In in depth review of the views of experts for enhancing the management of aquifers in SIDS, the capacity building needs, management of saline intrusion,

1. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Shammy Puri
UNESCO Division of Water Science
IHP & ISARM
Aquifers: contribution to the achievement
of environmental sustainability & MDG’s
GEF STAP Workshop on Aquifers in
SIDS, Port of Spain 6th – 9th Nov 2006

2. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Overview & Key Points
 Background Paper: scope & contents
 Millennium Development Goals & the link to
water
 Aquifer resources & link to sustainable
livelihoods
 Aquifer resources for human security &
ecosystem support
 Aquifers & for socio-ecological wellbeing

3. Port of Spain Nov 2006
UNESCO-IHP & GEF Strategic
Partnership to address aquifers in GEF
 Initial development from the 3rd WWF at Kyoto,
the outputs of the ISARM Programme
 STAP Workshop in Paris – awareness raising
 STAP Workshop in Delhi – ‘subsurface space’
 ‘Synergies across GEF Focal areas’ through
aquifers interlinkages
 Aquifers in the Global Conference on Oceans,
Coasts, and Islands & in GPA, Paris
 Portfolio of projects with UNESCO wide
involvement: IHP, MAB, IOC

4. Port of Spain Nov 2006
UNESCO-GEF Strategic Partnership
GEF-IV &
Aquifers
UNESCO
IHP ph-VII
ISARM
ISARM Americas
ISARM Balkans
ISARM Cent Europe
ISARM Mediterranean
IGRAC
OAS
ESCWA
ECE
IAEA
FAO
Public Private
Partnerhsip
UN ILC
‘TARM’ Convention
Other MEA’s
Key GEF
Focal Area’s
Existing
Portfolio
Med
LAC
SE Asia
Isotopes in
aquifers
UNEP / UNDP W’Bank
Policy
Bi
Laterals
eg KfW,
Italy, GTz
World
Transboundary
Map
Legal
Issues

5. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Background Paper: STAP Workshop
 Sustainable development increasingly depends on protection of
ecosystem services and the sound management of the aquifers, many
of which are fragile.
 Comprehensive scientific data is missing but it is widely recognised
that groundwater resources are central to many livelihoods,
including human health, and are in turn a feature of healthy, and
soundly functioning ecosystems.
 Groundwater in aquifers is threatened by the impact of severe climate
variability, pollution, deforestation and over exploitation;
 Technical solutions to these problems are available but there are a
series of barriers faced by practitioners of environmental
management.
 Among the many challenges in the SIDS, human induced alterations
of the marine / freshwater interface, coupled with the impact of
climate and pollution has resulted in excess nutrients in shallow
aquifers and in the ecosystems dependent on them.
 There is a feedback loop on human populations themselves, on the
near shore coral reefs and other littoral coastal environments.

6. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Main suggestions for the “way
forward”
 GEF focal areas could adopt a more integrated approach
especially in SIDS, through synergies – such as those to be
found by the consideration of aquifers as a link in components
of ecosystems.
 The GEF Implementing Agencies would benefit from
conducting a review of their ongoing portfolio’s to strengthen
the aquifer relevant aspects, especially where groundwater
dependent ecosystems are being addressed in their SIDS
projects.
 The GEF’s role of taking the science of aquifers to policy relevant
guidance may be enhanced through support from specialised
agencies, which could support the GEF in this area.
 GEF IA’s could be encouraged to enhance their technical &
scientific support to the SIDS because of their very limited
capacity, both in terms of technical expertise as well as central
governance.

