Latin America; in English (pdf) - Transboundary Freshwater Dispute ...

CHAPTER 3. HYDROPOLITICAL VULNERABILITY
OF SOUTH AMERICA’S INTERNATIONAL WATER
RESOURCES
Joshua T. Newton
The South American continent is the richest hydrological region of the world and contains some
of its largest rivers. Yet even with an abundance of one of the earth’s most precious natural
resources, South America is extremely susceptible to hydropolitical vulnerability due to many
factors that affect its political, social, ecological, and economic environments. With countries
industrializing and modernizing, changes are influencing whole sectors and are impacting the
way in which people utilize water resources in the region. The fact that most of the freshwater of the
continent is shared between countries adds an additional dynamic to a situation that is potentially very
conflictive.
An international approach to water resources is a relatively new concept for much of South America,
as it is in many parts of the world. Although in some international basins, notably Lake Titicaca and the
La Plata River, river basin organizations have been working together for decades, for most of the
continent, international river basin management has come about only within the past five to ten years.
Such institutional frameworks can aid in the mitigation of conflict and natural disasters; however,
because these organizations are still relatively new, they may not be fully prepared to handle many of
the issues contributing to hydropolitical vulnerability in South America.
The first section of this chapter will set the stage by looking at South America and its international
river basins, examining the various cases that exist within the region. After this groundwork has been
laid, the most important issues affecting the vulnerability of basins in South America will be addressed,
attempting to pinpoint areas that are most at risk to conflict. There are several examples of basins
where extensive work is being carried out and the next section will explore whether the institutions
confronting the issues of these international basins are being effective in mitigating potential conflicts
between stakeholders. Through this process, we will be able to identify weak points where efforts should
be concentrated within South America in order to prevent future disputes over transboundary waters.
3.1 SOUTH AMERICA’S INTERNATIONAL RIVER BASINS
South America, the world’s fourth-largest continent, comprises 12% (over 17.8 million km 2 ) of the
world’s landmass (Rand McNally 1996) and is home to 365 million inhabitants, 6% of the world’s
population (PRB 2004). The region holds 12 countries, a British territory, and an overseas department
of France.
The continent has a varied climate, ranging from the hot tropics of central and northern South
America, where there are wet summers and dry winters, to the cool climates of the Andean region and
from the arid region of northern Chile and southern coastal Peru to the temperate climes of Patagonia,
which receives rain from the Pacific Ocean on its west side, but is dry on the east due to the adiabatic,
or “east side” effect (See Map 1a). The distribution of rainfall also varies considerably from region to
region and is one of the principal elements affecting the continent’s water resources.
Chapter 3. Hydropolitical Vulnerability, South America — 45