MEDIUM-SIZED PROJECT BRIEF{PRIVATE }
PROJECT SUMMARY
{PRIVATE }Project Identifiers
{PRIVATE }1. Project name:
2.
GEF Implementing Agency:
UNEP
Protection of the North West Sahara
Aquifer System (NWSAS) and related
humid zones and ecosystems
3.
Country/ies in which the project is
4. Country
eligibility:
being implemented:
Tunisia, Algeria & Libya are eligible for GEF
Algeria, Tunisia, Libya
funding
5.
GEF Focal Area:
6. Operational
Programme/short-term
International Waters
measure:
Operational Programme # 9 on Integrated Land and
Water
{PRIVATE }7. Project linkage to national priorities, action plans and programmes:
A significant increase of water extractions in Algeria and Tunisia since 1982, unlike the former period
(1970 - 1981) during which the water extractions were relatively nnumerous has resulted in the
NWSAS Aquifer system being considered a high national priority. This interest has grown owing to the
grave consequences seen to date on the use of these groundwaters, which includes the running dry of
the Tunisian springs and decreases in the free flowing discharge from the artesian wells. In addition,
there has been significant water level decline both in Algeria and Tunisia, and deterioration in water
quality in some areas serving as important water extraction areas.
Libya has expressed a willingness to participate in the joint updating of the water resources information
base shared with Algeria and Tunisia, and in this framework, to offer the community a huge amount of
new data regarding the two aquifer systems of the Continental Intercalaire and the Terminal Complex.
The management model to be developed in this project should determine the best scenario for
exploiting the water resources in a manner that ensures sustainable water utilization in both quantitative
and qualitative terms, particularly focusing on the protection of the recharge areas and the humid
zones.. Information from this management model will help inform water utilization in the agricultural
sector and in broader water utilization processes in each country.
8.
GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement:
Submitted:
Acknowledged: Endorsed:
The project was designed with the assistance of experts appointed by the three countries and was
officially approved by the Directors General of Water Resources in each country and their line
ministries. Letters of endorsement from GEF focal points are attached.
Project Objectives and Activities
{PRIVATE }9. Project rationale and
Indicators:
objectives:
1. A management model covering the shared
The NWSAS (North-Western Sahara Aquifer
aquifer will be developed with a particular
System) covers well over 1,000,000 km² of
emphasis on protection of the recharge areas and
which 700,000 are in Algeria, 80,000 in
the humid zones;
1
Tunisia and 250,000 in Libya. It is composed 2. Observatory of trends in water quantity and
of sedimentary deposits which, from bottom
quality;
upwards, includes the Intercalary Continental 3. Permanent group for exchange and actualization
and the Terminal Complex, the two main
of data;
aquifers level.
In the Algerian and Tunisian parts of the
Sahara, groundwaters from these two aquifers
have been harvested more and more intensively
for over fifty years already. Offtake in Libya is
more recent, but interest in these resources is
growing as a result of population growth and
lack of sufficient levels of renewable waters.
At present estimates of annual water extraction
from this basin amount to 540 hm³ in Tunisia,
1,100 hm³ in Algeria and 250 hm³ in Libya.
Efforts to intensify offtake are likely to be
continued in the coming years with over 90%
of the water being used for agriculture. This
situation is likely to cause deep changes in the
characteristics of the groundwaters from both
quantitative and qualitative viewpoints. This
requires the best utilization of the knowledge
of the aquifer and its recharge areas for
optimum and rational management. Such
management has to result from an integrated
study at the basin scale in order to enable
management of water resources in a
sustainable fashion.
The present project for the transboundary
Aquifer System of the Northern Sahara-
sharing countries (Algeria, Libya and Tunisia)
has as its objective the protection of water
quality and of the recharge areas, humid zones
and ecosystems related to the aquifer. It is
made up of two elements closely
complementary: updating the evaluation of the
NWSAS water resources and implementing a
consultation mechanism at the basin level.
In the three countries concerned - Algeria,
Libya and Tunisia - the management of the
NWSAS water resources will cover arid and
semi-arid areas that are presently affected by
desertification. This project thus addresses the
2
strategic priorities identified by the GEF for
Phase III by facilitating implementation of
strategic actions agreed by the three countries
through prior actions carried out in the last
several years. The GEF Business Plan 03-05
states that these actions should include policy
and legal measures, institutional arrangements,
resource mobilization, mainstreaming
environment into the relevant sectors, and
monitoring and evaluation which this project
specifically focuses on and which are outlined
in the sections below.
10. Project
outcomes:
Indicators:
The overall outcome will be the move towards - Agricultural plans being made in each country
a more sustainable exploitation of the NWSAS taking into consideration sustainable rates of
aquifer.
exploitation of water resources from the NWSAS
aquifer;
More direct outcomes of the project are:
More direct indicators include:
- Completion of a study on the NWSAS;
- Analysis of the legal and institutional - National reports describing for each country the
issues surrounding management of this shared
databases used (format, fields, etc) and the
resource;
geographical information systems (type of data
- Completion of a management model
used, expected products, users, softwares used,
which encompasses the following:
equipment , human capabilities, etc);
Protection of the recharge areas and the -
National reports on the analysis of legal and
humid zones;
institutional aspects affecting management of the
Provides the best possible scenario for
NWSAS;
sustainably exploiting water resources; - Agreement reached on the data to be included in
identifies indicators on sustainable
the common information base and modalities to
resource use, both in terms of water
harmonize the database;
quality and quantity;
- National reports on methods to assess water
Defines a water policy for the arid and
extraction;
semi-arid zones of the three countries - Minimum network defined and approved guide
that promotes protection of the
on methods to rapidly assess water extraction;
recharge areas and the humid zones - Updated data available and included as data entry
and sustainable use of the shared water
in the common base;
resource.
- Synthesis report of geological information;
- Conceptual model and groundwaters simulation
-Establishment of a consultation mechanism to
software approved;
ensure sustained monitoring of water resources - Grid of the models and mapping;
in the shared basin following completion of
- Communication programme GIS-models;
GEF project funding, with funding becoming
- terms of reference available for the calibration of
committed from non-GEF sources for the
the model plus calibrated models available;
continued existence of this mechanism.
- Exploitation scenarios plus reports on simulation
scenarios;
In addition to monitoring, the consultation
-
Report on results of socio-economic evaluations
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process will address reforms in policies and
of the simulation scenarios;
institutional framework at the national level
- Exploitation programmes on the groundwaters;
that would be needed to foster sustainability,
- Permanent group for exchange and actualization
including the environmental aspects.
of data;
11.
Planned activities to achieve
Indicators:
outcomes:
- Environmental analysis of North Wes - Workshop held on data sets for the common base
Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) ;
and the modalities to harmonize the database;
- Analysis of legal and institutional issues;
- two-week training per country on harmonization
- Development of a management model for
of database;
the sustainable use of shared water - Validation workshop held on data quality;
resources;
- Workshop held to present and approve the
- Establishment of consultation mechanism
observation wells network and the methods to
for the management of the NWSAS aquifer
rapidly assess water extraction;
system.
- Analysis carried out of oil and water probes data
(well logs, geophysical logs, geophysics)
necessary for modeling characterization of
aquifer formation, and understanding of the
hydrological functioning of aquifer levels;
- Piezometric account for each underground
waterbody;
- Assessment of legal and institutional issues
affecting management of the NWSAS aquifer;
- Workshop held together with meeting of the
Project Steering Committee to assess the
conceptual model proposed; software to be
selected and possible modifications decided
upon which will be added in case of
cartographic deformations;
- Definition of the grid of models and tracing on
GIS;
- Implementation of GIS-models links; programme
for the automatic definition of water extraction;
- Creation of future exploitation scenarios of
groundwater;
- Socio-economic evaluations of the simulation
results;
- Workshop held in line with the last meeting of
the Project Steering Committee to: prepare the
results of the simulations of scenarios;
- Setting up the models in the countries;
- Consultation mechanism established for the
NWSAS aquifer.
12. Estimated budget (in US$ or local currency):
PHASE I (July 99 June 02)
PHASE II (July 02 June 04)
4
Total budget
1.738.000,00 US$
1.300.000,00 US$
Other sources
IFAD 1.065.000,00 US$
DDC-Switzerland 400.000,00 US$
DDC-Switzerland 380.000,00 US$
FAO 293.000,00 US$
FFEM (France) 300.000,00 US$
In country contributions 116,000 US$
GEF
NO
600.000.00 US$
PHASE II
PDF : None (preparation of project was carried out with non-GEF resources)
GEF : US$ 600.000,00
Co-financing : FFEM US $300,000
DDC-Switzerland US$ 400,000
In country contributions US $116,000
13.
Information on project proposer:
OSS + (Algeria - Libya - Tunisia)
14.
Information on proposed executing agency (if different from above):
Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (Sahara and Sahel Observatory - OSS) was created in Paris in May
1992 (inaugural conférence). It serves to provide an international framework for partnership and
consultation, and to contribute to the development and exchange of information of use in efforts to
combat desertification and the attenuation of the effects of drought (Article 1 of the OSS Statutes).
In March 2000 it became independent of UNESCO as an international organization based in Tunis. Its
headquarters agreement was signed in June 1999 with the Tunisian Government and ratified by law no.
2000/12 of 7 February 2000. The OSS statutory bodies are:
- the General Assembly which meets every four years,
- the Executive Board which meets once a year,
- the Scientific and Technical Council (STC), appointed by the Executive Board, meets every
two years. It deals with scientific and technical issues related to the OSS activities programme.
Its Executive Secretary is Chedli Fezzani. OSS membership is composed of African and European
countries, regional and international organizations, and representatives of civil society.
OSS has been developing a programme to facilitate technical and scientific cooperation between the
countries sharing the basin. Through its "Aquifers of the Major Basins" Programme, OSS is providing a
framework for scientific and technical dialogue designed to favour the updating and harmonization of
knowledge needed in the preparation of efficient management strategies. OSS has carried out
preparatory activities and previous research on the NWSAS aquifer system. This work has included, for
example, previous workshops and meetings on the basin, such as meeting, held in Cairo in May 1994,
which gave representatives of the northern Sahara and Nubian basins (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt,
Sudan and Chad), UNESCO and FAO, France and Germany an opportunity to use the results of OSS'
studies to define the common knowledge base needed to concretely define liaison structures.
Date of initial submission of project concept: August 1999
15.
Project Identification number: tbd
Implementing Agency contact person: Ahmed Djoghlaf, Director, Division of GEF Co-ordination,
5
UNEP; Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, GEF Medium sized projects, UNEP Email:gefinfo@unep.org
18. Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s): UNEP together with UNESCO are
undertaking a `Development Account' project on `Urban pollution of Surface and Groundwater
Aquifers vulnerability in Africa.' The launching meeting of this project took place in Bamako, Mali at
the Water Resources Headquarters from 11-14 December 2000. The project includes Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal. The project has agreed on methodologies to be
adopted for the assessment of groundwater pollution. It is a joint activity between UNEP-DEWA, as the
lead agency of the project and UNESCO-IHP. The specific objectives of the project contribute to:
- Setting up the background activities to be undertaken on urban pollution and developed as a technical
framework to the embryonic network on urban groundwater vulnerability in Africa; Developing
methodologies for optimal monitoring of the contamination of surficial and groundwater aquifers in
African urban areas; Policy options for better safeguarding surficial and groundwater aquifers in
African urban areas, including pollution and health problems mitigation; Establishment of an early
warning network for possible water supply contamination; Hydrogeological modeling of groundwater
vulnerability in African urban areas; and capacity building development.
This experience will be shared with the OSS in its activities focused towards the NWSAS aquifer.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
PROJECT RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
I.A - Background
1. Within the arid and semi arid zones of Northern Africa and Sahel, the geography of water resources
does not usually coincide with the political geography: the territorial frameworks of the resources system
often extend across several countries and their natural limits cross the boundaries.
