Transboundary Resources Research Articles

Temporal Variations in Rainfall and Temperature and their Effects on the River Discharge in the Mara River Basin

The Mara River basin is one of the important transboundary resources in Eastern Africa that not only serve Kenya and Tanzania where it is located as one of the waterheads but also serve the lower countries of Sudan and Egypt. Variations in weather conditions, especially rainfall and temperature in the basin have impacts beyond the basin. The environmental processes that relate to variation in weather conditions include river flow regimes, vegetation cover, agro-calendar and wildlife. This paper looked at how variations in rainfall and temperature affect the river discharge in the Mara basin in order to determine the nature of rainfall and temperature variations in relation to river discharge in the basin. Observed long-term daily rainfall, temperature and river discharge covering 1983 – 2014 period, are used in time series analyses to measure periodicity and trend in rainfall, temperature and river discharge. The relationship between river discharge and the weather elements is determined using linear correlation analysis and multiple regression procedures at ? = 0.05. The results of the data analysis reveal that, the long-term variations in temperature, rainfall and river discharge are such that temperatures are tending toward increase while rainfall and river discharge are tending towards decline. Further, variations in rainfall and temperature conditions indicate un-seasonality in the timing and duration of monthly variations. The variations in rainfall, temperature and discharge series are statistically not significant (Mann Kendall trend test). The relationship between variations in rainfall and temperature with river discharge is that rainfall has stronger linear correlation with river discharge than temperature and therefore declining trends in rainfall are causing reduction in river discharge in the Mara basin. Measures should, therefore, be taken to reduce activities in the basin that are likely to impact on rainfall and temperature such as deforestation and encroachment on the water towers.

Contribution of General Principles of International Law in Progressive Development of Transboundary Aquifers With Special Reference to India

Man’s ruthless exploitation of the natural resources means that we are housed in a resource-deprived world, the tug of war for the meager resources has led to many conflicts between states that we witness today. At the heart of the whole debate on resource crunch is the issue of shared natural resources between the states, international law has formulated several legal instruments to govern the shared transboundary resources, which include laws on transboundary aquifers. The objective of this study is to unlock the general principles of international law which regulate the transboundary aquifers. In this regard, the authors have apportioned the paper into three sections. In the first section, the authors set the tone by detailing the provisions of the Draft Article on the Transboundary Aquifers, 2008 dealing with general principles, the second segment of the paper lays down the cardinal principles regulating transboundary aquifers, which range from sustainable development to the principle of good faith and in the final portion the authors dwells into the Israel-Palestine dispute and the India-Pakistan Indus water treaty in the context of transboundary aquifers.

New Challenges to Transboundary Unitization in the Gulf of Mexico

In the last two decades, the search for untapped oil reserves led to many innovations in oil and gas exploration. As new technology continues to open new horizons, oil companies are increasingly able to drill at deeper ocean depths to tap offshore reserves. Offshore drilling poses problems where oil reserves hundreds of miles from shore cross an international boundary line. While American courts typically apply the rule of capture to determine who owns the subsoil resources, international law requires countries to work together to maximize the efficient, safe extraction of the resources. In 2012, the United States and Mexico drafted a treaty that would govern the unitization of an offshore transboundary oil field. Today, Mexico’s energy laws are very different. A new administration threatens to unravel recent liberal reforms, and the United States has become more hostile to Chinese investment in the region. With these political challenges in mind, the treaty is very vague on critical issues, particularly its dispute resolution clause, which the United States and Mexico must strengthen if the treaty is to be effective and shared transboundary resources develop efficiently to the benefit of both nations. The treaty creates a body called the Joint Commission to create much of the treaty’s policy and procedure. In order to maintain good relations and a healthy energy sector, the Joint Commission needs to create subsidiary committees subject to its control and comprised of various experts to ensure the treaty is implemented impartially.

