Transboundary Water Management

Transboundary Water Management provides a framework for managing water resources across national boundaries. Other critical institutional responses to address some present-day water challenges include commitment to International, Regional andBasin Level Agreements, effective National Water Laws and regulations governing access and use of water, and creation of a knowledge-base for basin managers to make informed decisions. Flexibility in International Agreements allows for adjustments in response to both gradual and sudden changes within a transboundary river basin.Benefit Sharing presents an alternative to the traditional water management paradigm.Examples of River Basin Organisations at various stages of development are presented for the  Danube, Mekong and Nile rivers.

A vital reference for transboundary water management practitioners is the recent publication Transboundary Water Management in Practice (2010, Eds: Earle, Jägerskog and Öjendal). It provides an overview of this complex subject, relevant to researchers and water managers alike.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covers the following concepts and material:

• Key International Agreements governing Transboundary Water Management,
• Objectives of Regional Agreements;
• Objectives of Basin Level Agreements;
• mechanisms for Flexibility within international agreements
• The concept of Benefit Sharing and
• Examples of Transboundary River Basin Organizations;