Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area
Study region: Scandinavia, Norway and Sweden. Study focus: Transborder cooperation and knowledge of transboundary aquifers (TBAs) has evolved through an inventory under the convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (Water Convention) from 1992. Within...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822002294 |
| _version_ | 1811204491877285888 |
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| author | B. Flem L. Stalsberg A. Seither |
| author_facet | B. Flem L. Stalsberg A. Seither |
| author_sort | B. Flem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Scandinavia, Norway and Sweden. Study focus: Transborder cooperation and knowledge of transboundary aquifers (TBAs) has evolved through an inventory under the convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (Water Convention) from 1992. Within EU countries, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) from 2000 intends to contribute to achieve the objectives of the Water Convention. This study analyses the national groundwater management systems in Norway and Sweden and their implementation of the WFD. Emphasis has been placed on international river basin districts (IRBD) and transborder cooperation. The findings offer recommendations for authorities and policy-makers on how they could improve the long-term management and ensuring transparent decision-making of transboundary groundwater management. New hydrological insights for the region: In Norway and Sweden, TBAs play a minor role in supplying freshwater resources and sustaining socio-economic development in transborder areas. The analysis shows that surface water overrules ‘the invisible’ groundwater. This study highlights several factors that need to be addressed. First, the Norwegian national water management systems are fragmented and over-complex, which complicates national and transnational cooperation. Second, Swedish legislation must be revised to meet the requirements of the WFD regarding IRBD delineation. Finally, transborder dialogue and joint projects on groundwater mapping are necessary for mobilising resources and the necessary political support to obtain knowledge on TBAs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:14:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5eca30f8671c4b84911c3da189664c5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T03:14:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-5eca30f8671c4b84911c3da189664c5e2022-12-22T03:50:13ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182022-12-0144101216Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder areaB. Flem0L. Stalsberg1A. Seither2Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315 Torgarden, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Corresponding author.The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Postboks 5091, Majorstua, 0301 Oslo, NorwayGeological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315 Torgarden, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Asplan Viak AS, Abels gate 9, 7030 Trondheim, NorwayStudy region: Scandinavia, Norway and Sweden. Study focus: Transborder cooperation and knowledge of transboundary aquifers (TBAs) has evolved through an inventory under the convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (Water Convention) from 1992. Within EU countries, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) from 2000 intends to contribute to achieve the objectives of the Water Convention. This study analyses the national groundwater management systems in Norway and Sweden and their implementation of the WFD. Emphasis has been placed on international river basin districts (IRBD) and transborder cooperation. The findings offer recommendations for authorities and policy-makers on how they could improve the long-term management and ensuring transparent decision-making of transboundary groundwater management. New hydrological insights for the region: In Norway and Sweden, TBAs play a minor role in supplying freshwater resources and sustaining socio-economic development in transborder areas. The analysis shows that surface water overrules ‘the invisible’ groundwater. This study highlights several factors that need to be addressed. First, the Norwegian national water management systems are fragmented and over-complex, which complicates national and transnational cooperation. Second, Swedish legislation must be revised to meet the requirements of the WFD regarding IRBD delineation. Finally, transborder dialogue and joint projects on groundwater mapping are necessary for mobilising resources and the necessary political support to obtain knowledge on TBAs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822002294Water ConventionWater Framework DirectiveTransboundary cooperationScandinaviaGovernance |
| spellingShingle | B. Flem L. Stalsberg A. Seither Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Water Convention Water Framework Directive Transboundary cooperation Scandinavia Governance |
| title | Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area |
| title_full | Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area |
| title_short | Groundwater governance in international river basins – An analysis of the Norwegian-Swedish transborder area |
| title_sort | groundwater governance in international river basins an analysis of the norwegian swedish transborder area |
| topic | Water Convention Water Framework Directive Transboundary cooperation Scandinavia Governance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581822002294 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bflem groundwatergovernanceininternationalriverbasinsananalysisofthenorwegianswedishtransborderarea AT lstalsberg groundwatergovernanceininternationalriverbasinsananalysisofthenorwegianswedishtransborderarea AT aseither groundwatergovernanceininternationalriverbasinsananalysisofthenorwegianswedishtransborderarea |