"Levelling the Lake: Transboundary Resource Management in the Lake of the Woods Watershed" by Jamie Benidickson, 2019. [book review

"Levelling the Lake: Transboundary Resource Management in the Lake of the Woods Watershed" by Jamie Benidickson, 2019. [book review

Offshore freshwater aquifers: Toward equitable distribution

AbstractLegal principles and practices for determining ownership and control of seabed resources have been crafted and honed by various parties throughout the 20th century, often on an ad hoc basis to meet specific situations and sectoral needs. The legal landscape for offshore freshwater aquifers consequently spans domestic, regional, and international regimes, making the governance analysis for this untapped resource complex and multilayered. At the apex of ocean governance lies the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC), a global treaty with almost universal application. Both LOSC and customary law grant each coastal state exclusive sovereign rights over seabed natural resources in its continental shelf, although those rights are limited by other legal commitments such as obligations to protect the environment. LOSC does not address transboundary resources, but early and sustained demand for offshore hydrocarbons caused that governance gap to be filled through judicial decisions, bi‐lateral treaties, and customary practices. Traditionally, distribution of natural resources has been viewed as a right commensurate with sovereign claims to the resource, but a strong ethical argument can be made for treating water as an exceptional case due to its uniquely life‐giving properties. When offshore freshwater is eventually appropriated for use, humanity will have an opportunity to choose between following old patterns of distribution or crafting a more inclusive system. In a world facing global shortages of freshwater due to pollution, overuse and climate change, policymakers designing a legal regime for untapped reservoirs of a vital resource for which there is no substitute should consider more equitable forms of distribution. Both Roman law and LOSC provide precedents for sharing natural resources, and the emerging trend of benefit‐sharing offers multiple and varied possibilities as well.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water

Groundwater Management in the Borderlands of Mexico and Texas: The Beauty of the Unknown, the Negligence of the Present, and the Way Forward

AbstractOver the last decade, transboundary aquifers traversing the Mexico‐Texas border have generated growing interest of federal institutions on the Mexico side and state and federal institutions on the Texas side. Notwithstanding this, binational efforts to understand, assess, and manage shared groundwater resources remain limited and politically sensitive. On the Mexico side, long‐standing centralized groundwater governance structures have created institutional barriers at the local level to the expansion of knowledge and cooperation over these transboundary resources. On the Texas side, property rights related to groundwater resources limit the scope of options available for cooperative management of cross‐border aquifers. This paper examines stakeholders' perspectives on the borderland between Mexico and Texas through 44 surveys and personal interviews. Findings show that stakeholders appear to support a binational groundwater agreement as a means for assuring the sound long‐term management of transboundary groundwater resources in the border region; however, the majority of stakeholders also suggest that short‐term local or regional arrangements may be preferable over binational agreements as local/regional approaches may be more achievable or realistic. Second, participants identified leadership and individual personalities as key factors for success at the local level but noted that such influence had limited sustainability and limited regional‐systemic effects. Third, the stakeholders indicated that water quality, rather than water quantity, is the main driver of transboundary cooperation efforts in the region. Fourth, participants suggested that failures and successes in groundwater cooperation efforts are based more on fear and political lobbying than on understanding of scientific facts.

Transboundary groundwater resource management: needs for monitoring the Cijevna River Basin (Montenegro–Albania)

The transboundary Cijevna River Basin shared between Albania and Montenegro has a surface area of 650 km2. It is extremely important for water management, especially in the country of Montenegro which is downstream. Due to the high permeability of both the karst and intergranular aquifers that exist in the basin, the River Cijevna sinks along the length of its riverbed and in summer months it usually dries up completely at the confluence section. Hydrometry surveys undertaken during a drought period have identified the most permeable zones along the river, while the loss between sections varies between 0.137 and 0.765 m3/s/km’. An aquifer vulnerability assessment has been conducted through the implementation of both the EPIK and DRASTIC methods. Identifying both the most permeable and vulnerable zones in the basin assisted in the initial design of a joint Groundwater Monitoring Network for the two countries. It should consist of 21 observation points, automatic hydrology stations on the river and selected springs, and data loggers within installed piezometers. Once completed with remote data transmission and the implementation of a real-time data-sharing mechanism, it will be the first of its kind in “classical” Dinaric karst region, and one of very first to exist within karst aquifers anywhere.

