The Future of Water Management in Central Asia

Abstract

Central Asia is an increasingly important strategic geopolitical region. During the latest decades, the region has often been identified as close to potential conflict regarding water usage. This includes the sharing of water from the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya in the Aral Sea Basin. The Aral Sea disaster has exposed a complex picture of water needs and potential political conflict. Rapid population increase together with climate change impacts are likely to further aggravate the short- and long-term future precarious situation for water management in the region. This Special Issue focuses on present and future water management issues in Central Asia in view of future climate changes and how these will affect socioeconomic development. Central Asia is, in general, water rich; however, exercising efficient and fair water management will be important in view of future population increase and climate change. At the same time, water and natural resource development is a cornerstone in all the Central Asian republics. Especially, water resources are, to a great extent, shared between all five republics. A common ground for water-sharing is, therefore, of utmost importance.

Health Impact of Drying Aral Sea: One Health and Socio-Economical Approach

“…The increase in water withdrawal from the Amu-Darya and the Syr-Darya for industrial, agricultural [30] and domestic use, limited water flow into the Aral Sea. This led to the shrinking of the Aral Sea [31,32]. Moreover, the return flow was contaminated with industrial and agricultural wastewater.…”

Is the ecosystem approach effective in transboundary water systems: Central Asia as a case study?

“…Furthermore, there is a lack of political willingness among Central Asian countries to share water, especially given that the upstream countries are poorer than their downstream neighbors and also less powerful politically (Zhupankhan et al, 2017). Despite the existence of various treaties and agreements restricting water consumption and resource development projects in upstream countries, they have not abided by those agreements and thus ended up in conflicts with downstream countries, exacerbating the existing political tensions in the region (Berndtsson & Tussupova, 2020; Bichsel, 2011).…”

Assessment on the sustainability of water resources utilization in Central Asia based on water resources carrying capacity

“…Climate change and population growth intensify competition for water resources across countries and regions (Ibatullin et al, 2009;Tian and Zhang, 2020;Yan and Tan, 2020). The increasing water demand damages the ecological environment, aggravates socioeconomic problems and escalates political tensions (Bao and Fang, 2012;Dukhovny et al, 2013;Seidakhmetov et al, 2014;Berndtsson and Tussupova, 2020;Huang et al, 2021). Keeping water withdrawals in balance with socioeconomic development by improving water use efficiency will facilitate environmental sustainability and benefit human well-being in the long run.…”

“…As a consequence of global warming, the temperature in Central Asia has risen approximately twice as fast as the global average since the 1970s; it is expected to increase by 2-4℃ by 2050 for its major part (Hu et al, 2014b;Berndtsson and Tussupova, 2020). This has accelerated the evaporation rate, causing inland lakes such as the Aral Sea and Lake Balkhash to dry up, and threaten the normal water supply (Lioubimtseva and Henebry, 2009;UNEP, 2017;Duan et al, 2020;Yang et al, 2020).…”