Lesson 4 - Page 2 - Collaborative Learning Activity 4.1: How can countries with growing populations achieve sustainable use of water?
Water scarcity in the Tigris-Euphrates region threatens
to cause conflict between Syria, Turkey, and Iraq - three countries with
growing populations. In this activity, your team will calculate the
water budgets for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for both today and
about 40 years in the future. Using this information, your team will
negotiate an agreement to promote cooperation in the distribution of
scarce water resources in the region. Your negotiations will focus on
how to best distribute the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
As you will learn, these rivers will not have enough water if each
country tries to withdraw enough to meet its entire demand by 2040.
Summary
This lesson illustrates some of the difficulties that
can arise in negotiations between countries over natural resources.
With regard to the water crisis in the Tigris-Euphreates, there could be
any number of outcomes depending on the success of diplomacy. In the
best-case scenario, the UN would gain the full cooperation of the three
countries in planning for the future use of the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers, reducing the future demand for water in the region, and ensuring
the continued health of the rivers' aquatic environments. Because of
the success of the conference, it is unlikely that there will be
conflict over water in the region.
Alternatively, if diplomacy and negotiations fail, the
situation could deteriorate quickly. If the three countries fail to
cooperate, future demands for water will likely continue to rise without
check, while the health of the aquatic environments declines to the
point where many species disappear. None of the existing issues over
water in the region have been resolved, which means that a conflict over
water in the future is a real possibility.
Review of Materials Due
This is the final lesson of the module. We hope this
module has increased your understanding of population and of the value
of geography for studying and solving problems related to population
change in the world. We also hope you valued the opportunity to learn
geography in collaboration with international students using the
materials and tools provided in this module. Perhaps you now have a
broader perspective of population geography and how people in different
parts of the world are dealing with population issues.
For a concluding discussion, please return to the Course
Documents area in Blackboard and read the statement "Geography and
Global Citizenship: Concluding Thoughts, Suggestions for Further
Reading, and Getting Involved". But first, each local group should:
- Submit a completed set of water budget worksheets to your instructor (from Collaborative Learning Activity 4.1).
- Post answers to all "blue box" discussion questions in the Group Discussion Board.
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for the procedures to follow.