UNECE – Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters

The Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters, which was published by UNECE in August, 2011, may be downloaded from the UNECE website at http://www.unece.org/env/water/publications/pub/second_assessment.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of the status of transboundary waters in the European and Asian parts of the UNECE region, covering more than 140 transboundary rivers, 25 transboundary lakes, and about 200 transboundary groundwaters and 25 Ramsar Sites or other wetlands of transboundary importance. Amongst other things, it presents a broad analysis of transboundary water resources, pressure factors, quantity and quality status, and transboundary impacts, as well as responses and future trends, including the measures planned or in place to adapt to climate change. It also documents national and transboundary legal and institutional frameworks for water management and cooperation.

The Second Assessment was developed under the auspices of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), in close cooperation with water and/or environment administrations of some 50 countries and with involvement of more than 250 experts.