The Conservation and Sustainable Use of Freshwater ... - IUCN

Issue North Africa Northern Arabian Peninsula
Level of exploitation of water
resources and trends
High level of exploitation and overabstraction
of groundwater leading to
saltwater intrusion. Major deficits of
drinking water supply in rural areas.
High level of over exploitation of
groundwater due to severe shortage of
rainfall in many areas. High seasonal
and annual variations.
Role of Agriculture
Important contributor to GDP in most
countries. Provides high levels of
employment. Expansion of irrigated
areas is on the agenda.
Small to moderate role of agriculture in
the region’s GDP, but agriculture is the
main consumer of water. Significant
water losses in agriculture.
Water quality and ecosystems Deterioration of water quality is evident. Decreasing quality of water as a result
of industrial discharges and insufficient
water treatment mechanisms. Problem
of salinization of surface water.
Insufficient water monitoring.
Water demand measures
Not widely applied. Constraints in the
implementation of price schemes.
Water conservation pricing structures,
promotion of water saving technologies,
and other water demand management
measures are being implemented or are
on the agenda of some countries.
Desalination and wastewater
A small contribution to total water
supply. Desalination is being used in
Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.
Wastewater reuse implemented in the
subregion. Potential of wastewater
reuse increased.
Institutions and legal systems
The institutional legal framework for
IWRM is in place in many countries.
Need for effective enforcement of the
laws and regulations.
Many are involved in planning,
regulation, and delivery in many
countries. Need to reinforce regulatory
functions and enforcement of standards.
Reallocation Issues
Water savings in agriculture could be
reallocated.
Water savings use for reallocation of
water. No permanent water rights.
Source: Global Water Partnership: Water for the 21 st Century: Vision for Action- Framework for Action for the Mediterranean
Conceptual framework
The relationship between water, food, and trade may be
illustrated in a triangle of Water, Food, and Trade. This
simple model depicts the interdependence between water
and food security. Moreover, it illustrates the basic fact
that arid countries resort to the import of food to overcome
water deficit. In other words, water deficits at a national
level were alleviated or managed by economic solutions
through global trade.
Hence, in any strategic effort to view, think, and implement
sustainable water strategies in the Arab world we
should consider the following:
a. Water is an economic good that should be allocated to
its best use based on technical, economic, and environmental
criteria. Water balances should be assessed in a
broader context, such as a river basin or watershed area
within a region, not a nation-state.
b. Food security must be viewed and assessed in both regional
and global frameworks.
c. Some arid countries utilized trade of cereals, fruit, and
vegetables, which represents a form of virtual water.
Paradigm shifts in water management
A paradigm is defined as a mental model, a way of seeing
things, or a conceptual framework. However, a paradigm
may enhance patterned modes of thinking. This patterned
thinking constrains creative modes of thinking. A shift in
paradigm may be needed if the existing paradigm fails to
address certain problems. A well-known paradigm shift
in basic sciences took place when classical physics was
replaced by modern physics. Water is an interdisciplinary
field, which covers a wide array of fields, such as basic
sciences, engineering, law, history, and socio-economics.
In order to induce a paradigm shift in water strategies in
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