EXTENTION OF THE LIMIT OF THE SEPTENTIONAL SAHARA AQUIFER BASSIN
6
2. One of the major basins in the North-West Sahara Aquifer system, which covers a large surface,
spread through the territories of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. The North-West Sahara Aquifer System
(NWSAS) covers an area of over a million square kilometers in the western part of the North African
Sahara: approx. 700,000 Km2 in Algeria, 80,000Km2 in Tunisia and in Libya 250,000 Km2. The
NWSAS is essentially composed of continental deposits which includes the Continental Intercalary,
equivalent to the Nubian sandstone of North-East Africa extending from Morocco to the centre of Libya,
the Terminal Complex which occupies the centre of the Basin, and the coastal groundwaters, which
extends to the coastal plains of Tunisia and Libya (see attached map). Within this basin occur two aquifer
systems: Terminal Complex to the top and the Continental Intercalaire to the bottom. Many semi-
permeable layers separate these two aquifers. The Continental Intercalaire extends over the total area of
the basin "i.e. 1,000.000 km²"while the Terminal Complex extends over an area of 500.000 km²
.
3. The subterranean reservoir was filled with freshwater during the wet Quaternary Period (the last one
dates back 8,000 years). As these groundwater tables were filled, water flowed to the depressions
(Sebkhan, chotts) located along the northern edges of the Sahara, towards major sources, some of which
are still exploitable. These natural outlets slowly emptied the reservoir (a few millimeters per year); this
explains the present underground flow, which is mainly South to North. Episodic surface runoff along
the Atlas foothills in Algeria and Tunisia contributes to feeding the groundwater tables, but the inflow is
minor compared to the current offtake and, more importantly is the enormous volume that is stored in the
subterranean. The impression may have been that this sizeable groundwater reserve was unlimited.
Actually only part of the volume that is stored in the aquifer system is - physically and economically -
accessible. The key to optimal utilization of this vast subterranean resource needs to be sought in the
elaboration and implementation of development strategies that maximize foreseeable benefits and
minimize deleterious effects.
7
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Pro je ctio n L amb ert Su d Alg eri e
Map illustrating the geographic distribution of the North West Sahara Aquifer
4. The NWSAS is partly a renewable resource. Concerning the groundwater recharge, the North Sahara
Aquifers are often considered as fossil aquifers because of their considerable reserves which is
supposedly not the result of the present day water recharge flux. Although this qualification is usually
admitted, it is no doubt inappropriate. This is mainly because the average annual recharge amounts of
water are, nevertheless, important and are estimated to average 1 billion m³/year (TR/UNESCO/UNDP
(SF), REG-100, Report 2:39, Report 3:46, April 1972; NWSAS MODEL, June 2000)
These amounts of water recharge which, at the present time are under examination with more precision
by the SASS Project, occur for nearly 90% along the southern flanks of the Saharan Atlas (ibid.)
The recharge areas are important and well distributed between the different basin compartments.
To the northern basin, the recharge occurs along the Saharan Atlas and the Tuniso-Libyan Dahar
mountain range.
To the southern part of the basin, the recharge areas are represented by outcrops located at the Tadmait
and Tinhert shelves. The western Erg is itself a very dynamic recharge area. (ibid.)
8
Schematic representation of the North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Legend
Mio Pliocene -
Eocene & Senonian carbonate - Complexe Terminal (CT)
Turonian
Continental Intercalaire Continental Intercalaire
Unlike oil accumulations which are certainly the only ones to be qualified as fossils, the main objective
from underground water production is not to recover the whole water reserves in place, but is rather to
extract quantities that equals renewable flux; i.e. the average of the inter annual recharge amounts.
When the water reserves in place are important, it is permitted to extract a part more or less important of
the reserves depending primarily on pumping costs. This usually results in the decrease in water levels
within the aquifer. Fortunately, owing to their geological setting, the aquifers are mostly artesian and
9
such characteristics may considerably delay the need for water pumping over wide areas. Until the
nineties, amounts of water extracted from the aquifer system were equivalent to the recharge volume i.e.:
1 billion m³/year (UNDP, RAB/80/011, FINAL REPORT: Page 6 and Page 30, June 1983; Actualisation
of the Septentrional Sahara water resources and NWSAS - Model, June 2000)
In the subsequent years, the volume extracted from the system, has increased and was higher than the
recharge volume. Such a situation is common to many aquifers, especially those located in arid or semi-
arid zones. In the future, any water extraction must take into account the renewable water volume in order
to better control the decrease in the water level within the aquifer as well as changes in water quality.
However, in such a basin the total discharge of the aquifer or of a continual decrease of the water level,
are options which are not taken into account, thus for three main reasons:
- In order to avoid a reverse water flow which would considerably alter the water quality;
- The continuous decrease of the water level may lead to the performance of deep water pumping
which would enhance considerably the production costs (pumping is performed in deep wells instead
of aerial wells) and make more difficult the socio-economic situation of the oasis Saharan
populations;
- Soil irrigation may contribute in some cases to the alteration of the water quality. This is due to the
return and mixing of saline water with water in the aquifer. Increases in salinity have been noticed
notably in the Nefzaoua on both sides of Chott Djerid.: 1g/l to 3.5 g/l (NWSAS - 2001 - report on
data analyses)
In conclusion, and in addition to the fact that part of the water reserves in the SASS is reserved for water
production, this system needs to be managed in a way that preserve the quality water. This is necessary
for:
- preserving the environment by avoiding a demand that can outstrip the recharge of the aquifers;
- maintaining the oasis areas and not compromising the sustainable development of the area, which
includes, for example, the ancestral/ traditional irrigation systems such as the foggaras.
Within this context of the need to save this natural resource, anticipated actions are to be carried out
preferentially. This is the main objective of the SASS project, which is setting up the necessary tools that
would help enhance the knowledge of the system and monitor its evolution over a long-term period.
5. The first study was one made by UNESCO in 1968-1971 with the participation of only two countries,
viz. Algeria and Tunisia (study on water resources in north-western Sahara ERESS, financed by the UN
Special Fund). It was based on a simulation model that included various minimalist hypotheses, and in
particular, some arbitrary conditions to represent the Libyan part of the aquifer system. In 1982-1983,
with assistance from UNDP (RAB project), the model was updated, but here again, there was no real data
from Libya. New hypotheses on water offtake were simulated to support agricultural development plans
under study in Algeria and Tunisia.
6. As of 1992, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) started working with national experts on NWSAS
and were able to bring together interested national and international partners. OSS organized various
consultative meetings, technical studies, data reviews and analyses and syntheses in order to increase the
involvement of the countries concerned and create conditions that could ensure the success of much-
needed common actions. This mainly involved two workshops in Cairo (November 1992 and May 1994)
which adopted the principle of "basin awareness" and the need to "establish a mechanism for
consultations" at the basin level.
10
7. Further, as part of the Aquifers of the Major Basins programme, OSS, together with FAO, thoroughly
examined the legal and institutional aspects of sustainable management of the deep groundwaters in the
NWSAS. Since the three countries share the basin waters, the countries national and international laws
on the management and utilization of water resources, particularly groundwaters, were examined.
8. On the basis of the above, an OSS workshop in Tunis, in May 1997, adopted the outline of a project
document. Thereafter, again in Tunis, another workshop was held (September 1997) to finalize the
project document on updating the evaluation of NWSAS water resources and establishing a mechanism
for consultations at the basin level. This is the basis for this medium sized project. OSS and IFAD held
the third and last meeting in Rome (29-30 April 1998) for the countries concerned, FAO, UNESCO,
Switzerland and Germany to detail the foreign-financed budget and the institutional framework for
implementing the programme.
I.B - Environmental aspects of the basin
The SASS basin will be composed of a population of 8 millions of inhabitants at the horizon 2030 with
conspicuous agricultural development.
1970
2000
NEEDS
2030
(m³/yr)
600 Million
2.5 Million
8 Million
POPULATION
1.0
4.0
8
(in Millions)
IRRIGATED LANDS
50.000 ha
170.000 ha
400.000 ha
AREAS
COUNTRY
ALGERIA + LIBYA + TUNISIA
This will require a more drastic mobilisation of water resources of which we aim to measure the multiple
risks that are:
- The salinisation of the aquifers from the chotts and sebkhas
- The risk for the aquifers to be in contact with salted horizons where there are faults
- The presence and quality of the OASIS ecosystem and foggaras
- the deterioration of soils
Salinisation risk close to chotts and sebkhas:
Chotts are Saharan depressions that constitute the natural outlet where waters streaming accumulate
and/or of drainage coming from neighbouring areas and notably from oases. These depressions are
generally saline and gypseous which is what makes them practically unproductive. However on their
borders one finds a cortege of halophile plants that play an important role in the nitrogen fixation of soil
and filtration of water. Some among them can be consumed by the wild fauna (reptiles, mammals,
11
arthropods, migrant bird species) or domestic animals (e.g.dromedaries)
Among the plants, the most notable are Haloenemum Strabilaceum, Limonium Tunatenum, Sueeda
softens, Artheomenum indicum, Aeloropus Littoralis, Salsola tetragonal, etc...
The main chotts located in the North part of basins are: Melrhir - Merouane Ghasa - Djerid and Fedjaj
(see map below):
0
9
°
°
8
7
°
°
6
°
1200
% Biskra
200
Ferjane
%
Gafsa
60 0
%
ued Djereh
400
CHOTT MELRHIR
200
O
0
Oued el Mela h
el
CH
CHOTT EL PHARSA
O
El Hamma
TT
0
CH
%
M
OTT
Tozeur
EL F
%
ER
EDJADJ
OUAN
Nefta
%
0
Kebili
%
C H O T T D J E R I D
El Oued
%
Touggourt
%
00
2
L
A
12
Steady state
Normal flow direction
Borehole
Chott
Good quality water
Aquifer
LEGEND
: Flow direction
: Water level
Unsteady state
Inverse flow direction
Borehole
Chott
Aquifer
Salty water
The present abstraction should drag from here to 2050 a significant drawdown within the water tables
(measured by reference to levels in year 2000) in all the low -algéro - Tunisian Sahara.
In Algeria, drawdown by 2050 will exceed 30m in all the valley of the Rhir Oued to the North of
Toggourt.
In Libya, the maximum drawdown (of about 60 ms) is found in the Southeast, around the Soknah,
Hammams and Ferjans.
On the other hand, piezometric maps of water levels and depths point to the disappearance of the artesian
in the region of the Algero-tunisian chotts by 2050. There is the risk that the chotts Merouane, Melrir and
Djerids could be completely disconnected from the CT aquifer. This particular situation was not observed
before and could increase the risk of recharge of salt water of the chart to the CT aquifer. It is necessary
for the limitation of abstraction to the present level.
Taking into account this possible phenomenon, the potential source of saline contamination of the aquifer
of the CT, is constituted in priority, by the Algerian and Tunisian Chotts. A precise modelling of links
between the aquifer of the CT and chotts, requires a fine analysis of effects of exploitation taking into
account the mechanisms governing exchanges between these two entities.
The chotts constitute a major risk of salinisation of the CT aquifer, if a big drawdown appears near the
chotts regions. These phenomena must introduce saline water into the aquifer and cause irreversible
deterioration of the quality of water resources.
Salinisation of water of the aquifer also leads to soil salinisation, which in turn will impact the fragile
13
arid ecosystem.
The proposed model permits calculations of the precise moment of discharge from the chotts. The first
indicator enabling a valuation of the possibilities of such risks is provided by the position of piezometric
levels of the aquifer relative to the Chott.
The simple growth of the present abstraction constitutes a major potential danger to the aquifer and soils
above ground as a result of the risk of salinisation.
Preservation of the Foggaras system.
Foggaras are traditional underground water channels for water collection. (ex.Oasis of Adrar below the
Tadmait plateau).
Piezometric line before
foggara execution
Work and access well
Piezometric line
Palm grove
Losing zone by
infiltration
Draining part
Functioning scheme of a foggara
14
Water repartition from Foggaras
The system of traditional irrigation of foggaras is ancestral and it permitted a socio-economic
development well adapted to the Sahara. Thus, this system of aquifer exploitation assured:
- the increase in populations around palm groves
- the balance between the use of water and natural drainage following irrigation
- the preservation of soil quality by hydromorphism.
