The Syr Darya River Basin

  • Beatrice Mosello
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

The second case presented in this book is the Syr Darya River basin, a transboundary watershed feeding with its glacier-melt waters most of the Central Asia region. In the first part, this chapter introduces the main geographical and socio-economic characteristics of the Syr Darya River basin as well as of the country where it originates and flows: Kyrgyzstan. Subsequently, the analysis shifts towards considering water resources management within the broader regional context of Central Asia. There, in fact, transboundary waters have been the very protagonists of diplomatic and political relations between the five Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan all since their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. As a consequence, their water governance systems are strongly interrelated, and can in no way be considered in isolation from one another. In the second part of this chapter, the key factors that determine and explain the vulnerability of the Syr Darya River basin, and of Kyrgyzstan more specifically, to the impacts of climate change are outlined, and a first analysis of the adaptive capacity of its institutional framework, based on the results of expert interviews, is presented. We find that, influenced by international actors, a decentralisation approach was adopted after independence in the Kyrgyz water sector, with increased roles and responsibilities being delegated at subnational levels. Nevertheless, the institutional and policy framework for water resources management remained fragmented and poorly implemented. Climate change adaptation is not yet on the political agenda and mostly occurs in an ad-hoc manner with stimulus from international donors and agencies. In addition, it is suggested that water resources management in the region is strongly dependent on social and political factors, rather than on more technical concerns such as information sharing or infrastructure.

