Shammy Puri

1
Shared Aquifers contribution to the achievement
of MDGs
Special Presentation on the Law of Transboundary
Aquifers, to ILC

• Shammy Puri
• UNESCO Division of Water Science
• IHP ISARM

2
Key Points

• Millennium Development Goals the link to water
• Aquifer resources link to sustainable
  livelihoods
• Shared aquifer resources for human security
  ecosystem support
• A law for sharing transboundary aquifers for
  socio-ecological wellbeing

3
MDGs link with water
Aquatic habitats
Livelihoods food
Equitable share of the global commons
Wholesome water sanitation

• Goal 1 extreme poverty hunger
• Goal 4 child mortality
• Goal 5 maternal health
• Goal 7 environmental sustainability
• Goal 8 global partnership for development

4
Aquifers, human security environmental
sustainability
5
Sustainable use of transboundary aquifers
Aquifers used extensively Provide livelihood
support Essential for ecosystems But, need joint
management One of the routes to MDGs
6
The needs
7
Summary

• Aquifer resources insufficiently included in
  environmental conventions
• Proposed Articles support the on going efforts by
  Governments, UN, the GEF
• The global inventory shows increasing cooperation
  among States to recognise the extent of shared
  aquifers
• Aquifers provide an added safety net for human
  security, the fastest and the most economical
  route to MDGs in most areas
• BUT this requires sound stewardship of the
  hidden resource

Thank you for your attention