Water and its importance for economic development Flashcards
what is water vital for?
development
what is an example of how is water directly important for development?
irrigation of crops
what is an example of how is water indirectly important for development?
economic activity- recreational tourism
how is water vital for the economy?
allows a country to development primary industry
where is the irrigation of cops especially important?
dry states
what fraction of the earth is irrigated in some form?
1/5
what has industrial scale irrigation led to?
increased food security
are considerable negative impacts
what is the green revolution? (Agriculture)
breeding high yield varieties (of wheat, rice, maize)
coupled with agricultural improvements
what agricultural improvements came with the green revolution?
mechanisation
fertilisers
pesticides
herbicides
irrigation (produce double crop/ increased yeild)
what is the Aral sea a good example of?
impacts of over-abstraction damage irrigation can do to the environment
Where is the Aral sea?
lies in a depression in Central Asia east of the Caspian sea
what is the Aral Sea?
Landlocked saltwater lake
How large was the Aral sea?
was once the 4th largest inland body of water in the world
68,000 square kilometres
what global power was present in the Aral area?
Russia
what did Russia do in the 1950’s to boost economic output?
took on major water projects
diverted much of the water for irrigation of agriculture
what happened to the agricultural industry around the Aral sea?
converted from pasture to cotton fields
what was happening to the Aral sea in the 1980’S?
the replenishment of the sea was so low it began evaporating away and dropped by more than 50 feet
What 2 rivers feeds the Aral sea?
Amu darya
Syr Darya
what had happened to the Aral sea by 2007?
declined to just 10% of its original size and had split into separate lakes
level fallen to 40m
what are the stakeholders for the Aral sea crisis?
former soviet government
fishing community
local residents
Uzbekistan government
scientists
Kazakhstan farmers
international economists
water engineers
how are the former soviet government a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
communist leaders began an ambitious irrigation scheme to develop fruit and cotton farming in what had been an unproductive region and wanted to create jobs for millions of farm workers
how is the Aral sea fishing community a stakeholder?
once prosperous industry that employed 60,000 people
industry now collapsed
high unemployment and economic hardship
ships lie unused on exposed sea bed
how are the local residents a stakeholder of the Aral sea?
health problems form windblown salt and dust form dried out sea bed
drinking water and remaining sea are heavily polluted (weapons testing, industrial projects fertiliser and pesticide run-off)
infant mortality among highest in the world (10% die in first year kidney or heart failure)
how are the Uzbekistan government a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
irrigation schemes based on Aral sea allowed this poor country with limited resources yo become one of the worlds largest cotton exporters
hopes to discover oil below dry seabed
How are scientists a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
only 160 of 310 bird species
32 put of 70 mammal species
very few of 24 fish species
REMAIN
climate has changed making area more arid and prone to greater temperature extremes
How are Kazakhstani farmers a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
irrigation has brought the water table to the surface making drinking water and food crops salty and polluted
How are international economists a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
people in the area may no longer be able to feed themselves because land is too infertile
up to 10million people may be forced to migrate and become environmental refugees
How are water engineers a stakeholder in the Aral sea?
inspection revealed many irrigation canals were poorly built allowing water to leak or evaporate
Main Karakum canal largest in central Asia allows 30-75% of water to go to waste
What has Kazakhstan secured since 2007?
massive world bank loans to save northern part of Aral sea #very ambitious project to reverse worlds worst environmental disaster
how much is aquaculture growing per year?
10%
How much does aquaculture account for all fish catches?
1/3
Is aquaculture sustauinable?
at face value yes
but environmental issues (pollution, diseases, food safety and public health)
What is aquaculture?
farming of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants and other organisms in controlled conditions at coastal edge
What is removed to make way for fisheries?
mangroves often removed
Why are mangroves important?
provide excellent storm protection
in hurricane they act as breakwater for storm surge and reduce surge impact on land
good for coral reefs reduce sedimentation on coral by slowing water due to complex roots
what is a good example of the importance of mangroves?
during 2004 tsunami areas with mangrove along coastline saw less damage
when does industry use water?
for both cooling and as part of manufacturing process
what is the problem with water and industry?
often cause pollution
China water pollution globalisation
Coca cola over abstraction
How much water used in industry is used for HEP or cooling power stations?
50%
what is the problem with cooling water from power stations?
is returned to river unchanged but slightly warmer which could impact ecosystems
what does industry include a lot of? (water usage)
virtual water- hidden flow of water in food and other commodities
What are the conditions like in the Middle East?(climate)
Naturally arid region with irregular rainfall
Much of region considered desert
What has happened to the population of the Middle East since it was settled over 2000yrs ago?
Considerably grown due to religious significance to Jews, Muslims and Christians
What is the one of the main rivers that flows through the Middle East?
The river Jordan which starts in Isreal, Syria and Jordan
What is the security/ access problem with the river Jordan?
It flows though many countries
Why is water access and flow made more difficult in the Middle East?
Due to political concerns between neighbouring countries
What is the first ‘hit’ that affects the river Jordan?
Near the source in Israel the food production area of the Middle East
Why is Israel seen as the bread basket and fruit bowl of the Middle East?
As area was once desert but irrigation has turned it into farmland
What sort of fruits do they grow in Israel?
Mangos
Avocados
Bananas
What is the problem with the crops grown in Israel?
More suited to tropical climates with greater rainfalls meaning they are thirsty plants
Why do they grow these water intensive plants in Israel?
The fruits yield 5x more money than olives per kg
What are the two sides of the crops grown in Israel?
Farmers claim it is sustainable as it increases their wealth
Environmentalists see it as an unnecessary drain on the river
What is the second hit on the river Jordan?
Creation of the Galilee reservoir in Israel which stores water for most of the population
Hat is another use besides water storage of the Galilee reservoir?
Used for recreation bank contains resorts and golf courses
What is the 3rd hit to the river Jordan? (Sewage)
As the river enters Jordan raw sewage and brine is released into the river as it heads through towns and farmland
What happens to the use of the river Jordan after the third hit?
River too polluted to be used for irrigation
What do farmer have to do when they can’t use the river Jordan for irrigation?
Have to divert water form elsewhere for their crops
What is the issue with farmers diverting water form other areas for irrigation? (Middle East)
Bridges built by romans that were very high to get over river now useless due to significantly reduced flow
reduces water availability for other areas as well
What is the final stage of the river Jordan?
Enters the Dead Sea as polluted trickle which isnt enough to maintain water levels of the Dead Sea causing it too drop 1m a year
What has the lowering of the Dead Sea caused?
Caused pressure to drop in nearby rocks and caused geological instability
Sink holes formed meaning local campsites and tourist activities had to close affecting economy in the area
How is the Yarmouk affecting the river Jordan?
The river Yarmouk form Syria usually replenishes the river Jordan but is being over abstracted for irrigation
What was the effect on Israel due to over abstraction of river Yarmouk?
HEP plant built in the 1970’s had to be shut down as there wasn’t enough flow to produce energy
What is the overall problem affecting the Middle East and their water security?
Inability for neighbouring countries to work together has affected. Them environmentally (no HEP, irrigation or fishing) and economically (no HEP for energy or campsites bordering river)
Farmers have to import water
Social- religiously historic river no longer safe for pilgrims to bathe in
