Transcript + What is a Transboundary Problem?

IW:LEARN
TDA/SAP
Training Course
Module 2: Development of the
TDA
Section 4: Transboundary Problem
Identification and Prioritisation
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Where are we?
Defining
system
boundaries
Collection
and analysis
of
data/informat
ion
Identification
&
prioritisation
of the
transboundary
problems
Determination
of the
impacts of
each priority
problem
Analysis
of the
immediate,
underlying,
and root
causes for
each problem
Development
of thematic
reports
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In this Section you will learn about….

What are transboundary problems
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What are shared environmental problems
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Climate Change - Is it an International Waters
Transboundary Problem?

A process for identifying and prioritising
transboundary problems
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What is a Transboundary Problem?
A transboundary problem is an environmental
problem that is transboundary in scale.
In other words, it is an environmental problem
originating in, or contributed by, one country and
affecting (or impacting) another.
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Nutrients emitted
(point and diffuse)
Impacts felt
Example of a
Transboundary
Problem:
Dnieper River Basin
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Loss of Habitats
(Loggerhead Turtle
nesting sites)
Loggerhead Turtle
Migration
Example of a
Transboundary
Problem:
Mediterranean
Sea
+ What is a Shared Environmental
Problem?
A shared environmental problem is an
environmental problem that is shared between 2
or more countries in a given water system
The problem is not transboundary as given in the
definition above but is a common problem in the
region
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Example of a
Shared
Problem:
Nubian Sandstone
Aquifer
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System
Transboundary Environmental Problems
Black Sea
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Guinea Current LME
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Further
examples:
Marine
Mediterranean Sea
South China Sea LME
Yellow Sea LME
Bay of Bengal LME
Caribbean LME
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Nutrient over-enrichment/eutrophication
Decline in natural resources (e.g. fisheries)
Chemical pollution
Habitat and biodiversity changes - including alien
species introduction
Decline of fish stocks
Loss of ecosystem integrity and yields in a highly
variable environment including the effects of global
climate change
Deterioration in water quality from land and sea
based activities, eutrophication and harmful algal
blooms
Habitat destruction and alteration
Decline in biodiversity
Decline in fisheries
Decline of seawater quality
Modification of habitats
Overexploitation of living aquatic resources
Pollution of aquatic environments
Pollution problems
Ecosystem problems
Fisheries problems
Biodiversity problems
Overexploitation of marine living resources
Degradation of critical habitats
Pollution
Unsustainable fisheries
Habitat degradation
Pollution
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System
Transboundary Environmental Problems
Rio de la Plata
1. Chemical pollution (including oil)
2. Microbiological pollution
3. Eutrophication and harmful algal blooms
4. Suspended solids
5. Introduction of exotic species
6. Alteration / Destruction of natural habitats
7. Loss of biological diversity
8. Chemical pollution
9. Radionuclide pollution
10. Eutrophication
11. Loss/modification of ecosystems or ecotones
12. Flooding events and elevated groundwater levels
13. Modification of the hydrological regime
14. Variation and Reduction of Hydrological Flow
15. Deterioration of Water Quality
16. Ecosystem Degradation in the River Basin
17. Flooding events
18. Variation and reduction of hydrological flow
19. Changes in the abundance and distribution of biota
20. Changes in sediment dynamics
21. Changes in water quality
22. Stress on ground and surface water resources
23. Changes to Hydrological Regime
24. Deterioration of water quality
25. Land degradation
Dnipro River Basin
Further
examples:
River
Basins
Kura-Aras River Basin
Cubango-Okavango River Basin
Orange-Senqu River Basin
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System
Transboundary Environmental Problems
Lake Peipsi
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Lake Chad
Further
examples:
Lakes
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Prespa
Eutrophication
Fishery management
Groundwater pollution and water distribution
Mining pollution from oil-shell activities
Variability of hydrological regime and fresh water availability
Water pollution
Decreased viability of biological resources
Loss of biodiversity
Loss and modification of ecosystems
Sedimentation in rivers and water bodies and
Invasive species
Unsustainable Fisheries
Increasing Pollution
Excessive Sedimentation
Habitat Destruction
Nutrient Enrichment
Native Fish Stock Decline
Reduction in the water level in Macro Prespa
Sediment Transport
Deforestation and changes in forests
Organic Pollution
Hazardous Substance Pollution
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Further
examples:
Aquifers
System
Transboundary Environmental Problems
Nubian Aquifer
1.
2.
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Guarani Aquifer
Declining Water Levels
Water Quality Deterioration
Changes in the Groundwater Regime
Damage or Loss of Ecosystem and Biodiversity
Pollution
Over exploitation of resources
Management issues
+ Climate Change - Is it an International
Waters Transboundary Problem?

Climate change has been seen as beyond the
scope of IW project intervention and
consequently any single TDA/SAP process
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But climate change is an external driver of many
of the above problems – something that cannot
be changed in the short to medium term
(although its impacts can be mitigated against or
adapted to)
+ Climate Change - Is it an International
Waters Transboundary Problem?

Many transboundary problems are reinforced
(both positively or negatively) by climate
change.
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Whether climate change is considered as a
transboundary problem or not, its effects (in
terms of cause and impact) need to be well
understood to ensure that future interventions
are both resilient and adaptive
+ Identifying and Prioritising
Transboundary Problems
Crucial part of the TDA/SAP
process and the TDA development
phase
Transboundary Problems not
identified at this stage may not be
captured at a later stage
+ Prioritisation- an Integral part of
Strategic Planning

A key to TDA development and the ultimate
success of the TDA/SAP process is the
importance of prioritisation
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Because there are often limited available
resources, prioritisation helps to identify which
transboundary problems need to be considered
further in the TDA
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Prioritisation usually requires a set of criteria
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Black Sea
Dnieper River Basin
Orange-Senqu
River Basin
Kura – Aras River Basin
Projects that have
used this approach:
Gulf of Mexico
Rio de la Plata
Nubian
Aquifer
Lake Chad
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Collaborative Process
Purpose:
Approach:
Collaborative
workshop with
the full TDA
Development
Team
To reach a
consensus on the
priority
transboundary
problems
affecting the
water system.
The Task:
To brainstorm a
complete list of
the
transboundary
problems for the
water system
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Group Exercise
In whole group:
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Brainstorm a complete list of the transboundary
problems for the water system
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Identify the real transboundary environmental problems

Identify the geographical scale of each problem and
how strongly transboundary the problems are

Individual team members to prioritise the problems
Timing: 55 minutes
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Golden Rules of Brainstorming
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Group Exercise
In whole group:

Brainstorm a complete list of the transboundary
problems for the water system

Identify the real transboundary environmental problems

Identify the geographical scale of each problem and
how strongly transboundary the problems are

Individual team members to prioritise the problems
Timing: 55 minutes