UNESCO 2005. Transboundary Aquifers, Hydrogeology and International Law - Experts Consultations Meetings. Focus on Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Middle East and North Africa and Focus on Americas. UNESCO, Paris.
UNESCO IHP organized two regional meetings: the first one was focused on arid regions, the Middle East and North Africa, and the second one on the Americas. The objectives of these meetings were to gather groundwater experts, hydrogeologists and lawyers, from these specific regions in order to identify regional groundwater characteristics and State practice (domestic and transboundary) regarding groundwater. Their ultimate goal is to create a common language between hydrogeologists and lawyers. The meetings were also an opportunity for the participants to present comments and observations on the draft articles prepared by the Special Rapporteur of the International Law Commission of the United Nations (UN ILC) on the issue of transboundary groundwater.
Burchi, S. and Mechlem, K. 2005. Groundwater in international law. Compilation of treaties and other legal instruments. FAO Legislative Study 86. FAO/UNESCO, Rome/Paris.
Groundwater is of high social, economic, environmental and strategic importance. Up to now international law has paid much less attention to ground- than to surface water. Slowly however, a body of rules dealing with this vital resource is emerging that indicates a trend towards more comprehensive international regulation. It is against this backdrop that FAO and UNESCO have joined forces and embarked on this publication project. It brings together a variety of binding and non-binding international law instruments that, in varying degrees and from different angles, deal with groundwater. Its aim is to report developments in international law and to contribute to detecting law in-the-making in this important field.
Stephan, R.M. (ed.) 2009. Transboundary Aquifers – Managing a Vital Resource. The UNILC Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers. UNESCO, Paris.
The UN International Law Commission (ILC) embarked on the codification of the law of transboundary aquifers in 2002 in order to provide legal regime for the proper management of aquifers in view of the critically important freshwater resources. UNESCO-IHP played a central role in providing the valuable assistances and support to ILC by mobilizing hydrogeologists, groundwater administrators and water lawyers. From a scientific perspective, this brochure aims to contribute to a better understanding of transboundary aquifers and the importance of their role in water governance.