The path towards groundwater management in the borderlands of Mexico and Texas

AbstractBinational efforts to understand, assess, and manage shared groundwater resources on the Mexico‐Texas border are limited and politically sensitive. On the Mexico side, long‐standing centralized groundwater governance structures have created institutional barriers at the local level to the expansion of knowledge and cooperation over these transboundary resources. On the Texas side, property rights related to groundwater resources limit the scope of options available for cooperative management of cross‐border aquifers. In order to develop more effective cross‐border relations and enhance knowledge, cooperative management, and sustainability of the region's shared aquifers, stakeholders in the border between Mexico and Texas should pursue local and regional arrangements that focus primarily on water quality and environmental issues. Additionally, in order for the results of local efforts to be permanent and sustainable, they must consider the more formal, long‐term cooperative models that tend to have stronger systemic impacts and funding commitments. In addition, stakeholders and officials must make a better effort to educate the public on the science and facts in order to avoid past experiences where fear and political lobbying scuttled viable and promising cooperative efforts.This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Planning Water Human Water > Water Governance

The limits of inclusivity and sustainability in transfrontier peace parks: case of Sengwe community in Great Limpopo transfrontier conservation area, Zimbabwe

Transfrontier peace parks are seized with the challenge of creating a more inclusive and sustainable conservation agenda in the officially designated peaceparks in southern Africa. The quest for inclusivity and sustainability has witnessed sustained lobbying from the local communities calling for more meaningful involvement in the conservation and tourism industry value chain in the peaceparks. Against this background it is therefore imperative to understand the limits of inclusivity and sustainability in the peaceparks. This is important as this may help in gaining insights into improving stakeholder relations and to better manage expectations and perceptions of local communities affected by the establishment of the peaceparks. Understanding the limits of inclusivity and sustainability may help to develop beneficial stakeholder relations as positive relations have been understood to result in better biodiversity conservation and management strategies of the transboundary resources. This paper aims to share insights into the limits of inclusivity and sustainability of the GLTP focusing on the practical experiences of the local people in southeastern lowveld Zimbabwe. The study adopted a qualitative approach and leaned on the interpretivist research philosophy with major research participants drawn from the community members and key role players. A total of 180 community members drawn across the Sengwe community participated in the study. Research material was generated between October 2013 and April 2015. The results based on community interviews show that the stakeholder relations in the GLTFCA are currently strained and do not give the optimism and confidence to achieve meaningful inclusivity of the local communities and overall sustainability of the peacepark initiatives in southern lowveld Zimbabwe. The major challenges to inclusivity include poor governance, threats to livelihoods and negative stakeholder relations. Thus, there is a need to continuously review the governance processes, improve stakeholder relations and support community livelihood coping strategies in more tangible ways.

Shallow groundwater quality evolution after 20 years of exploitation in the southern Lake Chad: hydrochemistry and stable isotopes survey in the far north of Cameroon

Two field hydrogeological surveys were conducted in 1992 and 2013 using hydrochemistry and isotope techniques in the far north region of Cameroon which corresponds to the southern part of Lake Chad basin. The dataset relates to shallow groundwaters of the Quaternary and substratum aquifers that were sampled at the same locations to potentially reveal any temporal variation in the chemical and isotopic characteristics of the groundwater resource. Groundwater shows mainly a CaMg–HCO3 water type but CaMg–Cl–NO3 and NaK–HCO3 water types can also be found. The mineralization is governed essentially by cation exchange processes. However, we also observe dissolution processes of carbonates. Strong anthropogenic contamination of groundwater with nitrates, chlorides, and sulfates is highlighted. It is found that the nitrate content after 20 years has increased by an average factor of 6. These high concentrations in nitrate (up to 600 mg/l) are related to local anthropogenic activities and to the very bad conditions of maintaining of wells and boreholes. The isotopic content is ranging from − 6.46‰ to + 0.46‰ for 18O in 2013 and from − 5.57‰ to + 0.37‰ in 1992 without noticeable evolution. The stable isotope approach underlined the hydraulic connection between basement and quaternary aquifers. Stable isotopes also demonstrated that groundwater in the region is recharged by modern precipitation, but also by evaporated surface waters from rivers during flood episodes. After 20 years, the evolution in Cl−, SO42−, and NO3− concentrations in groundwater is worrying in terms of public health and the government is encouraged to develop a monitoring of this transboundary resource.

