Managing Common Pool Groundwater Resources

Woldwide, developed and developing countries increasingly depend on groundwater resources for domestic water supply. Since groundwater is a hidden resource and individuals cannot see how much has been used and what is left, this book attempts to make global groundwater use more visible so that policy makers can make informed decisions as to its management. Organized into six geographical regions, the authors describe the various physical, cultural and institutional challenges of groundwater policy and management faced by countries worldwide. Analysis of the challenges and responses to groundwater management at the national level hopes to generate a broader understanding for societies across the globe. Each chapter provides the physical geography and demographics of the country, its water use, problems, law, politics and policy and future implications. Chapters on representative countries within North America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Australia and China and Africa provide a comprehensive perspective of groundwater issues internationally.

Woldwide, developed and developing countries increasingly depend on groundwater resources for domestic water supply. Since groundwater is a hidden resource and individuals cannot see how much has been used and what is left, this book attempts to make global groundwater use more visible so that policy makers can make informed decisions as to its management. Organized into six geographical regions, the authors describe the various physical, cultural and institutional challenges of groundwater policy and management faced by countries worldwide. Analysis of the challenges and responses to groundwater management at the national level hopes to generate a broader understanding for societies across the globe. Each chapter provides the physical geography and demographics of the country, its water use, problems, law, politics and policy and future implications. Chapters on representative countries within North America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Australia and China and Africa provide a comprehensive perspective of groundwater issues internationally.

This book offers an authoritative analysis of the challenges that have arisen as a result of modern technologies. It covers several environmental problems, such as climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, loss of natural habitats, pollution and human population growth, and discusses practical scenarios for sustainable human dwelling of our planet. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the first part introduces “global changes”, describing how they are happening in reality, and the challenges arising from them. The second part introduces methodological approaches borrowed from various disciplines, such as engineering, management science, philosophy and theology, which can help deal with the contemporary challenges resulting from global changes. Lastly, the third part discusses some of the themes presented in the light of novel concepts, such as the Anthropocene, and includes interesting proposals and ideas about how human beings could dwell the Earth in this new age. Offering a comprehensive theoretical reflection on the relation between technology, environment and human beings, it also provides a practice-oriented guide for researchers and decision-makers working on a new ethical paradigm of acting in the Anthropocene.

The aim of this book is to document for the first time the dimensions and requirements of effective integrated groundwater management (IGM). Groundwater management is a formidable challenge, one that remains one of humanity’s foremost priorities. It has become a largely non-renewable resource that is overexploited in many parts of the world. In the 21st century, the issue moves from how to simply obtain the water we need to how we manage it sustainably for future generations, future economies, and future ecosystems. The focus then becomes one of understanding the drivers and current state of the groundwater resource, and restoring equilibrium to at-risk aquifers. Many interrelated dimensions, however, come to bear when trying to manage groundwater effectively. An integrated approach to groundwater necessarily involves many factors beyond the aquifer itself, such as surface water, water use, water quality, and ecohydrology. Moreover, the science by itself can only define the fundamental bounds of what is possible; effective IGM must also engage the wider community of stakeholders to develop and support policy and other socioeconomic tools needed to realize effective IGM. In order to demonstrate IGM, this book covers theory and principles, embracing: 1) an overview of the dimensions and requirements of groundwater management from an international perspective; 2) the scale of groundwater issues internationally and its links with other sectors, principally energy and climate change; 3) groundwater governance with regard to principles, instruments and institutions available for IGM; 4) biophysical constraints and the capacity and role of hydroecological and hydrogeological science including water quality concerns; and 5) necessary tools including models, data infrastructures, decision support systems and the management of uncertainty. Examples of effective, and failed, IGM are given. Throughout, the importance of the socioeconomic context that connects all effective IGM is emphasized. Taken as a whole, this work relates the many facets of effective IGM, from the catchment to global perspective.

This Volume Presents A Unique Interdisciplinary Assembly Of Thoughts In Which Agricultural Scientists, Fisheries Scientists, Forestry Experts, Alternative Medicine Systems Experts, Environmental And Resource Economists Among Others Have Addressed Their Tasks Focussing On Institutions As A Crosscutting Theme In Their Writings On Sustainable Use Of Common Pool Resources.

Groundwater allocation determines who is able to use groundwater resources, how, when and where. It directly affects the value (economic, ecological, socio-cultural) that individuals and society obtain from groundwater, today and in the future.