ICT for improved water planning and management of the Orontes river basin in light of climate variability and change

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1 ICT for improved water planning and management of the Orontes river basin in light of climate variability and change Prof. Stefano Bocchi, Dr. Bianca Dendena, Eng. Giovanni Formentin, Dr. Simone Sala Women for water Acquario Civico, Milano, 21 aprile 2015

2 Project framework Women for water Acquario Civico, Milano, 21 aprile 2015

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4 Agreements and cooperation over the Orontes river basin Syrian-Turkish side 1939: Final Protocol to Determine the Syria - Hatay Border Delimitation: Orontes, Karasu and Afrin rivers Since then, tense relationships related to the exploitation of Euphrates river 1980s: controversy over the Hatay region 2004: Free Trade Agreement Lebanese-Turkish side 1940s: first negotiations over the use of Orontes river 1991: Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination Treaty, establishment of Lebanese- Syrian Joint Committee for Shared Water 1994: Distribution of Orontes River Water Originating in Lebanese Territory 2001/2002: Amendment to the Agreement on the Distribution of Orontes River Water Originating in Lebanese Territory, establishment of a special joint committee for promoting an integrated water management framework None of the agreements signed so far involves all the three riparian countries

5 Driving pressures on Orontes water resources Climate change Population growth Agricultural activities

6 Driving pressures on Orontes water resources Water quantity Water quality Territorial issues

7 Women in Lebanon: what s their role in agriculture? Source: FAO, The state of Food and Agricolture Women in agriculture: closing the gender gap for development

8 Why the ICT project? Understanding and managing the climatic and anthropogenic drivers affecting water resources Introducing a decision supporting tool for enhancing water allocation Fostering interstate research and cooperation for a sustainable and responsible water management

9 Using ICT to improve water management INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Record data and information Transform data and information into knowledge ICT PROJECT Expand & strengthen data collection Develop new analytical tools Broadcast & Communicate Information and Knowledge Develop a geo-information package to disseminate knowledge

10 ICT project goal MABIA WEAP MODFLOW Strenghten the sustainable management of water resources in the Orontes river basin Elaboration of an integrated DSS tool Identification & mapping of entities with water data Preliminary assessment of ICT resources Equipment placement for data acquisition

11 Exploring technical details Women for water Acquario Civico, Milano, 21 aprile 2015

12 Hydrogeological structure Neogenic-quaternary aquifer Multilayer aquifer with interbedding of permeable limestones and conglomerates and aquitards (marl) Cenomanian aquifer (Cretaceous) High permeability due to fracturing and karst Low permeability strata interbedded Recharge from the Lebanon and Anti- Lebanon ranges Numerous springs in both sides of the valley

13 Model domain Covers the lower valley and the Western range where most of the population lives Cells 200 X 200 m wide

14 Digital elevation model (DEM) Model grid Saturated thickness

15 WEAP Major constraint: Data availability What s next? Expanded dataset EXAMPLES OF SCENARIOS - Area covered - Times series - Per capita water demand (domestic and industrial use)

16 Preliminary results Water and climate integrated dataset under construction Definition of an integrated analytic framework in support of decision making processes Elaboration of a geoinformation package simulating different scenarios for water allocation Policy recommendations for enhancing water management

17 Bird-eye view on project results

18 Way forward Women for water Acquario Civico, Milano, 21 aprile 2015

19 FACTS Lebanon is endowed with significant water resources BUT pressure on them is increasing NEEDS Lesson learnt Resilient systems able to cope with environmental stresses HOW? Identification and implementation of tailored adaptation measures focusing on AGRICULTURE

20 Actions to be taken Farm level : introduce drought and heat tolerant crops and varieties adopt sustainable agricultural practices enhance the efficiency of irrigation systems Policy level : set strategies for agriculture and natural resources management in light of climate change enlarge the participation of stakeholders in setting and implementing agricultural policies Dissemination Research : promote joint research programmes on agriculture and climate change fostering the interstate cooperation in research and practice Awareness raising

21 Thank you for your kind attention! CONTACTS Simone Sala Bianca Dendena Giovanni Formentin - giovanni.formentin@gmail.com GEOLAB - Geomatics and Landscape Ecology Research