Hi! Thanks for a very interesting question!
I would like to focus on a world region which clearly exhibits the
interrelated concept of water, agriculture, climate and wars… the
Middle East.
Let us first understand the environmental setting which is the cause
of the water conflict in the Middle East.
Water Supply Profile:
“The available supply of water varies a really and temporally; and is
influenced by climate, available water-resources technology, and
management practices.”
“Renewal of water resources depends on the overall amount of
precipitation and is affected by temperature, evaporation and
transpiration to plants (evapotranspiration), as well as rates of
runoff and groundwater infiltration (recharge). On the western side of
the Jordan Rift Valley, an average of approximately 30 percent (%) of
the total precipitation that falls on the region is usable: 70% is
lost through evapotranspiration, 5% is runoff, leaving 25% to recharge
groundwater. On the eastern side of the Jordan Rift Valley, 90% of the
total precipitation is lost to evapotranspiration, 5% is runoff,
leaving only 5% for groundwater recharge. Of the 5% to 25% that
infiltrates to groundwater, a portion eventually is discharged into
streams or springs which then are classified as surface-water
resources. The remaining infiltrated water is stored in the
ground-water reservoirs (aquifers) and potentially is available for
withdrawal from wells.”
Water Sources:
a.) Ground Water
b.) Springs
c.) Surface Water Watersheds
d.) Dead Sea
Climate Profile:
“A Mediterranean-type climate, characterized by a hot, dry summer and
cool winter with short transitional seasons predominates in the
northern, central, and western parts of the region. The eastern and
southern parts of the region have a semi-arid to arid climate. Winter
begins around mid-November and summer begins around the end of May.
Rainfall occurs mainly during the winter months.”
“Overview of Middle East Water Resources”
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Peace/water2.html#Pop
“Climate Change and Human Response in the Semi Arid Near East”
http://216.239.33.104/search?q=cache:GMUXogVVuoUC:lcluc.gsfc.nasa.gov/products/pdfs/Present-Smith.pdf+agriculture+irrigation+peace+%22Middle+East%22+climate&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
The nature of the water conflict in the Middle East could be traced
when different warring nations used it as both as a social and
economic leverage.
“In the Middle East, however, water problems are entangled with
unresolved border issues, massive population increases, diminishing
agricultural resources, increasing industrialization, and changing
living standards, in addition to geographic reality and issues of
religion, culture, politics, and tradition. All of these elements
complicate a difficult multinational resource management problem in a
region where inter- and intrastate hostilities prevail.”
“Destruction or spoliation of natural resources has been a military
tool throughout history. Armies have poisoned wells, salted the earth,
and destroyed crops, from the Punic Wars to the Gulf War. Not
surprisingly, then, the militarization of water conflicts in the
Middle East has occurred in the past and may well continue into the
future.”
The natural elements however contributing to the conflict could not be
denied.
“Climate warming is also likely to have a disastrous long term
ecological effect. In the Middle East, a projected one-meter sea level
rise could affect over 40 percent of Egypt's productive capacity and
result in salt water intrusion into major water supplies.”
“Agriculture consumes between 75 and 90 percent of water in the Middle
East. At the same time, agricultural practices and cultural values
frequently have combined to produce water shortages. In addition, most
Middle Eastern states emphasize the development of industry and
manufacturing, and have allowed agricultural wages to lag so far
behind other sectors that "only the very young, the very old, and the
unemployable are involved in food production."[5] Land reform has
generally been ineffective, while outdated and ineffective irrigation
systems, such as open canals and surface irrigation, are prevalent.”
“WATER AND CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST: THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES”
http://web.macam.ac.il/~arnon/Int-ME/water/WATER%20AND%20CONFLICT%20IN%20THE%20MIDDLE%20EAST%20.htm
“WATER, WAR & PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST”
http://216.239.33.104/search?q=cache:4i1v31047fkC:web.macam.ac.il/~arnon/Int-ME/water/Water,%2520war%2520%26%2520peace%2520in%2520the%2520Middle%2520East%25203.htm+agriculture+irrigation+peace+%22Middle+East%22+climate&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Our next article provides a description and a brief background of the
different conflicts in the Middle East as it relates to water and
agriculture. It provides an explanation of the water conflicts
between, Turkey and Syria, Israel and Palestine, and finally among
nations of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.