The maintenance of foggaras flow is assured naturally by the recharge coming from infiltration on
outcrops. The change from Foggaras exploitation to pumped wells has increased the drawdown.
With this situation of competition between boreholes (modern system) and foggaras (traditional system),
the development of sub-models must define more precise options for better management of water that
would answer the following questions:
-Should we abandon the traditional system and evaluate the socio-economic cost (notably the impact of
those harnessing water in this manner)?
-Should we develop drillings and intensify the enhancement?
-What would impacts be on the soil and the ecosystem as a whole?
-Is the quality of water being affected?
Preservation of the Ecosystem oasis
It is an agro-ecosystem that permits the recharge and subsequent utilization of water in the Sahara
environment while exploiting a group of plants and animals particularly adapted to this environmental
conditions. The emblematic plant species of this agro ecosystem is the date palm (Phénix dactyliferia).
This species presents a big genetic diversity (variety, ecotypes, cultivars) that has to be preserved in order
to be able to benefit from the agronomic quality bound to this diversity (feature of fruits, resistance to
salinity, resistance to disease, among others).
Other fruit species are generally associated to this species (pomegranates, apricot tree, peach tree, etc)
cereals (wheat, barley) fodder crops (Lucerne) and market gardens constituting an agriculture complex
system composed of three levels of cultures. The first level is constituted by date palm that in addition to
its production, contributes to creating the microlevel characteristic climate of the oasis. The fruit trees
constitute the second level whereas the non-ligneous low plants constitute the third level. The GEF's
Operational Programme on agrobiodiversity indeed notes "the genetic variability of landraces and wild
relatives of domesticated plants and animals are essential breeding sources".
The oases also shelter domestic animals belonging to particular races like the bovine race well known as
Demman for its prolificity.
Ecosystem oasis actually covers several thousand of hectares through Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. This
ecosystem located in the Sahara has for centuries witnessed a human presence with cultural and social
interconnections.
The reduction of water and the changes in living conditions impact the ecosystem oasis. This is in turn
15
affected by an increase in the population and in agricultural development.
However, within the ecosystem, problems of water salinisation and decrease in flow are affecting the
ecosystem as a whole. The need to reduce the actual abstraction of water to maintain and to preserve the
ecosystem is critical. This objective addresses the GEF Operational Programme objectives on
agrobiodiversity which include "assessing the impact of natural disturbances and the compound effect of
anthropogenic stress" and "identifying processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to
have significant adverse impacts on the conservation of biodiversity."
This project will develop detailed simulations to determine influences on the ecosystem and to search for
the optimal script permitting conservation of the oasis.
Protection of Coastal aquifer of the Djeffara (Tunisia and Libya)
The Tunisian Djeffara aquifer is largely recharged by the Continental Intercalaire whose outlet underwent
a decrease of flow owing to additional abstraction (Algeria and Tunisia).
This aquifer is already in a state of advanced exploitation. If we consider the reduction of its recharge, the
risk of salinisation by seawater intrusion looms larger.
The development of a sub-model will permit adjustment of an exploitation program that takes into
account this negative impact and specifies the scale of risk.
With regard to the Libyan Djeffara aquifer, the situation is more complex since all the area of Tripoli is
already polluted by seawater intrusion. The additional contributions of fresh water from the South (Great
Man Made river) permitted some relief but without fully solving the problem of salinisation.
A detailed study giving a precise assessment of the present abstraction using satellite imagery, the
forecasting of the future demand and effects of the supplementary abstraction with the help of a
mathematically model will give a better orientation of development policy in this important area in the
Libyan economy.
II Programme
Justification
9. The Sahara groundwaters have been intensively exploited by Algeria and Tunisia for fifty years and
now more recently by Libya. Growing population pressure and absence of renewable water sources in the
Sahara have heightened interest in the NWSAS. At present total annual withdrawals there are estimated
at 540 hm3 in Tunisia, 1,100 hm3 in Algeria and 250 hm3 in Libya.
10. Water harvested from the NWSAS groundwaters have more than doubled between 1980 and 1992
when the last inventory was made that covered all of the Algerian and Tunisian Sahara. A larger
percentage (85-90%) of the water drawn from these tables is used for agriculture, a sector the three
governments slate for further intensification in the coming years, yet have stated their keen interest in
ensuring its sustainable development if the relevant information for decision-making is available.
In Algeria, large investments in hydraulic structures for agriculture are scheduled for the central area
(Oued Rhir) and eastern area (Souf) of the Algerian Sahara, impelled by private investments during
the last ten years, has been growing rapidly.
In Tunisia, the population growth rate is increasing with attendant increases in demand for food
especially along the coast where agricultural production has to cope with serious problems of
16
seawater intrusion and drops in the water level. Attention is turning to the urban-cum-industrial
development of the western part of the Jeffara which requires additional water to be drawn from the
NWSAS in the Ghamandes region. The development of irrigated zones, and the transportation of
water to the coasts could lead Libya to a doubling of its current level of withdrawals from the
NWSAS.
11. There is another factor that will seriously affect the NWSAS in the future: a sizeable portion of the
aquifer's waters comes from Paleozoic sandstone tabled in the south (Jabal Fezzan-Jabal Hassouna),
where the boreholes that supply waters to the transport system of the Great Manmade River Project are
located. This artificial river is composed of five phases:
Phase 1: Eastern System
SARIR-TAZERBO transfer to Libyan Eastern coast between BENGHAZI and SYRTE Gulf. The
water volume transfer was of 700 million m³ /year. At this time, this system is functioning at only
15% of its capacity. It is mainly destined to provide cities along the Benghazi coast with drinking
water.
Phase 2: Western System
Transfer from Djebel Hasaouana to the coastal plain of the Djeffara. The transferred water volume is
900 million m³/year. This system is functioning at only 12% of its capacity to provide Misratah and
Tripoli cities with drinking water.
Phase 3: Kufra System
This transfer is destined to reinforce and provide the eastern system (Phase 1) with an additional
water volume of 600 million m³/year. This system is still under study.
2 additional transfer systems are still under study.
Phase 4: Jaghbub-Tobrouk
The volume to be transferred is not determined yet. The technical feasibility analysis of this system
at Jaghbub is still under study.
Phase 5: Ghadames
The estimated water volume transfer towards the coastal plain of the Djeffara is 90hm³/year. This
phase is still under study.
Among the 5 phases of the artificial river, one may observe that:
- Phases 1, 3 and 4 are located outside SASS Basin
- Phase 2 is interconnected to SASS Basin and should be evaluated for its degree of influence
on the water supply to the SASS Basin.
- Phase 5 relates to water transfer to Tripoli city from the SASS Basin
- Concerning phase 5 the model will integrate the planned water volume transfer and will
determine the impacts on Libya as well as on the transboundary interferences in Algeria and
Tunisia.
17
- For Phase 2, the impact of this transfer on the SASS System should be evaluated.
- There are some risks, which have never been measured or calculated.
12. The unique transfer phase from the NWSAS is still under study. The other transfer phases are not
under concern by the SASS. Within the SASS model, the Ghadames transfer (90Hm³/year) is considered
and its impact evaluated (Ghadames Project. Water resources final report. BRL - Engineer - Nîmes
France). The results deduced from the model will be subject to discussion and meetings between the
three countries in order to come up with an optimum scenario. It is not too late to initiate such discussion
as the three countries have now started seriously discussing, at the present day, the setting up of scenario
for the next 50 years.
13. Although the man-made river has been built and may be seen as a lack of political commitment to
more sustainable use of the groundwaters, reality shows that there is a new high level tri-governmental
commitment to see what changes are needed to reduce water usage from the aquifer. This commitment
has been demonstrated by the consultations the three countries have been having on the use of the
groundwater and this project would build on this commitment. TCP support from LEGN/FAO over the
last 8 years means that the critical, high risk and most time-consuming activity, to develop a cooperative
framework for the NWSAS has already established a background data on legal and institutional
arrangements in the countries and most importantly established an important level of international
confidence and cooperation. The results of the model will be valuable in terms of impact indicators and
will provide useful data for decision-makers for planning. The consultation mechanism initiated by the
FAO has as its objectives, the permanent study of the resource so the states can determinate the optimum
volume of sustainable exploitation. Furthermore, OSS, the executing agency, is a sub regional
organization enjoying strong support from the three countries, and participation and contributions of
specialist and senior officials with water ministries and lead scientific institutions in the three countries.
14. In 1972, the report UNESCO presented at the end of the ERESS project recommended the creation of
a joint Algero-Tunisian commission "......whose role would be to co-ordinate the groundwaters
exploitation programmes in the Sud (Algeria) and Djerid (Tunisia)." During Commission meetings, it
was agreed that sharing information on previous exploitation and short term withdrawal plans and the
utilization of models would make it possible to constantly monitor the consequences of further
withdrawal on both sides of the border and lead to bilateral agreements on possible programmes for the
future.
15. This recommendation was never carried out despite the growing need for consultation between
countries that share this resource not only in order to manage transborder effects but also to ensure
optimal management within each country.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
16. The project will improve management of the NWSAS aquifer system shared by Algeria, Libya and
Tunisia through protection of water quality and of the recharge areas and humid zones and ecosystems
related to the aquifer. This will involve:
· the updating of the evaluation for the NWSAS water resources in order to define
sustainable exploitation modalities;
· the implementation of a consultation mechanism at the basin level for the three
participating countries with a view to ensuring a homogenous management of these common
18
water resources.
III Current Situation
17. At present each country draws up its own development programmes and its own plans, without any
co-ordination with the other countries that share the same water resource, the NWSAS aquifer. However,
it is recognized that development plans, especially in agriculture, that draw on this shared resource should
be based on an evaluation of the volume of water that may be exploited that is as precise as possible.
Evaluations conducted to date have not been precise since studies have not covered the three countries
concerned with the basin. Since 1980, a number of boreholes and studies have been established in each
country. This constitutes a large amount of data and information to develop a precise management model.
18. Synthesis studies providing valuable information for the understanding of the Saharan groundwaters
functioning include the following:
In Libya, a wide study of the water resources of the Western part of the country
undertaken at the beginning of the 80's which has been subjected to a very complex
multilayer model, including among others the two underground waters of the CT (Miada
aquifer) and the CI (Chicla aquifer); local studies in line with the Saharan groundwaters
of Algeria and Tunisia (areas of Ghadamès and Northern side lf Jabal Hasawna in
particular) (See Annex I);
In Algeria, studies of Oued Mya, Oued Rhir and Illizi-Ghadames basins;
In Tunisia, structural and stratigraphical studies of the South of Tunisia conducted by oil
companies (ETAP 1983, AMOCO 1983, MOBIL 1976), hydrogeological synthesis from
the Direction des Ressources en Eau (Water Resources Management), (Mamou A., 1976,
1986, 1987, 1988, 1990) and continuous monitoring of the aquifers (water extraction and
piezometry) (see Annex II);
19. The analysis of this data and information would enable the provision of information on the use of
water from this shared resource from each country. This project would be designed therefore to analyze
this information with the view of implementing a common database for the three countries (TAR), which
would then lead to the implementation of a more permanent mechanism and process to manage and
monitor the use of these resources.
20. In addition, the following developments have recently taken place:
A significant number of new wells have been established (especially in Algeria) in poorly
known areas in 1970 that bring essential data to improve the models representativity;
The results for the former studies, ERESS (UNESCO) and RAB (PNUD), as well as the
reflection activities conducted by OSS revealed that the Northern Sahara basin-sharing
countries have their national institutions and laws capable of ensuring the proper
management of water resources in general and fostering the implementation of a
consultation mechanism at the basin level/
IV
Expected Project Outcomes
19
21. The results of the project will be:
- Completion of a study on the NWSAS, based on its natural boundaries taking into consideration the
geographical limits and the availability of information from existing and completed studies;
- Completion of a management model which encompasses the following:
Protection of the recharge areas and the humid zones;
Provides the best possible scenario for sustainably exploiting water resources;
identifies indicators on sustainable resource use, both in terms of water quality and quantity;
Defines a water policy for the arid and semi-arid zones of the three countries that promotes
sustainable use of the shared water resource.