Water diplomacy and nexus governance in a transboundary context: In the search for complementarities

Growing evidence within nexus research has highlighted the importance for sustainable governance of considering the interdependencies between water, energy, food and the environment, whereas water diplomacy has provided the necessary tools to address water conflicts of a transboundary nature. This paper therefore identifies and evaluates unrealised complementarities between nexus governance and water diplomacy, and discusses the benefits of integrating both for improved transboundary basin management. Two case studies - a wastewater treatment plant within the Jordan's nexus vision and a research project into management of the transboundary Zambezi River Basin - illustrate the identified complementarities and their contribution towards collaborative transboundary natural resources management. On one hand, the consideration of synergies and trade-offs between water, energy and food systems and beyond the river basin scale within nexus governance engages a larger diversity of stakeholders and can help realise more balanced agreements between sectors and hence complement water diplomacy goals. The enriched negotiations arising from a nexus approach can facilitate benefits-sharing in water diplomacy due to the broader exchange of experiences across several natural resources systems. Likewise, international nexus development projects involving a diverse range of sectors and stakeholders can ultimately facilitate peace building through inter-state cooperation and reduce the focus on disputed natural resources. On the other hand, water diplomacy provides tools to address complexity and capture political contexts that overcome the traditional technical and ‘most-rational-solution’ methods. With the application of joint fact finding, value creation and collaborative adaptive management, the added value includes the generation of a shared understanding that embeds politics in decision-making and promotes mutual gains. Further collaboration and on-the-ground experiences between researchers, policy makers and the private sector are needed, to acknowledge and act upon the complementarities of nexus governance and water diplomacy, with the final outcome of promoting cooperation in the management of transboundary resources.

Assessment of transboundary risks and global effects of climate change and economic activities in the basins of the arctic seas

Contemporary challenges and threats to sustainable development including safe use of transboundary resources of rivers and Arctic seas in condition of climate change are connected with cumulative impact of numerous factors. Ongoing environmental changes have transboundary nature and will have significant impact in international scale. In case of overlapping of factors of impact their nature and synergetic effect, mechanisms of their interrelated influence and possible negative consequences for global economy, environment and human health are not adequately known. Among the main obstacles to mitigation of climate change impact on the state of big river basins in the Arctic and Arctic seas are: the lack of critically important information and data, absence of modern concepts of climate change mitigation measures connected with impact on Arctic seas, uncoordinated and inefficient regulation and management, absence of unified interstate tools of marine spatial planning. The article contains the analysis of risks and global consequences of the ongoing climate change for water resources; characteristic of priority issues and their underlying root causes. It also contains the results of the analysis of risks connected with melting of permafrost and increase in thermal coast erosion, assessment of the role of transboundary cooperation in the Arctic for sustainable regional development. The authors also propose some measures for addressing the above issues based on the Strategic Program of Actions on the Protection of the Russian Part of the Arctic developed by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.

B/ordering the environmental commons

Transboundary environmental commons are usually conceived in terms of the spatial arrangements that govern transboundary resources and coordinate responses to cross-border environmental threats and crises. Borders in this context tend to be viewed as relatively stable institutions in the administration of geographically dispersed resources with well-defined properties by a jurisdictionally divided collective of users. In practice, however, the transboundary commons defy such clear spatial resolution. This paper contributes to emerging scholarship on the transboundary commons by showing how processes of commoning and b/ordering are continually changing in relation to each other to generate flexible new geographies of conservation practice.

Exploring the prospects for adaptive governance in marine transboundary conservation in East Africa

This article explores the prospects for adaptive governance in a proposed marine transboundary conservation initiative in East Africa. Adaptive governance that involves interdependent state and non-state actors learning and taking action on joint environmental problems is suggested for effective transboundary resource governance. Using the concept of adaptive co-management, the current multi-stakeholder marine governance systems in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania are compared to illuminate opportunities and constraints for adaptive marine transboundary conservation governance between Kenya and Tanzania. The concept of networks and the formal method of social network analysis (SNA) are applied as the main methodological device. Using questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, social network data of 70 organizations (local resources users, government agencies and NGOs) was generated from Kenya (n = 33) and Tanzania (n = 37). Results show the existence of strong collaboration networks for marine resource governance in both Kenya and Tanzania. Social proximity is the common driver of network formation. Collaboration networks in Kenya and Tanzania have contributed to enhanced learning among marine resource managers. Conclusions point to the need to focus on common challenges relating to low levels of rule-compliance, limited access to information on the state of resources and poor integration of science into marine management decisions. Finally, differences in views regarding the state of marine ecosystems need to be addressed to improve prospects for joint problem-solving in marine transboundary conservation.

