Graduate school approval record northeastern university

Abstract

Water Resources Management in a Saharan Oasis

ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION

As the global community faces the critical problem of water scarcity, effective water resources management strategy has become increasingly important to address the needs of individuals and communities today and into the future. Water resources management policy introduced since the end of WWII has often supported costly, large-scale projects developed relative to new capabilities and neoclassical economic modeling. Many of these have proven unsuccessful in supporting economic, political, and social goals. The tendency to look to modern solutions incorporating new theories and models and cutting-edge technologies, however, continues to dominate water resources management strategy.

The world water community has increasingly embraced a model of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). There is an increased willingness to incorporate success factors from many traditional systems that incorporated these principles and were effectively sustained for centuries. It offers a comprehensive set of strategies to effectively solve the problem of water. We have since included the importance of good governance in developing successful water resources management systems. By looking back to look forward, we can gain a better understanding of the important foundations from which to develop effective institutions to support a successful governance system and consequently a sustainable water resources management system.

Figuig, an oasis in Morocco, sustained an effective water resources system for centuries. It was supported by a governance system with strong social, political, and legal institutions. While its success alone offers valuable lessons and insight into effective IWRM, a longitudinal study of the Oasis is even more revealing. Changes in national policy over the past fifty years have had a devastating impact on the community’s ability to survive today. A study of the success and failure of Figuig’s water resources management system provides valuable insight into the successful development of the next generation’s environmental policy apparatus.