Abstract
River basins in Madagascar are prone to water scarcity and conflicts of use, which are projected to worsen due to climate change. Therefore, effective integrated water resources management (IWRM) is key. This review examines the current condition of IWRM in Madagascar, evaluates its sustainability, and compares it with the one in Japan. The effects of climate change were analyzed using Aqueduct data. Madagascar has established an IWRM legal framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; however, its application remains limited. For Japan, it was useful to establish IWRM for floods, water utilization, and environmental conservation. This study analyzes the future projections of water availability and demand for the 12 major river basins of Madagascar. Climate change will reduce water availability; the West and the East will experience water stress; the demand will be higher in the highlands, with less water available in the south. The proposed framework and Japan’s experience in river basin management can contribute to solving those problems. The findings of this study serve to enhance the knowledge on IWRM and the impact of climate change in Madagascar; they also suggest actions to be taken by the Malagasy government.
Highlights
Water is the most important element for the preservation of life
The integrated river basin management (IRBM) in Madagascar was compared with Japan to assess the progress of both countries in the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM)/IRBM and possible strategies for Madagascar to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 6.5
Madagascar agreed to the water, energy, and food nexus concept in early 2018 within the framework of the Southern African Development Community
Summary
Water is the most important element for the preservation of life. Water resources underlie the production of agricultural and industrial goods and services; their careful development and management are essential to generating wealth, mitigating risks, and alleviating poverty. Previous studies have demonstrated that water is becoming limited, and more careful consumption is needed This is partially caused by increasing population coupled with changes in the consumption pattern and climate change. Climate change has impacted virtually every river basin in Madagascar, often degrading the quality and availability of water and water-related [10,11]. We explored the possibility of managing the major river basins to achieve sustainable development. The integrated river basin management (IRBM) in Madagascar was compared with Japan to assess the progress of both countries in the implementation of IWRM/IRBM and possible strategies for Madagascar to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 6.5. We used Aqueduct data to analyze the projected effects of climate change on the 12 major river basins to provide information regarding future water availability and water demand. We proposed a solution to manage the basins based on the results of the precedent analysis
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