22. This model would make it possible to:
- base development on sustainable resource use of the NWSAS, particularly agricultural development
which is placing a high strain on the water resources of this shared aquifer;
- have the three countries meet to share data and implement mechanisms for monitoring and
evaluating impact and ongoing experiences which would have been developed in this project.
23. The first assessment of water concerned only Tunisia-Algeria and needs to be completed and updated
with information on that part of the basin located in Libya. Also during the past twenty years, a large
amount of data has been collected and studies completed in each country. The participation of Libya and
the analysis of data and results of studies available in each country will ensure the viability for
transboundary assessment and model development and future implementation.
24. Prior to the preparation of the management model, the next step in this project will be the analysis of
the legal and institutional issues surrounding management of this groundwater. Lastly, more permanent
consultation mechanisms will be established for the sustained monitoring of water resources in this shared
basin following culmination of GEF project funding once this project is fully implemented.
25. In summary, the project will result in the following:
- Study completed on the NWSAS, based on its natural boundaries, including an analysis of legal and
institutional issues surrounding management of this groundwater resource;
- Management model prepared that encompasses the following:
the protection of the recharge areas and the humid zones;
the best possible scenario for exploiting water resources sustainably;
indicators on sustainable resource use of the NWSAS, both in terms of water quality and
quantity;
ensures the sustainability of the economic and social environment in the context of water use
from the NWSAS;
defines a water policy for the arid and semi-arid zones to promote sustainable use of water
from the NWSAS.
- permanent consultation mechanism established to ensure sustained monitoring of water resources in
the shared basin following completion of GEF project funding, with funding becoming committed
from non-GEF sources for the continued existence of this mechanism.
In addition to monitoring, the consultation process will address reforms in policies and institutional
framework at the national level that would be needed to foster sustainability, including the
environmental aspects.
20
V. PROJECT ACTIVITIES
26. The project will be carried out with the following sequence of activities:
A. Environmental analysis of North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) encompassing:
- Data collection and analysis of the geological and hydrogeological information acquired since
1970;Data collection and analysis on the humid areas, ecology of the region, fragile areas which
are vulnerable to exploitation and socio-economic situation of the basin and in these areas in
particular;
- harmonization of the hydrogeological databases, geodesic data and new data noted in the bullet
point above;
- setting up of an homogeneous observation network at the basin scale, based on the existing
national networks, designed to monitor the groundwater's behaviour and check the models
reliability and assess the impact of the exploitation programmes;
- Quantification of water use (agriculture, industry and water supply);
- Exchanging information, data and experiences in each country for the monitoring and
management of the shared water resources;
B. Analysis of legal and institutional issues (funding committed by FAO)
An analysis of the legal and institutional issues surrounding and affecting management of the shared
water resources will be analyzed. These analyses will be important in understanding how best to
improve the management of the shared resource and the arrangements needed for ensuring a strong
consultation mechanism at the NWSAS scale. The regulations defined by the three countries
shall be gathered in order to harmonize the national actions for a common resource management,
which will represent the first step forward a sub-regional approach for a long-term efficient
management of this scarce resource.
Regarding the internal legislation level, and on the basis of the available comparative studies on
water legislation and institutions of the three countries, the project shall draw up the specific
regulations aforementioned. This includes regulations relating to efficient water control, the
definition and adoption of validated indicators for the evaluation and monitoring of the quantitative
and qualitative state of the resource; the strengthening of existing institutional capabilities.
These shall be submitted for approval from the concerned authorities and simultaneously adopted in
each country. Regarding the sub-regional level, the project aims at developing a concerted approach
to management of the shared resource though appropriate proposals for institutional arrangements
expressed by the countries themselves.
C. Development of a management model for the sustainable use of shared water resources
A management model will be prepared based on the analysis carried out in the preceding activities A
and B above. This management model will encompass the following:
The protection of the recharge areas and the humid zones;
the best possible scenario for exploiting water resources sustainably;
indicators on sustainable resource use of the NWSAS, both in terms of water quality and
quantity;
ensuring the sustainability of the economic and social environment in the context of
sustainable water use from the NWSAS;
21
- defining a water policy for the arid and semi-arid zones to promote sustainable use of water from
the NWSAS and for the protection of the recharge areas and the humid zones.
The elaboration of new management models will be based on the analysis of the information
identified above from the three countries, that will enable forecasting simulations in accordance with
development plans in each country in order to ensure a concerted management of the water resources.
The digital management model with scenarios will be based on socio-economic data for the 2050
timeline.
Further, regarding the international and sub-regional level, the project shall analyze the existing
consultation frameworks (joint commissions) that exist and assess their positive aspects for the
systematic exchange of information with regard to the basin. The preparation of the first proposals
for a tripartite agreement specifically devoted to the Northern Sahara Basin shall follow this activity.
The permanent consultation mechanism described below between Algeria, Libya and Tunisia shall
ensure systematic information exchange, on the one hand, and set up a reflection framework for the
strengthening of the consultation on the other hand.
D. Establishment of consultation mechanism for the management of the NWSAS aquifer
system (funding committed by FAO)
A consultation mechanism will be established to ensure the continued management of the shared
water resources once GEF project funding is over (details provided in Annex III). This will constitute
an "Observatory for the Aquifer-Basin" shared by the three countries and will be responsible for
scientific and technical issues relating to the management of the shared water resources, information
exchange and consultation between the three countries, joint elaboration of simulation models, etc. It
will further perform the following tasks:
- On-going collection of data;
- Organization of periodic consultations between the three countries to ensure improved
management of the shared water resources;
- Publication of relevant documents, synthesis of data analysis on exploitation of water resources
and its implications;
- Public awareness raising activities;
- Coordination between countries, water users in the private and public sectors (particularly in the
agriculture sector), national agencies dealing with water resource management and use.
The described activities shall last 36 months. Specific attention will be paid to determining how best
the consultation mechanism will handle the results and recommendations from the model and how this
will tangibly influence national and regional decision making and action.
22
Chart 1 - Activities, products and necessary human means (evaluation updating of the NWSAS water resources).
Phases
Activities
Products
International
Experts and national teams
Expert
valuation in
hr/month
Phase 1.a.
1
Preparation of national reports describing each country the
National reports
1
1Mx1E 1Mx1
E
1Mx1E
Harmonization of
databases used (format, fields, etc) and the geographical
hydrogeological data
information systems (type of data used, expected products,
bases, geodesic data,
users, softwares used, equipment , human capabilities, etc);
socio-economic and
2
Workshop led by an Expert to define the minimum data set
Agreement on the
0,25
0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E
environmental data
for the common base et the modalities to harmonize the
data to be included in
(6 months)
database. Attention will be given to data collection,
the common base and
integration and validation of data that focuses on the
modalities to
environmental aspects with particular attention to data
harmonize the
on the humid areas, ecology of the region, fragile areas
database
which are vulnerable to exploitation and socio-
economic circumstances.
;
3
Organization of further training (a two-week training per
Engineers and
1,5
0,5Mx2E 0,5Mx2E 0,5Mx2E
country);
trained technicians
4
Programmes of format conversion between the databases
Programmes of
1,5 2Mx2E 2Mx2E 2Mx2E
and assistance to the countries for the right functioning of
format conversion
the developed GIS;
5 Validation
workshop;
Validated prog.
0,25
0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E
6
Harmonization of geodesic, environmental and socio-
Conversion of prog.
0,5 1Mx1E 1Mx1E 1Mx1E
economic data between the 3 countries.
of the geodesic data.
Sub total 1.a.
5 HM
7,5 HM
7,5 HM
7,5 HM
Phase 1.b.
7
Choice in each country of observation wells that shall serve
Minimum
0,75 0,5Mx1E 0,5Mx1E 0,5Mx1E
Choice of observation
as a minimum observation network of the whole basin;
observation network
network and
defined
measurement
8
Preparation of national reports on the methods to assess the
National Reports on
0,5
0,5Mx2E 0,5Mx2E 0,5Mx2E
campaigns (11
water extraction and the impacts on the humid areas,
the recharge areas
months, with overlap
ecology of the region, fragile areas which are vulnerable
and humid zones and
on phase 1.a.)
to exploitation and the socio-economic impacts felt by
their interactions
the local communities particularly on traditional
with groundwater;
* Achieved activities of phalivelihoods;
se I (IFAD and DDC Swiss)
National reports on
methods to assess
water extraction
23
9 Workshops
to:
Minimum network
0,25
0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E 0,25Mx1E
·
present and approve the observation wells network and
defined and
their frequency
approved guide on
·
recommended the methods to rapidly assess the water
the methods to
extraction and the impacts on the humid areas, ecology
rapidly assess water
of the region, fragile areas which are vulnerable to
extraction and its
exploitation and the socio-economic impacts felt by the associated socio-
local communities particularly on traditional
economic impacts and
livelihoods;
the environmental
impacts of fragile
areas and the recharge
areas.
10 Measurement
campaigns to decide on an updated situation
Updated data
0
9MxHgT
m
3MxHgT
m
6MxHgT
m
of water extraction, piezometry and water chemical unit and
the impacts on the humid areas, ecology of the region,
fragile areas which are vulnerable to exploitation and the
socio-economic impacts felt by the local communities
particularly on traditional livelihoods;
11 Data entry in the common base
Data entry in the
0
6Mx1E 6Mx1E 6Mx1E
database
Sub total 1.b.
1,5 HM
7,75 HM
7,75 HM
7,75 HM
+ 9MHbTm
+ 3HMgTm
+ 6MHgTm
* Achieved activities of Phase I (IFAD and DDC Swiss)
24
Chart 1 continuation - Activities, products and necessary human means (evaluation updating of the NWSAS water
resources).
Phases
Activities
Products
International
Experts and national teams
Expert valuation
in hr/month
Phase 2
12
Analysis of oil and water probes data (well logs,
Synthesis of
0,5
8Mx1E 8Mx1
E
8Mx1
E
Geological and
geophysical logs, geophysics) necessary for the modeling
geological
(termes de réf.)
hydrogeological,
characterization of aquifers formation, and the
information
+ 1 (Algérie)
environmental and
understanding of hydraulic functioning of the aquifers
socio-economic
levels;
Synthesis of
information collection
Analysis humid areas, ecology of the region, fragile
environmental and
and analysis of
areas which are vulnerable to exploitation and the
socio-economic
acquired after the
socio-economic situation particularly focusing on
information
synthesis of 1970
traditional livelihoods;
(13 months, with
13
Data and information collection with respect to water
Synthesis of
0,25 3Mx1E
3Mx1E
3Mx1E
overlap on phases 1.a.
extraction, piezometric levels and water quality that have
hydrogeological
and 1.b.)
been gathered since 1979; chronological account of the
information
water extraction and levels;
Analysis of impacts on the humid areas, ecology of the
Synthesis of
region, fragile areas which are vulnerable to
information
exploitation and the socio-economic impacts felt by the
outlining the
local communities particularly on traditional
environmental and
livelihoods;
socio-economic
impacts of water
abstractions and of
management actions
in the recharge and
fragile surrounding
ecosystems.
14
Leveling with GPS if needed
Leveled water wells
- 2Mx1TpTm
2Mx1TpTm
2Mx1TpT
m
15
Information collection with respect to test pumping and
Synthesis of hydro-
- 2Mx1HgTm
2Mx1HgTm
2Mx1HgT
m
hydrodynamic characteristics of the aquifers; if possible,
dynamic
several test pumping;
characteristics
16
Integration of data collection in the project's geographic
Updated database
- 3Mx1
E
3Mx1
E
3Mx1
E
database;
17
Drawing piezometric maps related to relevant time periods
Piezometric account
1,5 4Mx1E
4Mx1E
4Mx1E
of the aquifers development;
for each
underground water
25
18
Preparation of a conceptual model for each aquifer system
Conceptual model
1,5 1Mx1E
1Mx1E
1Mx1E
showing hydrodynamical functioning and inter-relations,
the inter-relations with the recharge areas and the
fragile ecosystem, the inter-relations with socio-
economic parameters and that will serve as the basis for
the creation of the mathematical model. It will be
necessary to place the emphasis on the boundary
conditions, the aquifer system functioning (permanent or
consistent draining system.....), the recharge areas, the
fragile ecosystem, ....
