when managing transboundary waters. It will raise the awareness of practitioners of the various issues needed to be taken into account when making water management decisions and provide a practically-based overview for advanced students. The authors show clearly how vital it is to cooperate effectively over the management of shared waters to unlock their contribution to regional sustainable development. The book is largely based on a long-running and tested international training programme, run by the Stockholm International Water Institute and Ramboll Natura, and supported by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), where the respective authors have presented modules on the programmes. It addresses issues not only of conflict, but also of managing power asymmetries, benefit-sharing, stakeholder participation, international water law, environmental water requirements and regional development. It will be particularly useful for those with a background in hydrology or engineering who wish to broaden their management skills. Review 'It is essential that the international community support (these) efforts by strengthening all facets of institutional capacity for effective water management. This volume represents a tangible contribution to this effort by placing the current knowledge and experience of water management professionals and researchers within reach of a broad audience.' From the Foreword by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO 'This remarkable book provides an essential overview of the topic for researchers and water resource managers. At the same time, as water rises higher on the political agenda in many regions of the world, and more and more people‘s lives are affected in various ways -either by too much or too little water - this book will provide vital insights for politicians and government negotiators concerned with issues of water security.' Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership, Sweden 'It is stimulating to find a book that considers transboundary waters as a challenge that can be dealt with to the benefit of the different riparians through negotiations, cooperation and institutional capacity, rather than stressing the irrelevant argument of water wars.' Cecilia Tortajada, Vice President, Third World Centre for Water Management, Mexico 'This book is the first to bring together in a concise and accessible way all of the main topics to be considered when managing transboundary waters' BASE 'It is a book of hope that considers transboundary waters a challenge that can be dealt with.' d-sector.org About the Author Anton Earle is Project Director of Capacity Building, at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Sweden Anders Jägerskog is Project Director, Applied Research, SIWI, and Associate Professor, School of Global Studies, Peace and Development Research, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Joakim Öjendal is Professor at the School of Global Studies, Peace and Development Research, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.