Sustainable Water Management and Assessment of a new Strategy for Exploiting Resources in Syrian dry Areas Myriam Saadé Université de Lausanne Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée, Lyon 2

Context

Dry area Agriculture and sheep breeding Complex history of land occupation and resource use Localised problems of groundwater depletion in the 60’s and new policies for water management in the 90’s New activity: olive farming

Aim of the study How to manage groundwater resources in order to promote regional sustainable development?  Optimisation of water use – economic, socialy, environmentaly – for olive farming

Optimisation of groundwater use Based on an objective of technical and socio- economic development Considering the all life cycle of the activity Comparison of social, economic and environmental impacts Optimisation « on farm » Regional optimisation

Needs Specific environmental damages linked to social- economic development aspects Definition of appropriate indicators for socio- economic assessment Definition of suitable environmental impacts: groundwater depletion and degradation Local impacts on groundwater Spatial and temporal variability of the water resources

Expected results Definition of guidelines for groundwater management Definition of regulation patterns for groundwater management Role of the State in local water resources management