Our Waters

Transboundary waters connect population of different countries. They are a major source of income for millions of people and create hydrological, social and econsomic interdependences. Transboundary river basins cover more than 40 per cent of the European surface of the UNECE region and of the 56 UNECE countries all but Cyprus, Iceland and Malta share water resources with one or more other countries. This first in-depth report on transboundary waters in the UNECE region covers 140 transboundary rivers and 30 transboundary lakes in European and Asian areas of the region as well as 70 transboundary aquifers in south east Europe, Caucasus and central Asia. The assessment was carried out under the auspices of the UNECE Water Convention (Convention on the Protection and Use of transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes) and was a joint undertaking of Governments and international and national organisations.