Lessons on cooperation building to manage water conflicts in the Aral Sea Basin; Technical documents in hydrology: pc-cp series; Vol.: 11; 2003

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LESSONS ON COOPERATION BUILDING TO MANAGE WATER 
CONFLICTS IN THE ARAL SEA BASIN 
Victor Dukhovny and Vadim Sokolov 
Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in 
Central Asia 
 
 
(SC-2003/WS/44)

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The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this 
publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of 
UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its 
authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained 
in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of 
UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. 

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
This article is a contribution from UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme to 
the World Water Assessment Programme. It was prepared within the framework of 
the joint UNESCO–Green Cross International project entitled “From Potential Conflict 
to Co-operation Potential (PCCP): Water for Peace,” and was made possible by the 
generous financial assistance of the Japanese government. 

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CONTENTS 
 Summary 
1 
1. 
Geography And History Of The Aral Sea Basin 
2 
1.1. Hydro-geographical 
Characteristics 
2 
1.2. Water 
Resources 
3 
1.3. Land 
Use 
4 
1.4. Ecosystem 
Dynamics 
4 
1.5. Demographic 
Characteristics 
5 
1.6. Ethnicity, 
Languages, 
Religion 
5 
1.7. 
Economy of the Region 
7 
1.8. 
Some Historical Background to Current Challenges 
8 
2. 
Analysis Of Present Situation 
10 
2.1. 
Scenarios of National Development 
10 
2.2. Institutions 
12 
2.2.1. The New Period of Interrelations after Independence 
13 
2.2.2. Institutional Management at the National Level 
16 
2.3. Legal 
Basis 
20 
2.3.1. Correlation with Principal International Water Laws 
21 
2.3.2. Legal 
Doctrines 
22 
2.4. 
Financial Aspects of the Water Sector 
22 
2.5. 
Technical Aspects of Water Management Improvement
on the Interstate, System and Inter-farm Levels 
25 
2.5.1. Improving the Accuracy of Water Measurement and
Forecasts of Water Resources 
25 
2.5.2. Implementation of SCADA System for BWO Structures 
25 
2.5.3. Information 
System 
26 
2.5.4. The Base of Knowledge 
26 
2.5.5. Analytical 
Tools 
26 
2.5.6. Elaboration of Joint Interstate Projects 
27 
2.5.7. Water Saving: Main Direction for Regional Survival 
28 
2.6. 
Technical Aspects of Future Development 
28 
2.7. Training 
Systems 
29 
3. Conclusion 
30 
3.1. 
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing System 
31 
3.2. Lessons 
Learnt 
33 
3.2.1. Socio-ecological Conflicts over Water Use 
33 
3.2.2. Economic Conflicts over Water Use 
34 
3.2.3. Water Conflicts in Perspective 
34 
3.2.4. Prospect of Increased Water Use by Non-members of ICWC 
34 
4. 
Summary Of The Recommendations 
35 
4.1. 
At the National Level 
36 
4.2. 
At the Interstate Level 
38 
Annex: Detailed Recommendations 
40 
Addendum to Section 2.1 
40 
Addendum to Section 2.3.1 
40 
Addendum to Section 2.3.2 
41 
Addendum to Sections 2.4 and 2.5.7 
42 
Water Saving and Rationalization of Water Distribution and
Use: The "Archimedean" Lever for Survival and Progress 
44 
Addendum to Section 2.5.6 
47 
 Notes 
50 

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