7. Port of Spain Nov 2006
MDG’s link with ‘aquifer’
resources
Goal 1: extreme poverty & hunger
Goal 4: child mortality
Goal 5: maternal health
Goal 7: environmental sustainability
Goal 8: global partnership for development
Livelihoods &
food
Wholesome
water &
sanitation
Aquatic
habitats
Equitable
share of
the global
commons

8. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Global freshwater: in ice caps, rivers
& aquifers
Aquifers constitute 99% of all
accessible freshwater

9. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Aquifer withdrawals & Cartographic
anamorphosis

10. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Aquifers in Islands & Coasts

11. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Research work

12. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Discharge from aquifers to
coasts & oceans

13. Port of Spain Nov 2006
WHOI Postdoctoral Scholar Kevin Kroeger and
Guest Student Kayla Halloran install a well in
Eastham, Mass., to sample groundwater seeping
into a salt pond. Between 5 and 10 percent of the
fresh water in the ocean comes from
groundwater seeping through submarine
sediments. (Tom Kleindinst, WHOI Graphic Services)
The seaward discharge from
aquifers to coastal ecosystems, and
their role in delivering nutrients &
other dissolved constituents is
becoming increasingly recognised.

14. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Some points of interest
 Aquifers flowing into mangroves, coastal lagoons and salt
marshlands may be very significant for preservation of marine
biodiversity… some studies in US have been carried out *
 Of the 250 km3/yr of aquifer discharge from the African Continent,
70% is estimated to come from aquifers along the Gulf of Guinea
 Several GEF supported studies have been designed to address this
issue (eg MoRSCA, West African Coastal Aquifers)
 Other GEF Partners (eg Govt of Italy, UNDP) are also supporting
efforts to seamlessly integrate IWRM with coastal & ocean
management (eg Mediterranean Programme, Caspian Coastal
Aquifers, Dinaric Karst)
 If terrestrial aquifers are polluted due to increasing human stresses,
the slow seaward movement would be difficult to reverse
* Barlow PM 2003 Groundwater in the saltwater-freshwater environments of the
Atlantic Coasts, USGS Circular 1262

15. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Approx coastal & submarine
aquifer discharge is 130 km3/yr
Donana
coastal
wetlands
Permanent groundwater discharge to ponds
precipitation
evapotranspiration
evaporation
water
table
precipitation
evapotranspiration
stream flow
generation
Permanent stream generation
water
table
Buffer to
(some)
pollutants
Wet
season
or
year

16. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Survey of Practitioners views
INFORMATION ABOUT YOU (VOLUNTARY)
If you wish, please give us your contact & affiliation:
NAME: Affiliation / Agency:
Henri Antoine Alcindor, Water & Sewerage, National Hydrology Services La Digue Island of the Seychelles Islands Archipelago
Lyndon Robertson CEHI, English Speaking Caribbean
Joaneson LACOUR, : Laboratoire de Qualit? de l’Eau et de l’Environnement (LAQUE), Universit? Quisqueya (Haiti)
Marijn van der Velde Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Mainly Kingdom of Tonga, some additional impressions
from Samoa and Fiji
Marc Overmars SOPAC, Water Resources, Supply & Sanitation
Desmond ??
Angela Munroe, National Water Commission, Jamaica
Basil Fernandez, water Resources Authority-Jamaica
John Bowleg, Water & Sewerage Corporation, Bahamas
Clive Carpenter, GWP Consultants, Pacific, Carribbean, Indian Ocean
Lucila CANDELA, UNIVERSITY OF CATALONIA-UPC, SPAIN
Utam Maharaj, EarthWater Global, Carribbean
Leonie Crenan, PACIFIC
Graham Ride , Northern Territory Government, Australia, Aceh Indonesia, East Timor
Hastin Barnes Antigua Public Utilities Authority
Vincent Sweeney, IWCAM, Carribbean
54 Survey requests sent out
Responses from 17 = 31%
Coverage : all SIDS, including Mediterranean
Practitioners: Academia, Advisory agencies,
Water Utilities
SURVEY: views of experts
and practitioners about the
current levels of knowledge &
awareness about aquifers in
SIDS among the main
stakeholders & decision
makers.