Keywords

Syr Darya River basin Kyrgyzstan Central Asia Transboundary water management Water conflict Transition economies 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Abazov R (1999) Policy of economic transition in Kyrgyzstan. Centr Asian Surv 18(2):197–223CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) (2011) Desk review on conflict in Southern Kyrgyzstan. Draft study prepared for the project: “Socio-economic mapping and analysis of the South of Kyrgyzstan with a focus on potential macro and micro-level sources of tension”, JulyGoogle Scholar
  3. Aidaraliev AA et al (2002) Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. National Center for Development of Mountain Regions of Kyrgyzstan, National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, International Institute of Mountains. Publishing House Technology, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  4. Aizen VB, Aizen EM, Melack JM, Dozier J (1997) Climatic and hydrologic changes in the Tien Shan, Central Asia. J Clim 10:1393–1404CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Allouche J (2004) A source of regional tension in Central Asia: the case of water. CIMERA, Graduate Institute for International Studies, CP 6, GenevaGoogle Scholar
  6. Allouche J (2007) The governance of Central Asian waters: national interests versus regional cooperation. Central Asia at the Crossroads, Issue 4, United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNISDR), GenevaGoogle Scholar
  7. Alymbaeva A (2004) Institutional development of Water Users Associations in Kyrgyzstan. Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the Masters in Public Policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, New York, FebGoogle Scholar
  8. Baraer M, Mark BJ, McKenzie JM, Condom T, Bury J, Huh K, Portocarrero C, Gomez J, Rathay S (2012) Glacier recession and water resources in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. J Glaciol 58(207):134–150CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Bates BC, Kundzewicz ZW, Wu S, Palutikof JP (eds) (2008) Climate change and water. IPCC Technical Paper, IPCC Secretariat, GenevaGoogle Scholar
  10. Beniston M, Stoffel M, Hill M (2011) Impacts of climatic change on water and natural hazards in the Alps: can current water governance cope with future challenges? Examples from the European “ACQWA” project. Environ Sci Policy 14:734–743CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Berkofsky A (2012) China’s strategic involvement in Central Asia-strategies: results and obstacles. ISPI Analysis No. 128, Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI): Milan, JulyGoogle Scholar
  12. Bichsel C, Fokou G, Ibraimova A, Kasymov U, Steimann B, Thieme S (2009) Natural resource institutions in transformation: the tragedy and glory of the private. In: Hurni H, Weismann U (eds) Global change and sustainable development, north-south perspectives, 578 pp. Geographica Bernensia, Bern [ISBN: 978-3-905835-13-7]Google Scholar
  13. Braun LN, Hagg W (2009) Present and future impact of snow cover and glaciers on runoff from mountain regions – comparison between Alps and Tien Shan. Assess Snow Glacier Water Resour Asia 8:36–43Google Scholar
  14. Dani AH, Masson VM (eds) (2000) UNESCO history of civilizations of Central Asia. UNESCO, ParisGoogle Scholar
  15. Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) (2009) The impact of climate change on water resources in Central Asia, Sector Report. Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), AlmatyGoogle Scholar
  16. FAO AQUASTAT (2012) AQUASTAT database. Food and Agriculture Organisation. Retrieved 21 Oct 2012 from http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm
  17. Gareeva A (2011) Awareness building of integrated local risk management. Final Project Report, CAMP Alatoo, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and German Agency for Development and Cooperation (GTZ), BishkekGoogle Scholar
  18. Gawrich A, Melnykovska I, Schweickert R (2010) More than oil and geography – neopatrimonialism as an explanation of bad governance and autocratic stability in Central Asia. Paper to be presented at the Workshop on “Neopatrimonialism in Various World Regions”, German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA): HamburgGoogle Scholar
  19. Gleick PH, Palaniappan M (2010) Peak water limits to freshwater withdrawal and use. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(25):11155–11162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) (2011) Vulnerability, risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. Kyrgyz Republic. Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), The World Bank Group: Washington DC, April. Retrieved 28 Oct 2012 from http://sdwebx.worldbank.org/climateportal/home.cfm?page=country_profile&CCode=KGZ
  21. Global Water Partnership (GWP) (2006) “Road Map”: planned steps towards realisation of the IWRM principles and rationale of the essential activities in the Kyrgyz Republic. Global Water Partnership Central Asia and Caucasus, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  22. Herrfahrdt E, Kipping M, Pickardt T, Polak M, Rohrer C, Wolff CF (2006) Water governance in the Kyrgyz agricultural sector: on its way to integrated water resources management? German Development Institute, BonnGoogle Scholar
  23. Hodgson S (2010) Strategic water resources in Central Asia: in search of a new international order. EU-Central Asian Monitoring (EUCAM), Policy Brief No. 14, MayGoogle Scholar
  24. Huskey E (2002) An economy of authoritarianism? Askar Akaev and presidential leadership in Kyrgyzstan. In: Cummings SN (ed) Power and change in Central Asia. Routledge, LondonGoogle Scholar
  25. Ibraimova A (2009) Legal and institutional framework for empowerment of rural communities in the Kyrgyz Republic. Etudes et colloques, 53. Publications of the Institute of Federalism, FribourgGoogle Scholar
  26. Immerzeel WW, Lutz AF, Droogers P (2012) Climate change impacts on the upstream water resources of the Amu and Syr Darya River basins. Report FutureWater: 107. FutureWater: Wageningen, The Netherlands. Retrieved 26 Oct 2012 from http://www.futurewater.nl/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Upstream_Report_FW_web.pdf
  27. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2014a) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part A: global and sectoral aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Field CB, Barros VR, Dokken DJ, Mach KJ, Mastrandrea MD, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New YorkGoogle Scholar
  28. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2014b) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Part B: regional aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Barros VR, Field CB, Dokken DJ, Mastrandrea MD, Mach KJ, Bilir TE, Chatterjee M, Ebi KL, Estrada YO, Genova RC, Girma B, Kissel ES, Levy AN, MacCracken S, Mastrandrea PR, White LL (eds) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New YorkGoogle Scholar
  29. International Crisis Group (ICG) (2002) Central Asia: water and conflict. ICG Asia Report No. 34, OshGoogle Scholar
  30. International Crisis Group (ICG) (2010) The pogroms in Kyrgyzstan. ICG Asia Report No. 193, OshGoogle Scholar
  31. International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2012) Kyrgyz Republic – poverty reduction strategy paper – country development strategy 2012–2014. IMF Country Report No. 12/112. IMF, Washington, DCGoogle Scholar