19
Workshop in line with a meeting of the Project Steering
Conceptual model
0,25 0,25Mx1E
0,25Mx1E
0,25Mx1E
Committee to:
and groundwaters
·
assess the conceptual model proposed;
simulation software
·
choose the software and decide on the possible
approved
modifications to be added in case of cartographic
deformations.
Sub total 2.
5 HM
19,25 HM
19,25 HM
19,25 HM
2M TpTm
2M TpTm
2M TpTm
2M HgTm
2M HgTm
2M HgTm
* Achieved activities in Phase I (IFAD + DDC Swiss)
26
Chart 1 continuation - Activities, products and necessary human means (evaluation updating of the NWSAS water resources).
Phases
Activities
Products
International
Experts and national teams
Expert valuation
in hr/month
Phase 3
20
Further synthesis in the aforementioned identified fields in
Collected and
0,5 3Mx1E
3Mx1E
3Mx1E
Implementation and
order to implement simulation models;
processed data
calibration of new
necessary for the
models and simulation
models
of exploitation
21
Definition of the grid of models and tracing on GIS
Grid of the models
0,5 0,5Mx1E
0,5Mx1E
0,5Mx1E
scenario and other
and mapping
related land use that
22
Implementation of GIS-models links; programme for the
Communication
1 1Mx1E
1Mx1E
1Mx1E
affect the recharge
automatic definition of water extraction by grid....... The
programme GIS-
areas and the fragile
GIS models will include data related to the recharge
models
ecosystem
areas and humid zones, fragile areas of the ecosystem
(18 months, start-up
and socio-economic parameters;
after completion of
23
Preparation of the terms of reference for he calibration of
Terms of reference
0,25
phase 2)
the model;
24
Calibration of the models;
Calibrated models
6 4Mx1E
4Mx1E
4Mx1E
25
Creation of future exploitation scenarios of groundwaters
Exploitation and
0,25 0,25Mx1E
0,25Mx1E
0,25Mx1E
and future land management scenarios particularly in
Land Management
the recharge areas, humid zones and other fragile areas scénarios
of the ecosystem;
26
Exploratory simulations of scenarios;
Reports on
3 3Mx1E
3Mx1E
3Mx1E
simulation scenarios
27
Socio-economic evaluations of the simulation results;
Report on results
1 1Mx1E
1Mx1E
1Mx1E
evaluation
28
Workshop in line with the last meeting of the Project
Exploitation
0,5 0,5Mx1E
0,5Mx1E
0,5Mx1E
Steering Committee to: prepare the results of the
programmes on the
simulations of scenarios
groundwaters
29
Setting up the models in the countries which will involve
Set up models and
1,5 0,5Mx2E
0,5Mx2E
0,5Mx2E
specific attention to be paid to determining how best
initiating
the consultation mechanism will handle the results and
consideration of
recommendations from the model and how this will
changes needed in
tangibly influence national and regional decision
in land management
making and action.
and groundwater
extraction at the
national and local
levels in each
country.
30
Final report of the project
Report
1
-
- -
Sub total 3
15,5 13,75
13,75
13,75
27
Total
27 48,25
48,25
48,25
11M HgTm
5M HgTm
8M HgTm
2M TpTm
2M TpTm
2M TpTm
* Achieved activities (IFAD + DDC Swiss)
Notes: E = Engineer or Consultant M = Month
C = Country
TpTm = Topographic Team including 1 engineer, 1 technician, 1 worker, 1 driver, 1 car TT and gasoil
HgHm = Hydrogeological Team including 1 engineer, 2 technicians, 2 workers, 2 drivers, 2 cars TT and gasoil
The Project Coordinator is not mentioned in the chart; but will take part in every activity of the project (36 months) to which s/he provides his/her expert valuation.
28
Phase II which comprises this medium sized project, encompasses the following activities:
Regional models component
Although the overall model that was completed in June 2002 provided results concerning the
basin as a whole and created dynamic exchange and cooperation (the three participating countries
transmitted all their documents and data on both the hydraulic and oil wells), it will be necessary to
make three sub-models to cover intensely exploited regions, which need to be covered at a larger
scale in order to detail results from the general model which covers one million square kilometres.
The results of these sub-models will provide the decision-makers and the politician with decision-
support information that must be very precise. They will cover zones shared by the three countries
with high vulnerability as concerns their population, agricultural activity and exploitation. These
results will be decisive and will serve as basic elements for decision-makers and politicians wishing
to intensify their concerted efforts.
The environmental component
Up to now, system operations has only been considered from the strictly hydraulic angle. But there
are other constraints connected to basin-related environmental protection. They have never been
taken into account because revealing them could mean having to reduce abstraction or even
abandon the site. In certain regions where such measures are needed, it is difficult to convey the
message if it is not supported by concrete data and impact information.
The environmental component concerns
1. The quality of water
The presence of chotts and sebkhas constitutes a very serious risk for water resources; in
some places salinization has already begun. A diagnostic of the current situation should make
it possible to reduce abstraction or even abandon certain sites and, further, to define an optimal
system to be shared by the three countries; this will require regular monitoring and data-sharing
2. Salinisation and land degradation
Even in zones where the water quality is still acceptable for irrigation, land salinization has started, and
in time could jeopardize the survival of the existing oases, in other words, the elimination of a whole
ecosystem.
The inventory of degraded zones or zones in the process thereof would provide the decision-makers and
the politicians with valid data and, more importantly, would convince them to accept proposed
solutions or alternatives.
The inventory would include identification of the most vulnerable zones and define a protective strategy.
3. Contribution to shallow aquifers
Traditionally, the shallow aquifers are exploited by shallow wells that provide drinking water for the local
population and irrigation for the small palm groves in Algeria, known as "Ghout". But the deep well that
have drawn water in the NWSAS system has created so much outpouring that these aquifers are saturated
with water, and the oases or "Ghouts" or pal grooves have disappeared and large cities are threatened with
soil subsidence.
Less water should be taken from the aquifers if we are to reduce the risks and avoid threats to other regions.
25
The survival of a whole eco-system is at stake.
Recharge zone
The basin is recharged either through direct infiltration or from the catchment basin in the
north. The idea is to make a more thorough study of these catchment basins which carry
large amounts of water to the subterranean system and to identify possible wadi
constructions (dams, bunds, etc.) that could compromise recharge. In this part of the study
we would work out an investigation and prevention strategy.
Furthermore, as part of our project, the International Atomic Energy Agency is preparing a
plan to study recharge by infiltration more thoroughly.
The humid zones
The Sahara has many humid zones, in particular, the chotts and the sebkhas which provide
the region with a precious, even vital ecological heritage for certain flora and fauna. The
zone is subject to many threats and risks:
-
outflow of nitrate-rich irrigation waters
-
deposit of wastewaters.
In our project, these zones will be mapped and efforts will be made to create awareness
about the need to protect them. This will include emphasis on the importance of reducing
abstractions near these humid zones. In the final analysis, lack of protection of these zones
will lead to a situation that will be dangerous for:
the water resources
the oases
areas where people live.
The socio-economic component
The socio-economic component is designed to evaluate the current situation, prepare alternatives
to ensure sustainable development and evaluate the vulnerable, risk-prone zones:
- the cost of various types of degradation connected to land and waters;
- the cost of risks of damage to the environment.
Alternatives will be proposed , e.g. :
- the advantage of reduced abstraction for the resources and the environment;
- the cost of relocating certain agricultural activities;
- replacing certain risky crops;
- the cost and benefit of introducing new irrigation technologies;
- a water economy policy.
-
A consultation mechanism
The consultation mechanism is in the first in the region for a shared groundwater basin with
substantial resources, that covers over a million square kilometres. This type of mechanism exists
for surface waters (rivers, streams) and connected to some small aquifers with surface areas of
about 20km2, particularly with regard to pollution.
In the approach used by the project, this mechanism is to be active and is to be used throughout all
26
phases. The management of this shared basin is to be based on hydraulic, socio-economic and
environmental data that the decision-makers and politicians need in order to work out a common
management strategy. The hydraulic results in the regional models identify the most vulnerable
zones where abstractions need to be reduced or brought to a halt and zones that require constant
monitoring.
At that juncture, the decision-makers will have sound data on the future state of water abstractions. At the
same time, even in zones where hydraulic conditions are favourable, attacks on the environment (land
degradation, salinisation, etc.) should guide them in deciding how to cope with the constraints, over and
above the ones shown in the hydraulic results.
Finally, since we are dealing with a zone with a population that is expected to reach 8 million by the
year 2030 and with considerable agricultural and ecological assets, a study on converting
agricultural activities and replacing certain crops or cropping systems should guide the politicians
and decision-makers in developing an integrated, basin-wide management plan.
This explains how the three components (technical, environmental, socio-economic) contribute
to producing the data politicians and decision-makers need for making decisions. They should be
taken up in the consultation mechanism which will receive and amalgamate the results of these
three components
This mechanism will serve as the framework for:
- carrying out the policy on building up awareness and strengthening cooperation;
- taking important decisions;
- finalizing and signing agreements among the three countries;
- defining the consultation policy
Since certain decisions have immediate and major consequences for the three countries, they
need to be dealt with throughout the project. This should be done through the consultation
mechanism by applying a sound preparation and sensitization policy.
Further, it is very important to remember that:
1. the three components involve all the basin's partners, decision-makers and users of water
resources, agriculture and environment;
2. The consultation mechanism is most appropriate for involving them, creating awareness
among them and bringing them together throughout the life of the project in order to rally
them to decisions, choices and the best way to manage the basin. This is one of the
strengths of the mechanism.
The share of the consultation mechanism may not seem very big. This is because the substantial
mass of data to be acquired in the field will be coming from the technical, socio-economic and
environmental components. These three components, thus, work to supply data to the
consultation mechanism which then is to translate these data into the form needed to make the
decision-makers and politicians aware of the most fitting decisions.
27
PARTNERS AND DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS
27. To achieve the project objectives and the activities mentioned above, it is assumed that the following
services shall be necessary:
·
Personnel
-
one (1) international consultant specialized in water legislation;
-
one (1) international consultant specialized in international water legislation;
- national
consultants;
-
three (3) national legal experts, 36 man/month in total (or 12 man/month per country)
-
mission of technical assistance, 3 per country or 9 missions in total.
The international consultations might be conducted in part by specialists from one of the three
countries concerned.
· Official travel
Official travel relates to the travel expenses within the three countries for all the national consultants
or legal experts (excluding the international travels of international consultants).
· Operating expenses
These expenses relate to the functioning expenses of the project (communications, duplication and
mal of documents etc).
· Training
-
seminars to discuss the proposals for application regulations, 1 per country, or 3 seminars in total;
-
a regional seminar to discuss the proposals for the trilateral agreements (s);
-
possibly, study travel for one executive per country to the joint commission for inter- states shared
water management.
· Reports
The international consultants and national executives shall draw up technical reports required by the
Terms of Reference of their respective mandates.
28. Considering the active co-operation already set up between OSS and the Bureau Juridique du Service
Driot et Developpement (Legal Bureau of the Development and Legislation Department) of the FAO, and
taking into account that the institutional and legal aspects of this project is essentially based on expert
valuation, analysis and proposal capabilities, OSS, together with FAO, shall directly handle the management
28
of actions to be conducted according to modalities agreed by common consent.
THE GOVERNMENTS CONTRIBUTION
29. The three countries shall provide the project with appropriate technical and logistic contribution. They
shall especially offer the project offices and local transport facilities. They shall make contact with the civil
servants and the personalities concerned, and access to the available documentation easier. They shall
deliver visas and any other facilities necessary for the proper achievement of the project.
