Ecological Civilization in Kura-Araks River Basin
There are 261 international rivers in the world, covering 45. 3% of the land-surface of the earth ( excluding Antarctica). An estimated 40% of the world s population lives in internationally shared river basins and are dependent for their water security on effective transboundary water management. A total of 145 nations include territory within international basins. Twenty-one nations lie in their entirety within international basins. These nations are not limited to smaller countries, such as Liechtenstein and Andorra, but include such sizable countries as Hungary, Bangladesh, Belarus, and Zambia. However, in larger countries the need for effective water management between provinces or states is of a similar importance as in international basins. The Kura-Araks river basin is one of the internationally significant river systems, which has serious environmental problems and continues to be threatened. The basin covers the territory of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey. The total area of the Kura-Araks basin is approximately 188,400 km2, occupying the greater part of the South Caucasus. The Kura and the Araks contribute about 66% and 34% respectively to the total runoff. There are more than 10,000 rivers in the basin including many small shallow rivers. The water regime is characterized by high spring flows from snow melt and low flows during the autumn and winter period. In the plains, the river meanders and the water of the Kura is characterized by high turbidity as the result of mobilization of erosion products along the bank, exacerbated by deforestation and flood irrigation. The article describes the institutional and regulatory settings, environmental issues, risks of natural hazards, etc. in the basin through the South Caucasus countries and provides with recommendations and opportunities for transboundary cooperation among nations.
transboundary water management international basin South Caucasus ecological civilization
G. Nazuryan A. Markosyan A. Margaryan
PA Government Services Inc, Armenia Department of State Property Management under Government of Armenia State Committee of Water Economy by Ministry of Territorial Administration of Armenia
国际会议
郑州
英文
411-419
2009-10-20（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）