APPROACHES TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATER RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA
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Objective: The sustainable management of transboundary water resources is a critical issue for the countries of Central Asia due to the region’s arid climate and growing demand for water. Major rivers such as the Amu Darya and Syr Darya flow across several national boundaries, making equitable distribution among Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan essential for regional stability and development. This article examines different approaches to the allocation of transboundary river waters, including distribution based on geographical relevance, historical circumstances, equality between states, proportionality to the land area of the states, proportionality to irrigated agricultural land, and proportionality to population size. Method: Using statistical data from the Aral Sea basin, the study compares these allocation models and calculates the potential water shares for each country under different methods. Results: The analysis shows that each method produces significantly different outcomes in terms of national water availability. In particular, Uzbekistan’s share ranges from 16.48 km³ under equal distribution to 48.82 km³ when allocation is based on population. The findings suggest that while each method has certain advantages, the population-based approach better reflects social needs and supports equitable access to water resources. Novelty: The study highlights the importance of considering demographic factors, regional cooperation mechanisms, and international legal principles when designing sustainable water distribution frameworks in Central Asia. These insights contribute to the development of balanced and cooperative water management strategies for transboundary river basins in the region.
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