30. The governments shall also appoint the civil servants in counterpart to the project staff especially the
national coordinators, and shall be responsible for their salarys in this framework. They shall appoint their
representatives for the steering committee who could become, in the end, the core for any future inter-state
collaboration.
31. These means are organized as follows:
national executives and staff members
These executives, working in their respective administration, shall be asked to devote a part of their
work time for the achievement of the project. They are listed as follows par each country:
-experienced hydrogeologist
17,75 MM
-field hydrogeologist
6 MM
-geophysicist
8 MM
-computer scientist specialized in underground flows
8,5 MM
-computer scientist specialized in database management and GIS
8 MM
total
48,25 man month per country
to be added to:
- topographic team per country
2 MM
- hydrogeological team for the field measurements
Algeria
11MM
Tunisia
5
MM
Libya
8
MM
PARNERS AND DONORS CONTRIBUTION
32. To achieve the project objectives and the activities above mentioned, it is assumed that the following
services will be necessary, to be financed by external donor support.
Personnel
international expert
- 1 international expert, project coordinator who shall be selected in the sub-region
36
MM
29
international consultants
- 1 computer scientist specialized in simulation models of
groundwaters (pts 23 à 26 et 29)
11 MM
- 1 experienced hydrogeologist skilled
in modeling a large aquifers systems
management (pts 7 à 11, 13, 18 à 20, 21, 27, 8 et 30)
7,75 MM
- 1 experienced geophysicist in map
processing and elaboration of geophysics
sections (pts 12 et 17)
1,5 MM
- 1 computer scientist specialized in GIS
and cartography (pts 1 à 6 et 22)
6,0 MM
total
27-man month
Equipment
The following equipment is necessary:
·
Further measurement campaigns (per country):
- field
vehicle;
- portable
laboratory
- hydrogeological measurement equipment (probes, pressure gauges, instruments to
measure conductivity and pH, etc);
- GPS
rental;
- Maps and aerial photos, images, etc.
·
Creation of databases and models, and GIS functioning (per country):
- powerful computer processing unit (Printers and tracing tables);
- processing softwares (for models and GIS);
- 2 portable computers for the regional teams.
·
Coordination of the project:
- secretariat equipment (computer, fax, modem etc);
- vehicle.
Sustainability analysis and risk assessment
33. After completion of the project, OSS will ensure that monitoring of water utilization of the NWSAS is
continued as per the agreed processes and mechanisms established during this project. In this context, the
following mechanisms have been built into the project to promote the sustainability of the benefits emanating
from the project:
- a permanent consultation mechanism composed of relevant persons (including relevant scientific and
social expertise) working in the water sector from the three countries will be set up to monitor the use of
resources covered by the project;
- permanent programmes for preparing updates and periodically making simulations will be created, with
funding secured from other donors;
30
- working groups based in the Sahara (agricultural sector) will be established to collect and update data;
- the three countries have already established post-project teams;
- awareness raising activities will be carried out by the project monitoring institutions comprised of all
three countries to promote more conservative use of water.
INCREMENTAL COST ASSESSMENT
34. The total project budget is in the order of US $ 1.300.000,00 US$ with GEF funds only required to
meet less than half of the costs (US$ 600.000,00).
The objective of the project is to improve management of the NWSAS aquifer system shared by Algeria,
Libya and Tunisia through protection of water quality and of the recharge areas and humid zones and
ecosystems related to the aquifer. This will involve:
· the updating of the evaluation for the NWSAS water resources in order to define sustainable
exploitation modalities;
· the implementation of a consultation mechanism at the basin level for the three participating countries
with a view to ensure a homogenous management of these common water resources.
Baseline Situation. The first study on the NWSAS was one made by UNESCO in 1968-1971 with the
participation of only two countries, viz. Algeria and Tunisia based on a simulation model that included
various minimalist hypotheses, and in particular, some arbitrary conditions to represent the Libyan part of the
aquifer system. In 1982-1983, with assistance from UNDP (RAB project), the model was updated, but here
again, there was no real data from Libya. New hypotheses on water offtake were simulated to support
agricultural development plans under study in Algeria and Tunisia. As of 1992, the Sahara and Sahel
Observatory (OSS) started working with national experts on NWSAS and were able to bring together
interested national and international partners.
OSS organized various consultative meetings, technical studies, data reviews and analyses and syntheses in
order to increase the involvement of the countries concerned and create conditions that could ensure the
success of much-needed common actions. This mainly involved two workshops in Cairo (November 1992
and May 1994) which adopted the principle of "basin awareness" and the need to "establish a mechanism for
consultations" at the basin level. Further, as part of the Aquifers of the Major Basins Programme, OSS,
together with FAO, examined the legal and institutional aspects of sustainable management of the deep
groundwaters in the NWSAS. Since the three countries share the basin waters, the countries national and
international laws on the management and utilization of water resources, particularly groundwaters, were
examined. An OSS workshop in Tunis, in May 1997, adopted the outline of a project document. Thereafter,
again in Tunis, another workshop was held (September 1997) to finalize the project document on updating
the evaluation of NWSAS water resources and establishing a mechanism for consultations at the basin level.
This is the basis for this medium sized project. OSS and IFAD held the third and last meeting in Rome (29-
30 April 1998) for the countries concerned, FAO, UNESCO, Switzerland and Germany to detail the foreign-
financed budget and the institutional framework for implementing the programme.
Meanwhile, the exploitation rate of the aquifer has been intensified, more than doubling between 1980 and
1992 when the last inventory was made. The Section on Programme Justification in this project brief
provides more details on the exploitation of the aquifer. Without a thorough understanding of the stock and
flow rates of these transboundary groundwaters from all three countries, it will not be possible to effectively
protect water quality nor the recharge areas and humid zones and ecosystems related to the aquifer. Current
31
rates of exploitation will continue to take place in an unsustainable manner while any management
interventions will focus on a less than comprehensive knowledge base of the stocks and flows affecting this
transboundary aquifer.
GEF Alternative Scenario. The alternative scenario consists of the implementation of those actions needed
to understand better how to protect water quality and the recharge areas and humid zones and ecosystems
related to the aquifer. The actions are designed to achieve global/transboundary environmental benefits by
providing a framework for the sustainable development and management of groundwater resources which
will entail a much more comprehensive gathering of data and its analysis and a consultation mechanism to
effect management changes.
Global Benefits. The global benefit arising from the GEF intervention will be the formulation of a
programme to protect water quality and the recharge areas and humid zones and ecosystems related to the
aquifer. The incremental cost matrix below provides an analysis of the costs of the baseline and that of the
alternative project (the GEF funded scenario) in an effort to show an understanding of domestic versus global
benefits of this project.
Incremental Cost Matrix (US $)
Baseline Alternative Increment
Global
Environmental
Agreement made on the part
Realization of trilateral data
Protection of water quality
Benefits
of countries to proceed to a
base and of information
and of recharge areas and
complete survey of the
system on NWSAS aquifer;
humid zones relating to the
Basin, to accept to exchange
realization of model to the
transboundary aquifer;
documentation as well as
scale of the Basin on water
information and to proceed
abstraction;
to long term consensual
Development and
scheduling of sustainable
agreement on strategy for
abstraction. Not enough data
sustainable abstraction of
to move towards adequate
water in transboundary
protection of water quality
aquifer;
and of recharge areas and
Agreement made on the part
humid zones and ecosystems
of the participating
related to the aquifer.
countries on strategy for
protecting water quality in
recharge areas and humid
zones related to
transboundary aquifer.
Domestic
Information on the quality
Prevention of conflicts on
Improvement in water
Benefits
and availability of
water resource use;
resources management;
groundwater resources in
Long term sustenance of
Improved awareness of
participating country from
water supply;
local stakeholders on
the NWSAS, although not
Local livelihoods protected
fragility of water and soil
up to date and not
owing to sustainable supply
resources, with less
comprehensive in nature.
of water of high quality.
likelihood for salinisation.
Costs (US$)
Limited level of data and
Environmental analysis of
PHASE I
information available on
North Western Sahara
July 99 JUNE 2002
NWSAS
A if S
(NWSAS)
32
NWSAS;
Aquifer System (NWSAS)
Total budget : 1.738.000,00 US$
Limited level of analysis
Analysis of legal and
Other sources:
done on legal and
institutional issues (funding IFAD : 1.065.000,00 US$
DDC -
institutional issues
committed by FAO)
Switzerland: 380.000,00 US$
pertaining to NWSAS;
Development of
FAO : 293.000,00 US$
Consultative workshops
management model for
GEF : NONE
held that agreed on needs of
protection of water quality
PHASE II
countries for "basin
and sustainable use of
July 2002 June 2004
awareness" and the need to
shared water resource;
"establish a mechanism for
Establishment of
Total budget : 1.300.000,00 US$
consultations" at the basin
consultation mechanism for
Other sources:
level.
the management of NWSAS DDC -
Switzerland.: 400.000,00 US$
aquifer system (funding
FFEM (France) : 300.000,00 US$
committed by FAO)
GEF : 600.000,00 US$
Cost of alternative:
US$ 1.300.000
Funding from GEF will be used for the following:
Personnel
35. Project team
36. Experts
Numerical Models in Hydrogeology.
Database, GIS and Information System.
Economics and Social Aspects.
Data popularisation for uses (agriculture,...).
Consultation Mechanism
Travel :
37. Experts in each country for collecting data, analysis and support National Teams.
38. Tickets (National Team ) for:
· workshops
· shorts training course
- Meeting for decision-makers (presentation of results)
- Mission of team project in the three countries.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The evaluation of the project will consist of :
- Scientific evaluation on results of Models and Information System implemented by the project.
- Validation of different scenarios for development.
- Evaluation of final results of the project.
- Independent evaluation supervised by UNEP and based on GEF project objectives and activities
outlined in this project.
33
BUDGET (Unit $ US): PHASE I (completed) (July 99 June 2002)
Expenses IFAD
DDC
Project outcomes
-realization of a model to the scale of the Basin,
Project team and expertise
579 900
207 000
complementary studies and under-models.
Realization of a database and of an information
Travelling
84 000
30 000
system.
-Setting up of a steady strategy and scheduling of
abstraction.
Helping the countries in the collection, the capture
Computers,
78 100
76 000
and the conservation of data and facilitating the
field Equipment
135 000
0
treatments.
Vehicles
213 100
76 000
Training of engineers to software used in the model
and the S.I.
Training, workshops and
0
0
To master the tool and to assure that post project,
presentation of the results to
the 3 countries will use the tool.
the countries
Data validation Workshops
Workshop of result presentation to the decision
markers.
Support O.S.S.
100.000
35.000
Operating Expenses
88 000
32 000
TOTAL
1.445.000
31
SASS: PHASE 1
The phase I of the SASS that lasted three years, (July 99 - June 2002 with extension until October 2002) enabled the acquisition of the results shown in the
table below.
SASS: RESULTS OF THE PHASE 1
SITUATION BEFORE SASS PROJECT
SASS PROJECT RESULTS
Heterogeneous data
Coherent and in-built data base
Absence of GIS
Constitution of a GIS standardized to the scale of
the SASS
BD link - GIS - MODEL not ensured
BD link - GIS - MODEL ensured
Models 2 monocoucheses
1 Multilayer to natural limits of the basin
Truncated (Algeria + Tunisia)
& Incomplete 1 multilayer (Libya)
CASUAL DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS WITH
SCENARIOS OF CONSENSUAL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT are
DEVELOPMENT BASED ON COUNTRIES
NEGLIGENT OF THE IMPACTS
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
The distribution of the cooperation partners countries contribution is indicated below in the table.
Budget of the SASS - Phase I in US $
32
Nature of expenses
Participating
FIDA
SWITZERLAND
Countries
contributions
Actualisation of the SASS water
resource assessment
-
Personnel and Travel Costs
517.500
763.900
272.000
-
Equipment
Additional logistical and
75.000
213.100
76.000
administrative support
-
88.000
32.000
TOTAL
592.500
1.065.000
380.000
FAO
Consultation Mechanism
119.000 293.000
711.500
1.738.000
Phase I (July 99 - June 2002) has been financed by the FIDA and DDC-Switzerland as well as the the analyses components. The FAO acts as an agency of
execution by its contribution of 293.000 $ intended to finance the first approach of the Consultation Mechanism. This FAO project will end in December 2002
and is centred on the first reflections of the Mechanism to be put in place.
