Assessment of transboundary aquifer resources in Asia: Status and progress towards sustainable groundwater management

Asia. Internationally shared aquifers (Transboundary aquifers; TBAs) are recognised as an important water resource in Asia. Despite their importance, studies on the assessment of TBA resources have received less attention in comparison to transboundary rivers. A lack of expertise, experience, and institutional support has restricted the cooperative and sustainable management of the shared aquifer resources. This study attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the status of transboundary groundwater resources in Asia, including the TBA inventories, socio-economic implications, and future perspectives. Specifically, the study focuses on the progress of the assessment of TBAs in Asia as a result of the Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management Initiative (ISRAM). In Asia, TBAs have played a major role in providing freshwater resources and sustaining socio-economic development. Since 2000, many regional cooperative initiatives have achieved considerable progress in developing TBA inventories of Asia, but the level of understanding of the shared aquifer systems remains limited, particularly for the developing countries. Legal and institutional frameworks for regional TBA cooperation are vital, and many countries in Asia have come to recognise the need to cooperate with their neighbours in dealing with TBA governance. Sustainable and equitable management of TBA in Asia requires an increasing effort from different sectors and countries in order to reach mutual acceptance of effective cooperation.