In (Not so) Deep Water: The Texas–New Mexico Water War and the Unworkable Provisions of the Rio Grande Compact

In the 2018 Supreme Court case, Texas v. New Mexico, Texas claimed that New Mexico breached its obligations under the Rio Grande Compact of 1938 by allowing groundwater pumping in New Mexico south of Elephant Butte Reservoir. The Rio Grande Compact is one of many interstate water compacts in the western United States. The Compact requires Colorado and New Mexico to pay river water to the respective downstream states based on 1929 river conditions. The Supreme Court jurisprudence over interstate water disputes has wavered between concepts of equity (through the Court’s power of equitable apportionment) and contract law, which makes it difficult to predict how the Court will eventually hold in the Texas–New Mexico dispute. Regardless of how the Court holds, the underlying problem of unworkable provisions of the Rio Grande Compact will continue to present problems. Interstate water compacts have a common flaw of failing to consider changing factors that affect water availability such as decreased precipitation and snowcap runoff as well as increased temperatures, evaporation and population growth, which all result in lower river flows. The Rio Grande Compact must be amended and restructured to provide for considerations of climatic factors and changes that affect river flows and water availability. The Rio Grande Compact should borrow some concepts from the Utton Transboundary Resource Center’s Model Interstate Water Compact, but the Model Compact fails to address the important climatic factors. Without the consideration of these factors, the sustainability of interstate water resources will diminish entirely. The Rio Grande Compact and its Commission must be structured to consider these climatic factors and provide for the best interest of the Rio Grande itself as a vital and diminishing natural resource.

The Path Towards Groundwater Management in the Borderlands of Mexico and Texas

Binational efforts to understand, assess, and manage shared groundwater resources on the Mexico‐Texas border are limited and politically sensitive. On the Mexico side, long‐standing centralized groundwater governance structures have created institutional barriers at the local level to the expansion of knowledge and cooperation over these transboundary resources. On the Texas side, property rights related to groundwater resources limit the scope of options available for cooperative management of cross‐border aquifers. In order to develop more effective cross‐border relations and enhance knowledge, cooperative management, and sustainability of the region's shared aquifers, stakeholders in the border between Mexico and Texas should pursue local and regional arrangements that focus primarily on water quality and environmental issues. Additionally, in order for the results of local efforts to be permanent and sustainable, they must consider the more formal, long‐term cooperative models that tend to have stronger systemic impacts and funding commitments. In addition, stakeholders and officials must make a better effort to educate the public on the science and facts in order to avoid past experiences where fear and political lobbying scuttled viable and promising cooperative efforts.

Levelling the Lake: Transboundary Resource Management in the Lake of the Woods Watershed by Jamie Benidickson

Levelling the Lake: Transboundary Resource Management in the Lake of the Woods Watershed by Jamie Benidickson

Institutional factors affecting fish passage in the Columbia River Treaty renegotiation

ABSTRACTThe United States and Canada have begun renegotiating the Columbia River Treaty, which is an international model for transboundary water governance. This paper identifies six institutional factors that will affect negotiations pertaining to fish passage during the renegotiation of the treaty: geographical advantage, issue linkage, a basin commission, the duration of agreements, negotiating autonomy and side payments. These factors and the methods used to determine them can be applied to other transboundary river basins where basin states have a history of transboundary resource governance. This analysis also serves as a policy-relevant resource for Columbia River Treaty negotiators and stakeholders.

The Development Trend and Comparison of Chinese and American Financial Technology

As a role of value circulation, finance is the allocation of transboundary resources in the uncertain environment [1]. However, there are many problems during the process of traditional allocation. Financial technology can accelerate the solution of traditional financial problems. China and the United States have a great influence on the global economy in the development of financial technology. This paper compares the similarities and differences of financial technology in China and America to get the focus and growth area for Chinese financial technology. It begins with the background of financial technology development in China and the US. Then it discusses Sino-US common financial technology development. In addition, it analyzes three drive technology’s appliances, which is big data, artificial intelligence and block chain. Finally it comes to their development suggestion. China should find the innovative way to develop financial technology and improve its regulation.

Legal Aspects of the Russian–Norwegian Model for Cross-Border Unitization in the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean

This article examines the provisions in the 2010 Russian–Norwegian Treaty on Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean dealing with the management of transboundary hydrocarbon resources. How compatible is the unitization mechanism in the Treaty with Russian and Norwegian legislation? Will there be tension between Russian and Norwegian interpretations? How does Russian and Norwegian legislation support or challenge the concept of a “unit operator” in a cross-border unitization? What are the possible concerns and pitfalls related to mechanisms for consultations and procedures for dispute resolution?