  32. Joint Country Support Strategy (JCSS) (2006) Kyrgyz Republic: Joint Country Support Strategy (JCSS) FY 2007–2010, environment assessment working group, preliminary thematic note. Draft. NovGoogle Scholar
  33. Juraev S (2009) Energy emergency in Kyrgyzstan: causes and consequences. Policy brief no. 5, EU-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM)Google Scholar
  34. Khalsa SJS, Aizen VB (2008) Variability in Central Asia seasonal snow cover during the MODIS period of record. Geophys Res Abstr 10:1–2, EGU2008-A-0443Google Scholar
  35. Klötzli S (1997) The water and soil crisis in Central Asia: a source for future conflicts? Environment and Conflict Project (ENCOP) Occasional Paper 11. ETH Zurich & Swiss Peace Foundation, ZurichGoogle Scholar
  36. Kyrgyz Republic (2005) Water code of the Kyrgyz Republic. Kyrgyz Republic, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  37. Kyrgyz Republic (2009) Second national communication of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN framework convention on climate change. Kyrgyz Republic, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  38. Library of Congress – Federal Research Division (2007) Country profile: Kyrgyzstan. January. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012 from http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Kyrgyzstan.pdf
  39. Mamatkanov DM, Bazhanova LV, Romanovsky VV (2006) Water resources of mountainous Kyrgyzstan at present. Ilim, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  40. Marat E (2008) New Kyrgyz government dominated by Bakiyev family, cronies. Eurasia Daily Monit 5:9Google Scholar
  41. Mosello B (2008) Water in Central Asia: a prospect of conflict or cooperation? J Public Int Aff 19:151–174Google Scholar
  42. National Statistics Committee (2007) Living standards of the population of the Kyrgyz Republic 2002–2006. The annual publication. National Statistic Committee, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  43. O’Hara SL (2000) Lessons from the past: water management in Central Asia. Water Policy 2(4–5):365–384CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. Oppenheimer M, Todorov A (2006) Global warming: the psychology of long-term risk. Clim Chang 77:1–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2011) National Policy Dialogue on Strategic Financial Planning for Water Resource Management in Kyrgyzstan. Interim report on the pilot project. NovGoogle Scholar
  46. Orolbaev E, Valentini K (2010). Final report on support to IWRM and Tariffs and Financial Policy. EU-UNDP Project (2009–2012) on “Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management and Fostering Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia”. UNDP, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  47. Pahl-Wostl C, Holtz G, Kastens B, Knieper C (2010) Analyzing complex water governance regimes: the management and transition framework. Environ Sci Pol 13:571–581CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. Pomfret R (2004) Aid and ideas: the impact of western economic support on the Muslim successor states. In: Rol Y (ed) Democracy and pluralism in Muslim Eurasia. Frank Cass, London, pp 77–99Google Scholar
  49. Ram R (2000) Central Asia: a textbook history. Munshiram Manorharlal Publishers, DelhiGoogle Scholar
  50. Schulte Y (2008) Benchmarking the process of democratization in Kyrgyzstan by defining the role and functions of NGOs. In: Social Research Centre, American University of Central Asia (eds) Kyrgyzstan today. Policy briefs on civil society, migration, Islam, corruption. Social Research Centre, Bishkek, pp 4–11Google Scholar
  51. Sehring J (2005) Water User Associations (WUAs) in Kyrgyzstan: a case study on institutional reform in local irrigation management. Discussion Paper, 24. Centre for International Development and Environmental Research, GiessenGoogle Scholar
  52. Sehring J (2009a) The politics of water institutional reform in neopatrimonial states: a comparative analysis of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, WiesbadenGoogle Scholar
  53. Sehring J (2009b) Path dependencies and institutional bricolage in post-soviet water governance. Water Altern 2:61–81Google Scholar
  54. Shkurov E, Makeev T, Koshoev M (eds) (2007). Kyrgyzstan: environment and natural resources for sustainable development. Prepared by: State Agency on Environmental Protection and Forestry Under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and United Nations Development Program in the Kyrgyz Republic. BishkekGoogle Scholar
  55. Sorg A, Bolch T, Stoffel M, Solomina O, Beniston M (2012) Climate change impacts on glaciers and runoff in Central Asia. Nat Clim Chang 2(10):725–731CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. Tarlock D, Wouters P (2007) Are shared benefits of international waters an equitable apportionment? Colo J Int Environ Law Policy 3(18):523–536Google Scholar
  57. The World Bank (2013) Kyrgyz Republic climate change profileGoogle Scholar
  58. Tursunaliev U (2002). Ways of reforming the water legislation. Water Rights Newsl 12, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  59. Ul Hassan M, Starkloff R, Nizamedinkhodjaeva N (2004) Inadequacies in the water reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic: an institutional analysis. Research Report No. 81. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), ColomboGoogle Scholar
  60. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2010) The Kyrgyz Republic: the second progress report on the millennium development goals, 2nd edn revised and amended. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kyrgyzstan, BishkekGoogle Scholar
  61. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (2010) In-depth review of disaster risk reduction in The Kyrgyz Republic. UNISDR, Sub-Regional Office for Central Asia and Caucasus, AlmatyGoogle Scholar
  62. Usubaliev T (1998) Water is more precious than gold. Water resources of Kyrgyzstan are its national wealth. Sam Publication House, Bishkek (in Russian)Google Scholar
  63. Usubaliev T (2002) The law of the Kyrgyz Republic on interstate use of hydraulic unites, Water resources and water facilities of the Kyrgyz Republic. Sham Publication House, Bishkek (in Russian)Google Scholar
  64. Votrin V (2003) Transboundary water disputes in Central Asia: using indicators of water conflict in identifying water conflict potential. Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master in Human Ecology, Vrije Universiteir Brussel, IxellesGoogle Scholar
  65. World Bank (2011a) Kyrgyz Republic: profile and dynamics of poverty and inequality, 2009. Document of the World Bank, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit, Europe and Central Asian Region, OctGoogle Scholar
  66. World Bank (2011b) World development indicators database: Kyrgyz Republic data profile. Retrieved 3 Nov 2012 from http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/country-profiles
  67. World Bank (2011c) World Bank – Kyrgyz Republic partnership, program snapshot. Washington, DC: World Bank, April. Retrieved 25 Oct 2012 from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTKYRGYZ/Resources/Kyrgyz_Republic_Snapshot_March2011_full.pdf
  68. World Bank (2012) Political context and implications of change of government in Kyrgyzstan. Background document, Governance Thematic Working Group, World Bank, Washington, DCGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Beatrice Mosello
    • 1
  1. 1.Overseas Development InstituteLondonUK

Personalised recommendations