17. Port of Spain Nov 2006
SIDS Survey: PART I: General Assessment of SIDS
1 In your view, is the broad hydrogeological classification of SIDS, as follows, recognised
by planners & decision makers in terms of implications for water resource & land use policy
development ?
Yes
(90%)
No
 low-lying islands, mostly originated
through organic accumulation and of
carbonate rocks
 mountainous islands, mostly originated
due to volcanic activity, or bedrock
islands
2 With regard to SIDS, what would your general evaluation be on the following:
Good Medium Poor
(57%)
 existing capacity (skills / resources /
institutions) for assessing, developing,
allocating, and protecting aquifer
resources
 successful approaches on aquifer
management in SIDS, including: aquifer
demand management, water quality
protection, water skimming techniques,
management / enhancement of aquifer
recharge, water reuse, and saline
intrusion barriers
well known &
widely utilised
not well
known &
sporadically
utilised
(77%)
unknown &
not used
 Knowledge gaps in the understanding of
groundwater interactions with coastal
systems (eg impact of sea level rise on
aquifers, including information on
options available for adaptation to
climate change and variability,
management options and opportunities
for protection-mitigation measures)
Minor
knowledge
gaps & good
understanding
a few areas of
knowledge
gaps –
reasonable
understanding
(35%)
major
knowledge
gaps – poor
understanding
(50%)
SIDS Survey: PART I: General Assessment of SIDS
1 In your view, is the broad hydrogeological classification of SIDS, as follows, recognised
by planners & decision makers in terms of implications for water resource & land use policy
development ?
Yes
(90%)
No
 low-lying islands, mostly originated
through organic accumulation and of
carbonate rocks
 mountainous islands, mostly originated
due to volcanic activity, or bedrock
islands
2 With regard to SIDS, what would your general evaluation be on the following:
Good Medium Poor
(57%)
 existing capacity (skills / resources /
institutions) for assessing, developing,
allocating, and protecting aquifer
resources
 successful approaches on aquifer
management in SIDS, including: aquifer
demand management, water quality
protection, water skimming techniques,
management / enhancement of aquifer
recharge, water reuse, and saline
intrusion barriers
well known &
widely utilised
not well
known &
sporadically
utilised
(77%)
unknown &
not used
 Knowledge gaps in the understanding of
groundwater interactions with coastal
systems (eg impact of sea level rise on
aquifers, including information on
options available for adaptation to
climate change and variability,
management options and opportunities
for protection-mitigation measures)
Minor
knowledge
gaps & good
understanding
a few areas of
knowledge
gaps –
reasonable
understanding
(35%)
major
knowledge
gaps – poor
understanding
(50%)

18. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Survey: knowledge &
understanding of stakeholders
HIGH LOW
Score 1 2 3 4
Issues / options
A. Basic hydrogeology of SIDS in integrated water resource
management
1. Understanding of basic aquifer / river catchment principles 5 7 4 0
2. Understanding of the limitations / advantages of aquifer resources 3 6 5 3
3. Understanding of the uniqueness / fragility of small island aquifer systems
2 10 4 0
4. Effective public and stakeholder perceptions that aquifers can act as a
‘buffer’ to drought, on the condition that they are replenished through some
form of ‘managed aquifer recharge’ approaches 0 3 6 7
HIGH LOW
Score 1 2 3 4
Issues / options
B. Issues connecting aquifers to environmental challenges in SIDS
1.Understanding / appreciation of linkage between aquifer resources &
poverty-livelihoods-environmental sustainability 1 3 8 4
2. Linkages to groundwater dependent ecosystems in the coastal zones
(lagoons, mangroves, etc) 3 0 10 3
C. Appreciation of relevance of aquifers to GEF focal areas of
biodiversity-climate change-sustainable land use 2 1 4 3

19. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Survey: knowledge &
understanding of stakeholders
HIGH LOW
Score 1 2 3 4
Issues / options
D. Data collection and monitoring
1. Are the data collection and monitoring programmes adequate for (i)
resource monitoring, and (ii) future impacts eg from climate change/sea level
rise. 0 6 6 5
2. Does the data collection programme help in developing good governance
of water in general, and aquifers in particular 2 3 5 5
E. Financial sustainability of institutions responsible for aquifer
management / water resources management, including resource
mobilization strategies 0 3 6 6
F. Legislation and regulations, including guidelines and advisory
rules 1 4 9 2
G. Responses to cultural, ethical, spiritual and other beliefs (related
to aquifers) with standard water management principles.
0 2 8 4
H. Use of any charging / licensing schemes for aquifer / water
resources management and environmental protection 1 2 7 6
I. Recognition that groundwater in some SIDS has a transboundary
impact in the sense of the GEF IW focal area? 0 5 2 2

20. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Survey: Skills and know-how for sound aquifer
resources management and integration into
environmental sustainability
HIGH LOW
Score 1 2 3 4
Issues / options
A. Cross sectoral (water-land use-irrigation-coastal fisheries, etc)
communication 1 4 9 2
B. Integration into on-going programmes eg Barbados Plan of Action
and the Mauritius Strategy, Pacific Regional Action Plan on
Sustainable Water Management, etc. 4 3 5 2
C. Integration into on-going / approved GEF projects eg IWCAM,
Sustainable Integrated Water Res Management in the Pacific Island
Countries and others. 4 4 2 3
D. Involvement with private sector’s investment (mineral water,
tourism, mining, agro-industry, etc) 1 4 2 3

21. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Skills & Know how: what else is needed?
 Integration into on-going OAS initiative in Saltwater Intrusion
 Sustainable financing of WRM and aquifer recharge initiatives
 Involvement with the rural population’s investment
 Groundwater quality issues are central to environmental issues, especially if lagoon-groundwater
interactions are present. This is even more evident in relation to health issues
 Land Use Management
 Climate Variability & Change
 Climate Change & Health
 Increased Political Will Required or Regional Champion
 Climate Adaptation Strategies
 Socio economic aspects
 Integrated water management
 Understanding that major aquifers that are sustainable do exist with the bedrock of many SIDS
 IAEA Technical Programme for Isotope Hydrology Study on aquifers
 Water resource management linkage to governance and use of regulations and fees to boost
income levels of officials
 Difficulty of instituting sound management when the senior officials are well trained and have
excellent understanding of the issues but the general population and most departmental officers
and those involved in advice and assistance believe in water diviners rather than scientists (!!!).
 WMO training programmes for capacity Building
 Integration of Fresh Water Resources Management with desalination
 Other funding agenciee involved.
 Local Inter-agency linkages
 Disaster Mitigation-Flood, Droughts, Hurricanes etc

22. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Options & Opportunities for Protection, &
Mitigation Measures
 optimal spatial configuration of development, protection and restoration can be
developed that will minimize negative impacts on aquifer resources and at the
same time maintain essential ecosystem services and products.
 natural ecosystems are inherently dynamic and unpredictable. Innovative ways
to live with environmental variability within a natural range rather than trying
to manage solely for stability and predictability. Essential to adopt the idea of
environmental uncertainty and predictability
 increasing evidence that aquifers support ecosystems; some systems are
entirely dependent on the aquifer discharge, other only partially so.
Assessments are required, that will sustain ecosystem services and biodiversity.
 global change is fragmenting hydrological landscapes however continuity will
maintain the flow of essential minerals, nutrients and organisms between
catchments, rivers and coastal systems and yet minimize the transfer of
contaminants and invasive species. Thus land use and land management have
to take full account of the connectivity with freshwater systems.
 Increased collaboration and cooperation to develop a more holistic
understanding of how integrated aquifer-rivers provide ecosystem services, in
order to provide effective strategies for restoration and rehabilitation of the
many degraded aquatic ecosystems.

23. Port of Spain Nov 2006
Aquifers in SIDS are important!
Thank you for
your attention !