Countries accepted in the first phase to proceed to the comparative analyses concerning:
- managements modalities of the basin
- irrigation data and analyses
- modalities for data exchanges
SASS: PHASE II
Technical aspects
The dimensions which had been elaborated in the general model above did not permit answers to certain questions. Indeed, zones of strong concentrations of
abstraction and sources of influences at the transboundary level , that constitute real risks and stakes, must be treated in a more regionalized manner. This
would entail having available more reliable and precise results that would be put at the disposition of decision-makers and planners.
33
In addition, these regionalized studies are recommendations of results of the general model. The passage to a larger scale is necessary. The implementation of
the 3 regional models has been programmed as follows: Djeffara, North of the Chotts and Western Basin.
- the Chotts Region
about the model would be specifying the relation of the aquifers with chotts, which risk becoming a source of deterioration in water quality by salinisation.
A real program of follow-up (network) must be settled. Besides, the region of Biskra-Tolga was previously considered to be disconnected from the CT and of
a very weak potential. However, data acquired more recently (from more than 11,000 water points) impose a hydrogeological revision of the system, its
integration to the CT and treatment to a bigger scale by a model.
- Tuniso - Libyan Djeffara
The Djeffara is nourished in part by the Continental Intercalaire of which it constitutes an outlet to the uncertain future and where the risk of water salinisation
by saline intrusion (coastal aquifer) is very high.
- Western Basin
In this region where the competition between drilling (modern system) and foggaras (traditional system) is already started, the development of models must
define in a more precise manner choices to come for this region and to predict impacts on soils and the quality of water.
Besides these models, it is foreseen to strengthen the database by the integration of other parameters. This, in the double objective:
- to integrate the socio-economic data, to enrich the database and not to confine it to strictly hydrological aspects
- to reinforce its permanent status while carrying out dynamic information exchange and consultation.
In the frame of the general model development (SASS: Phase I), the socio-economic aspects have not been studied in depth. However, the strictly hydraulic
results do not permit scenarios that offer alternatives for sustainable development of the basin. Besides, the first scheduling of presented abstraction by the
countries, generated some catastrophic results in terms of drawdown and water quality. The analysis of results permitted a consensus between countries for a
revision of planned scenarios as well on the volume of abstraction, the objective being to assure a protection of the water quality close to chotts, to maintain
the artesianism and to minimize depths of pumping.
However, all these criteria must be quantified and translated in the soci-economic plan. If the link to the chotts is clear, we must review what the alternatives
are:
- Economy of water
- interregional transfers
- Agricultural activities
- New culture introduction,....
34
- Desalinisation, demineralization,....
It is about putting forward some realistic alternative solutions and to conceive a development that is sustainable based on the the future scenarios.
Consultation Mechanism
Concerning the Consultation Mechanism , the countries accepted in the first phase financed by the FAO to proceed to the comparative analyses concerning:
- management mode of the basin
- existing legislation, datamaps
- The institutional framework for consultation.
During Phase II of the SASS, the Consultation Mechanism will have the following objectives:
- to establish the institutional framework for the consultations and initiate functioning of this mechanism,
- to integration its consideration for the other sectors (agriculture, environment,...)
- to define modalities for follow-up and exchanges,
- to define indicators and their utilization in decision making and planning
- to put in place indicators of assessment for application in management decisions
- to proceed to adjustments coming from the application mechanism during the first months.
In conclusion phase II will enable decision-makers of the three countries to have:
- precise results on impacts and various scenarios risks
- the alternative scenarios to the present situation on the basis of elaborate socio-economic indicators
- elements for a concerted management of the basin
- an institutional framework of follow-up and for producing data and indicators for consensual decisions.
35
PROGRAM PHASE 2 - October 2002 - December 2004
PHASE II.1 : TECHNICAL ASPECTS : October 2002 - December 2004
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
ACTIVITIES
PROJECT OUTCOMES
1. Data collection and analysis. Geological synthesis
Implementation of three sub-
2. Selection of a network and field data
regional models:
- Elaboration of sub-regional models with most
precise results for the decision-makers and
- Chotts region
3. Elaboration of an information system
politics
- Djeffara
- Western basin of NWSAS
basin
- Set up models and initiating consideration of
changes needed in land management and
4. Conceptual Model
groundwater extraction at the vulnerable and
sensitive shared areas.
5.Construction of the simulation model
- Prior to a better consultation mechanism
6. Final report
36
PROGRAM PHASE 2 - October 2002 - December 2004
PHASE II.2 : ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
ACTIVITIES
PROJECT OUTCOMES
- Water Quality
-Data collection on quality water and analysis and choice of observation network
- Report on water quality
-Diagnostic on salt origin and irrigation
- soil salinization, hydromorphy and degradation
-Inventory of salinized soils and diagnostic analyses
- Report on impacts and costs assessment
assessment
- Environmental risk assessment
- Inventory of fragile and vulnerable areas
- Protection strategy
- Risks for phreatic aquifer
- Inventory of phreatic aquifers and evaluation of risks from irrigation water infiltration
- Report on strategy for protection
- Recharge areas
- Inventory or area and estimations of recharge rates (see map) planned program dams) - Impact assessment
and study of impacts
- Humid areas
- Evaluation of state of humid areas and risks
- Protection strategy
- Inventory (waste water, extension, reduction,...)
SOCIO ECONOMIC ASPECTS: ANALYSIS AND
ACTIVITIES PROJECT
OUTCOME
ALTERNATIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
- ASSESSMENT OF THE ACTUAL METHOD OF
- Identification of types and methods of irrigation and impacts on salinization and
- Impact and costs assessment
IRRIGATION
production
- COSTS AND BENEFITS OF INTRODUCTION OF
- Analysis of different types of cultures and costs of each case with environmental
- Financial analysis report
NEW IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY
impacts
-
ALTERNATIVES FOR SOME
- Identification of alternative solutions to conversion (foragriculture, tourism, among
- Social and economic analysis
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
others) or investment to mobilize water with less salinity (demineralisation, transfers, ...)
- Recommendations for alternatives activities with environmental benefits
-
Tourism
-
Water Transfers,....
· The International Atomic Energy Agency has stated its interest in the NWSAS and has elaborated a special project RAF/2003-2004 to support this project
(letter from IAEA on 07/08/02 from ROGRAM PHASE 2 - October 2002 - December 2004
Africa division (Dr. A. Boussaha)
37
PHASE II.3 : CONSULTATION MECHANISM - October 2002- December 2004
CONSULTATION MECHANISM
ACTIVITIES PROJECT
OUTCOMES
- Management mode of Basin
- Identification of areas with high vulnerability shared by the three countries
- Permanent monitoring network
- Data exchange
- Identification of types of data to be exchanged
- Modes of exchange
- Consensual planning of exploitation
- Exchange programme
- Meetings on impact assessment
- Sustainable development of the basin
- Analysis of modes of information exchange and cooperation
- Institutional Framework agreement to ensure permanent cooperation
* The consultation mechanism is the first in the region on shared groundwater. Up to now, this type of mechanism has been only used for
management of shared surface waters.
38
39
Phase II - Budget - October 2002 - December 2004
CONTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PARTNER
CONTRIBUTION in
ACTIVITIES
COUNTRY
PARTNER OF COOPERATION Governments
GEF
FFEM
DDC-
(in kind)
Switzerland
- Technical aspects (Regional models)
- Environmental aspects
- Socio-economic aspects
International expertise
400.000
-
170,000
Validation and training workshops
60.000
15,000
30,000
Equipment and software acquisition
60.000
30,000
Data and treatment Collection
100.000
20,000
60,000
French and English Final report
20.000
6,000
10,000
OSS follow-up and assessment
60.000
6,000
50,000
Sub-total/1
400.000
700.000
47,000
340.000
130.000
230.000
Satellite picture, validation of data for the
two basins and cartography1
Under-total /2
80.000
200.000
15,000
100.000
50.000
50.000
INFORMATION SYSTEM ( TECHNICAL AND
SOCIO ECONOMIC ASPECTS)
1 GEF financing for the data collection and information system will include data collection, integration and validation of data focusing on the
environmental aspects with particular attention to data on the humid areas recharge, ecology of the region, fragile areas which are vulnerable to
exploitation, social and economics aspects
*DDC-Swiss contribution confirmed
40
Complementary data -integration
40,000
-validation and funding of the data base
-shops (formation and validation)
-installation in the concerned countries
Sub-total /3
20.000
100.000
18,000
40.000
30.000
30.000
Scientific Audit and financier of the project
100.000
6,000
40.000
30.000
30.000
Mechanism of Dialogue (working)
200.000
30,000
80.0002
60.000
60.000
TOTAL COST:
500.000
1300.000
116,000
600.000
300.000
400.000
2 GEF financing will go towards brining in the necessary stakeholders and data so as to garner specific attention towards determining how best the
consultation mechanism will handle the results and recommendations from the model and how this will tangibly influence national and regional decision
making and action.
41
PARTNERS
FINANCING STATE IN
US$
DDC
400.000
SWITZERLAND
Granted
FFEM-MINISTRY OF
SPATIAL PLANNING AND
300.000
ENVIRONMENT
waiting for Agreement
GEF / PNUE
600.000
Request in progress
Total US$
1.300.0003
3 Figure here does not include Government in kind contribution of US $116,000
42
OBSERVATOIRE DU SAHARA ET DU SAHEL / SAHARA AND SAHEL OBSERVATORY
SYSTEME AQUIFERE DU SAHARA SEPTENTRIONAL / NORTH WESTERN AQUIFER SYSTEM
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43
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44
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Time plan Oct 2002 Dec 2004
0 5 10 15 20 25 27
Technical aspects
Socio-economic aspects
Environnemental aspects
Consultation Mechanism
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN
35. National Coordinators will be appointed in each country. Their job will include:
- Data collection and analysis;
- Information compilation (and synthesis);
- Active participation in the project and close co-operation with the central unit of the project
and the international experts.
36. Participation will be in the hands of water sector decision-makers in the three countries. They will
form a type of board of directors working via director generals in each country.
37. The outcome of the model will be set out in summary presentation that is accessible not only to
decision-makers and planners, but also to users.
38. An awareness programme will be implemented.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN
39. The internal financial evaluation shall be directly conducted by the executing agency that shall set
up the control and audit procedures defined in the answer to the limited consultation. The actual
monitoring and evaluation of the project shall be conducted by the OSS with the help of the Steering
Committee and shall develop a specific system of financial audit. The external monitoring and
evaluation of the project shall include a periodical evaluation of actions conducted by the Executing
Agency and the internal Co-ordinator, especially by the means of local missions and specific technical
and scientific expert valuation as well as annual meeting of the Steering Committee and preparation of
an annual external audit report.
40. A group of scientists selected by the three countries will be established by OSS in order to:
- Validate the data;
- Formulate the performance indicators;
- Evaluate the mid-term results and ensure that these results feed into the management of the
project.
Further, a report will be made to the project committee, which will be composed of the three
countries, OSS, and the funders, viz. IFAD-DDC Switzerland and UNEP.
34
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
41.
Main contractor:
In accordance with the concerned countries' willingness, OSS is the main contractor. It is for
this reason project leader and is directly in charge of the monitoring and evaluation of the
project on the scientific and technical aspect on the one hand, and for the audit by experts in
financial management and use of the allotted funds on the other hand. To fulfill this task, OSS
will set up a Steering Committee and an adapted system for scientific and financial audit.