“The crisis over water in the Middle East is escalating. Despite
existing agreements, dwindling resources – increasingly affected by
pollution, agricultural/industrial initiatives and population growth –
have elevated the strategic importance of water in the region. For
Middle Eastern nations, many already treading the razor’s edge of
conflict, water is becoming a catalyst for confrontation – an issue of
national security and foreign policy as well as domestic stability.”
“While progressive agricultural methods – such as drip irrigation –
exist, they have, as a result of prohibitive costs, been implemented
by only a handful of states. Nor have current desalination efforts in
the region proven capable of meeting growing demands. The high energy
and large costs associated with seawater desalination have limited
efforts to cash and energy rich oil-exporting countries such as Oman
and Saudi Arabia.”
“Influenced by declining availability and reductions in overall
quality, crisis zones have begun to emerge along the major rivers of
the region. Evolving conflicts – between Turkey and Syria over the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; in the Jordan River Basin between Israel,
the Palestinian Authority and Jordan; among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia
over the Nile River; and within Saudi Arabia – are manifestations of
water’s growing role as a strategic and political force.”
“The New Water Politics of the Middle East”
http://www.israeleconomy.org/strategic/water.htm
Let us take a look now at a specific conflict in the Middle East which
is brought about by issues of irrigation. The example we will take
will consider the issues surrounding Israel and Palestine.
“From the early years of Zionism as a political movement, water has
been centrally important in the quest for land and in delimiting the
desired territories without regard to “biblical” promises and claims.
Soon after the first world war in 1918, and following Balfour’s
promise of the national home for the Jews in Palestine, Zionist
leaders demanded that the allied countries alter some of the borders
mentioned in the Sykes-Picot accord to include the headwaters and
tributaries of the Jordan River, the Lower Litani, and the Lower
Yarmouk, embracing all the Palestine lands, southern parts of Lebanon
and Syria, and the Jordan valley.”
“In bilateral talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the
issue of water has been the thorniest factor. Since the water
resources of the Occupied Territories have been over-exploited for a
long time - as much as 200 million cubic metres/year - many writers
believe “it is water that determines the future of the Occupied
Territories and thereupon will determine peace and security”. In a
final settlement, Israel would have to give up the West Bank which
provides about 25 per cent of its fresh water supplies and gives it
control of the southern portion of the Jordan River.”
“Water diplomacy in the Middle East”
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~jpap/dolat.htm
“Efficiency of Irrigated Agriculture in the West Bank”
http://www.arij.org/pub/Efficiency%20of%20Irrigated%20Agriculture%20in%20the%20West%20Bank.pdf
Our last link tackles the possible solutions to the conflict.
a. Technology:
“Alternatively, new sources of water might be developed through
technology such as desalination and wastewater reclamation. The second
option--to decrease demand--uses market and public policy forces to
more efficiently allocate water. But water can also be saved through
better technology, such as drip irrigation and bioengineering.”
b. Water and the Peace Process
“The Working Group on Water Resources has met five times to date. The
success of each round has varied but, in general, has been increasing.
Agreement in this multilateral working group has been reached on a
wide range of projects and principles.”
c. Equity:
“Measures that have historically been used to promote water-sharing
equity include rights-based measures, largely addressed by the
international legal community; needs-based measures, particularly
using population, arable land, or historic use parameters; and
measures based on economic definitions of efficiency.”
d. Cooperative Watershed Development
“Middle East Water Conflicts and Directions for Conflict Resolution”
http://www.ifpri.org/2020/briefs/number31.htm
Search terms used:
Agriculture irrigation peace "Middle East" climate
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
Thanks for visiting us.
Regards,
Easterangel-ga
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