WATER-BASED DEVELOPMENT IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS

Concepts of water security in semi-arid regions, largely dependent on groundwater resources, are examined in relation to scientific knowledge and social dimension. Water scarcity rather than climate change is likely to present the greatest short term challenge to insecurity in many low rainfall areas, along with other factors such as land use change, energy, demographics as well as water access, food security and capacity. Large areas of the world with large rural populations only have access to small to modest water resources and have developed ways for their effective use; communities in such regions may show the greatest resilience to environmental change. Traditional rain water harvesting methods especially have allowed adaptation to extremes of environmental change in the past and also offer potential at the present and for the future. This paper considers some of the underlying geological factors controlling storage and renewability of water resources, water quality and ecosystems; it then considers human responses to the various stresses on the hydrological systems, using examples from Africa and India. Science based approaches assist models for development, although some technological solutions in rural areas are shown to have limitations. It is concluded that an increased focus on water-based solutions is needed to boost rural development to poverty alleviation and as a counter to urban drift and expansion. Holistic development based on available water resources and water storage offer an attractive model for livelihood improvements for many of those living in large areas of the developing world.