ABSTRACT
Freshwater is one of the vital resources needed for ecological and societal activities. River basins and their tributaries are crucial sources of freshwater. A river basin or catchment is defined as an interconnected system that transforms natural input of solar energy, atmospheric precipitation, nutrients, and other environmental factors (Burton, 1986). The involvement of many environmental and societal factors and the interconnection between and among systems make river basin management difficult. The level of complexity increases even more for transboundary river basins and their management. A large proportion of freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, and aquifers shared by two or more countries. There are about 261 river basins that are shared by two or more nations (Table 10.1) (Wolf et al., 1999). Water plays an important role in international conflicts and security. Political borders and river boundaries rarely coincide with borders of watersheds, ensuring that politics inevitably intrude on water policy and water management. Inequities in the distribution, use, and consequences of water management and use have been a source of tension
10.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 291 10.2 Transboundary River Basins: Examples from around the World ................. 295
10.2.1 Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) ........................................... 295 10.2.2 Danube River Basin ..........................................................................299 10.2.3 Colorado River Basin ........................................................................ 310 10.2.4 Nile River Basin ................................................................................ 315
10.3 Transboundary Water Treaties ...................................................................... 322 10.3.1 Climate Change and Transboundary River Basins .......................... 322 10.3.2 International Freshwater Agreements/Declarations ......................... 323 10.3.3 Regional Accords .............................................................................. 323 10.3.4 River Basin Treaties .......................................................................... 324
10.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 325 References .............................................................................................................. 326
and dispute. In addition, water resources have been used to achieve military and political goals, including the use of water systems and infrastructure, such as dams and supply canals, firefighting as military targets.