42. Steering
Committee:
The Steering Committee shall be composed of:
·
the OSS representative;
·
the countries' representatives;
·
the financial partners' representative(s);
·
a representative of the national executing agency;
that shall make up the group of the decision-makers based on the options of:
·
high level experts form the OSS's Scientific and Technical Council or
acknowledged for their capability, specialists of technical fields;
·
the international coordinator of the project and the national Coordinators;
· Scientific or international organisms' representatives with activities or capabilities
related to this field (UNESCO, ACSAD, BGR...)
Its duties shall include:
·
The monitoring of the project activities;
·
The evaluation of the validity and quality of technical outputs;
·
The elaboration of the project financial evaluation on the basis of a scientific and
financial audit report that shall be provided to the steering committee members by OSS
one week before the meeting;
·
The discussion and approval or adjustment of the activity programmes of the future
work phases, as well as the expenses programmes proposed by the co-ordination team
and the executing agency and described in reports that shall be provided to the steering
committee members two weeks at least before the meeting.
This committee shall meet every year and shall be co-ordinated by the project manager,
assisted by the executing agency.
43.
Executing agency:
The project implementation and operation function are entrusted to an operator acting as the
executing agency and who handles:
·
The project management delegated by OSS for the credits management, the executing
agency suggesting the control modalities and the internal audits that enable the
monitoring of commitments and paying out according to the rules drawn up by OSS
and the financial partners;
·
The project functioning: programming, co-ordination, management, logistic
organization and actions monitoring of the project at the different levels;
·
The necessary means provided by the international Co-ordinator (office space with
the support of the country hosting the co-ordination team-, secretariat etc) for the
scientific and technical actions of the project and the methods definition, the
elaboration of products, workshop organization...
35
Its role, with the internal Co-ordinator, consists of:
·
Organizing and handling the project's functioning and represent it;
·
Co-ordinating the countries participation and actions as well as the exchanges;
·
Handling every contacts for the right functioning of the project;
·
Following up and handling the work methods application;
·
Playing a major role in the conception of the products planned by the different phases
and according to the terms of the project;
·
Purchasing the equipment and facilities necessary for the project;
·
Attending meetings with the financial partners and representing the project;
·
Constantly evaluating the project and taking the appropriate initiatives for the project;
·
Favoring audits decided by OSS.
The executing agency shall resort in priority to capacity building from the concerned countries.
The method for the choice of the operator shall consist in a limited consultation of organisms
able to develop the project under satisfying conditions and as described in the present
document. The choice criteria of the executing agency shall include:
· A three-year involvement corresponding to the lead time of the project;
· The harmonization between the missions of the execution agency and that of the
project;
· Its capabilities to capitalize the functioning method and the OSS's experiences in the
best deadline;
· Its capabilities to lead and co-ordinate the national levels;
· To benefit from facilities or a legal statute allowing it to manage the currency funds, to
take advantage of specific conditions in the countries concerned (exemption from tax,
free tax purchase and other particular facilities), and handle the functioning of the
project during 3 years (36 months);
· Its capabilities for administrative and financial management and procedures
implementation for control and audit;
· Its capabilities for gathering scientists and technicians that could be involved in the
project's objectives;
· Its capabilities for creating or initiating the creation of products, for editing and
disseminating the project's results;
· Its contribution with respect to the means of the project's functioning: complementary
staff members, equipment, offices located preferably in one of the three countries
concerned by the project and will benefit from the support of the country hosting the
co-ordination team.
Every element aforementioned shall be indicated in the Terms of Reference of the limited
consultation undertaken by the OSS in keeping with its partners. The choice of the operator is
decided by the OSS in consultation with the Steering Committee.
44.
Co-ordination team:
The Co-ordination team will be composed of:
·
One (1) permanent project co-ordinator (project manager who shall be responsible,
under the executing agency control, for the project functioning, the delegated project
management, the maitrise dóeuvre of relationship and transfers with the countries and
external relationship;
·
A secretariat made up of one or two assistants (technicians or secretaries) responsible
for the logistic organization and the operation management, the monitoring of the work
36
programmes, the secretariat.
The co-ordination team shall have to co-ordinate the project's activities and the experts'
missions within the executing agency, to organize tripartite meetings and training workshops,
and to provide coherence of the project's results in accordance with the steering committee's
recommendations.
The Co-ordinator shall have the profile of an experienced hydrogeologist. He shall come from
one of the countries concerned by the project with a proven experience (15 to 20 years) and a
thorough knowledge of the NSAS and the previous projects. He shall be necessary bilingual
(French-Arabic or French-English or Arabic-English) with organizational and management
skills for important projects. He shall be selected on accurate terms of reference by the group of
decision-makers of the Steering Committee.
45. National teams:
The national level is under the responsibility of the national co-ordinator appointed in
each country with scientific and technical skills adapted to the project and belonging to the
national organization involved in the project. This Co-ordinator shall fulfill his mission in the
framework of the present project with the help of a national team directly concerned by the
national activities accomplishment. The national co-ordinator's mission shall officially be one
of his professional tasks; he shall have enough time (half time at least) for achieving his
mission, on the decision of the authority tutelage. The national organization to which the
national co-ordinator belongs, shall provide full responsibility for the contract agreement and
the management funds allotted in the project framework. It shall be in charge of facilitating
audits, and scientific and technical evaluation initiated by the OSS.
With the help of the executing agency and the international Co-ordinator, the national
coordinator should:
·
Plan, co-ordinate and follow up the national actions;
·
Contribute to the co-ordination and optimization of the project knowledge at the
national level;
·
Centralize, process data and participate in the elaboration of products at the national
level;
·
Foster executives mobilization and training in fields related to the project;
·
Foster the information circulation of the project and the results through the country;
·
Develop partnership between the different national organisms or administrations
connected to the project;
·
Be linked to the general co-ordination level and be able to respond to the general
solicitations specific to the project.
The national Co-ordinator shall conduct a one-week minimum mission every two months to the
headquarters of the international Co-ordinator.
37
Annex I
DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN SAHARAN AREAS IN LIBYA
·
Present development
The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) inn Libya covers most of the
north-western quarter of the country, including the Hamada el Hamra in its centre, the
southern flank of Jabal Nefusa, the Sawf el Jin basin and Tawurgha Spring area in the
North, the Hon graben in the East and Ghadames,-Derj area in the West. Agricultural
development started in the oasis of Ghadames, based on the water supplied by the springs
and in the valleys of Sawf el Jin basin where occasional floods allowed flood spreading
the recession agriculture. The drilling of deep wells which started in the years 70s made it
possible to develop permanent irrigation in the dry valleys running eastward from Hamada
el Hamra (wadi Zamzam, Wadi Bay el Kebir, Wadi Nina..), in the valleys of the Sawf el
Jin, particularly in Mizdah and Bni Walid areas, and in Ghadames-Derj-Sinwan area. The
current rate of extraction from the NWSAS in the order of 250 hm3/yr including the two
main aquifer systems (Continental Intercalaire and Complex Terminal).
In the NWSAS territory in Libya, more than 90% of the water abstracted from the ground
is used for agriculture, usually in state implemented projects, operated by farmers to
whom pieces of land, from 1 to 2 ha, have been allocated. The only exception concern the
oasis of Ghadames where the traditional land and water allocation system has been
preserved. The total present irrigated area depending on the NWSAS in the order of 10 to
15,000 ha.
·
Future development prospects
Growing population pressure and resulting food demand in Libya, mostly along the coast
where agricultural production is facing serious difficulties due to seawater intrusion an
dropping water level, are leading to an increasing attention on the groundwater potential
represented by NWSAS. Moreover the urban and industrial development of the western
part of the Jefara Plain requires and additional water supply which is planned to be
provided by the NWSAS from Ghadames area. Increased irrigated areas and water
transport to the coast are likely to double the present extraction from the NWSAS in
Libya.
Another important factor will seriously affect the NWSAS in the future: a significant part
of the water flowing in the aquifer is recharged from the Paleozoic Sandstone aquifer in
the South (Jabal Fezzan-Jabal Hasouna) where the well fields supplying water to the
western conveyance system of the Great Manmade River Project are located. The Planned
extraction of 2.5 hm3/day (approx. 900hm3/yr) from the Paleozoic aquifer will
dramatically reduce the recharge of NWSAS and may completely change its behaviour.
38
Annex II
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES IN THE SOUTH OF TUNISIA
· Human Geography
The South Tunisia, whose surface is 85,000 Km2 (53% of the surface of Tunisia), is
subdivided into six administrative departments called "the gouvernorat". This area is
inhabited by about 14% of the country's population distributed in the different
"gouvernorat" is the following:
GOUVERNORAT POPULATION
HOUSEHOLDS
Gafsa 304,665
3.5%
54,418
3.2%
Tozeur 89,008
1.0%
16,589
1.0%
Kébili 131,661
1.5%
21,319
1.2%
Gabès 310,643
3.6%
56,449
3.3%
Medénine 382,699
4.4%
70,456
4.2%
Tataouine 133,676
1.5%
22,520
1.3%
Total 1,218,756
13.9%
241,751
14.2%
Out of the total population, about 46% is active (over 15 years old). The last census
shows a
demographic decrease that lowered under 2% from 1990 to settle today around 1.7%.
The future perspectives show that this downward trend of the demographic decrease will
continue to reach 1.3%, 1.1% and 0.9% respectively in 2005, 2015, and 2030 due
especially to fecundity and natality decrease.
·
Current use of water resources
In the South of Tunisia the current use of water resources is mainly based on the
groundwaters and more especially on the shallow aquifers which meet the needs of the
different economic sectors.
Current use of water resources (in mm3/year)
of groundwaters in South of Tunisia (1996)
GOUVERNORAT IRRIGATION
DRINKING
INDUSTRY
WATER SUPPLY
Gafsa
34,76
58.1% 10,00
16.7% 15,04
25.2%
Tozeur 129,51
91.8%
3,71
2.6%
7,90
5.6%
Kébili 353,04
98.5%
5,32
1.5%
-
-
Gabès
90,37
76.0% 17,53
14.7% 11,04 9.3%
Medénine 7,76
27.2%
16,72
58.6%
4,04
14.2%
Tataouine
2,23
20.2% 1,17
10.7% 7,61
69.1%
Total 617,67
86%
54,45
7.6%
45,63
6.4
The agricultural use appears thus to be predominant in the mobilization of water resources
in the South of Tunisia (86%), and drinking water supply as well as industry needs share
the rest in close proportions 7.6% et, 6.4%). The contribution of the two groundwater
39
extractions is the following:
Groundwater Gouvernorat Total
Continental Interclaire
-
6,64
0,9
22,6
8,42
68,56
Complex Terminal
7,98
131,7
327,4
-
-
467,18
9
1
Total (mm3) 7,98
138,4
358,3
22,6 8,42
535,74
3
1
As a result the main part of the water resources exploited in the shallow aquifers of the
South of Tunisia (75%) are extracted from both aquifers of the Northern Sahara system.
These water extractions are mainly carried out on the reserves of the groundwater of the
Complex Terminal (97%) and meet firstly the agricultural needs of the chotts area (Tozeur
et Kébili).
· Water demand
While the demography is expanding in South of Tunisia, the water needs of the three main
sectors (irrigation, drinking water supply and industry) are expected to increase in order to
provide the population with employment and life conditions enabling the population to
settle in its homeland. In the future, the water needs are especially expected to increase in
the sectors of irrigation and drinking water supply.
-
Irrigation
The surface currently cultivated in the South of Tunisia is about 25,00 ha. in the oasis of
Tozeur and Kébili irrigated by the groundwaters of the North-Western Sahara Aquifer
system.
The irrigated surfaces of this area are expected to increase by 5,000 ha. every ten
years between 2000 and 2020, which would require the mobilization of further resources
at the end of each decade between the years 2000 and 2020, ranging from 120 to 150
mm3/year.
-
Drinking water supply
The water quantity currently mobilized from the Saharan groundwaters for the drinking
water supplies in south of Tunisia are 55 mm3/year. Considering that the population is
increasing, the tourist activity is developing and the urbanization is expanding, the
drinking water needs are expected to reach the equivalent of 70mm3/year in 2010 and
100mm3/year in 2020 in this area.
40
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Document Outline