Risk Assessment as a Tool for Water Resources Decision-Making in Central Asia

Water resources, both in terms of water quality and water quantity, are of critical importance in planning for sustainable development in Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in other parts of the world. This NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW), entitled "Risk Assessment as a Tool for Water Resources Decision-Making in Central Asia", was conducted on September 23-25, 2002 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The ARW addressed methods and approaches by which risk assessment methodology that has been developed in the United States, Europe and elsewhere can be applied to environmental and water resource problems in Central Asia. The stated goals of the ARWwere: . to assess the existing state of knowledge in the context of potential applications of risk assessment tools to water resources and other environmental issues in Central Asia; . to identify research gaps and directions for future research in the area of water resources which may be addressed through the application of risk assessment tools; . to promote closer working relationships between the scientists and technical experts from Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as the scientists and technical experts from the United States and Europe. Based on historical experiences of Central Asian scientists and their colleagues in other parts of the world, there is a demonstrated need in the region to provide education, training and technical assistance on environmental decision-making tools, including risk assessment.

Contenu

Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Risk Communication: Principles and Applications.- Assessment, Management and Cleanup of Radiological Contamination in Water: Methods and Challenges.- Engineering Considerations Regarding Withdrawal, Testing, Treatment, Distribution and Reuse of Water.- Implementation of Health-Based Guidelines for Water Supplies in Europe and Central Asia: Management Considerations for Municipal Authorities Regarding Water Quantity and Quality.- Approaches to the Evaluation and Protection of Groundwater and Surface Water in Situations with Competing Regional Uses.- Successfully Managing Multiple Uses of Water: Practical Aspects and Case Studies.- Radioactive Contamination of Aquatic Ecosystems: Source, Transfer and Countermeasures.- Ecological Risk Assessment Through Landscape Science Approaches.- Impact of Oil Field Activities on Water Resources.- Water Resources and Sustainable Development in Central Asia: Roles of Risk Assessment and Risk Management.- Risk Assessment in Kazakhstan.- An Introduction into the Environmental Performance of Sustainable Development in Mongolia.- Selected Industrial and Energy Related Facilities in Central Asia: Examples of Water Resource Impacts.- Analysis of Possible Risks Associated with the Application of Water Resources in Kyrgyzstan.- Status and Problems of Water Resources in Azerbaijan.- Risk and Environmental Impact Assessment; Decision Making for Management of Water Resources in Kazakhstan.- Problems and Perspectives of Saving Sarez Lake.- Assessment of the Influence of River Runoff Regulation on Ecological Situation.- The Importance of Scientific Cooperation among Asian Countries in the Study and Risk Assessment of Water Resources in Central Asia.- Water Resources and Risk Assessment Considerations in Armenia.- Water Resources and Risk Assessment Considerations in Uzbekistan.- IV. Conclusion and Workshop Recommendations.- Abbreviations and Acronyms.