# data[].attributes.body
The Kura‐Araks (sometimes spelled “Aras” or “Arax”) basin is the major river system in the South Caucasus.  The Araks River joins the Kura River in Azerbaijan about 150 km before its mouth at the Caspian Sea. Both rivers start in Turkey and flow into the Caspian Sea after joining in Azerbaijan.  it has an average discharge of 0.21 km3 /year (Berrin and Campana, 2008). The total annual flow from Armenia to Azerbaijan through the Araks River and its tributaries is estimated at about 5.62 km3 ((Arpa, Vorotan, and Vokhchi).

Image description: Kura - Araks river
Photo Credit : Olga FineArts, 2013

# data[].attributes.body
The Kura - Araks basin is 188,200 km² . Almost two‐thirds, or about 122,200 km² are in the three South Caucasus countries (Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia). The remaining basin area is in Turkey and Iran. 31.5 percent of the river is located in Azerbaijan, 18.2 percent in Georgia and 15.7 percent in Armenia. The remaining part is distributed between Iran (19.5 percent of the basin) and Turkey (15.1 percent) (Aquastat 2008).

Image description: The blue line on the map represents Kura - Araks river
Photo credit: Vener and Campana (2010)

# data[].attributes.body
The three countries where the river is mainly located have a total population of about 16 million, with Azerbaijan comprising almost 50 percent of the total. The water in this area is used for municipal, industrial, agricultural, irrigation, fishery, recreation, and transportation purposes. The main water use is agriculture, followed by industry and household uses (Campana et al).

Image description: Livestock and land in Azerbaijan
Photo credit : "Agriculture in Azerbaijan"

# data[].attributes.body
Georgia has an oversupply of water, Armenia has some water shortages, and Azerbaijan has a lack of water. The main use of the water in Georgia is agriculture, the basin benefits Armenia’s agriculture as well as industrial activities, while it is a primary source of freshwater as well as drinking water in Azerbaijan.

Video description: Enguri Dam in Georgia
Video credit: Namor, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Georgia’s huge Enguri Dam to transform into a world's top tourist zone from 2020

# data[].attributes.body
Azerbaijan withdraws 57.9 percent of its actual renewable water resources, Armenia withdraws 28.2 percent, whereas Georgia withdraws only 5.2 percent. However, as a water resources‐rich country Georgia's withdrawal per capita is 635 m³ while Azerbaijan's is 2,151 m³, and Armenia's is 784 m3

Image description: Water withdrawal system
Photo credit: Arka, 2016

# data[].attributes.body
The main rivers have only two reservoirs. The total capacity of the reservoirs and ponds is almost 13,100 MCM
(Technical Assistance to Commonwealth of Independent States 2003). With respect to storm water and sewage discharges, the Kura‐Araks river receives 100 percent of Armenia's, 60 percent of Georgia's, and 50 percent of Azerbaijan's.

Image description: Avchala dam

Image credit: Alex Malev

# data[].attributes.body
The issue of water resource management and preservation of the Kura-Araks basin concerns all the South Caucasus countries. The rivers forming the basin flow across the territories of the three countries, imposing them to various constraints.

Image description: Where Kura and Araks river mix
Photo credit: Ali, Muradyan, 2013

# data[].attributes.headline
Issues of the Kura-Araks River Basin Pt.2

# data[].attributes.subject
Issues of the Kura-Araks River Basin Pt.2

# data[].attributes.body
Since South Caucasus is constant conflicts, the water resource management is under direct threat. With the long-lasting conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, every trans boundary issue is being politicized. This also regards the water resources management. All the countries equally suffer from water resource management issues.

Video description: Araks river surroundings
Video credit: Armenia, 2012

# data[].attributes.body
During the Soviet era and post-Soviet period, large amounts of pollutants were discharged into surface water bodies by the municipal, industrial and agriculture sectors, polluting both surface water and groundwater (Turner et al). Municipal wastewater is the largest source of pollution which pollutes the river with organic matter, suspended solids, and other pollutants. Industrial wastewater also causes major pollution problem with heavy metals, oil products, phenols, and other pollutants leaking to the river.
Image description: Plastic waste in Armenia
Photo credit: Grigoryan, 2015

# data[].attributes.body
Almost 80 percent of the countries’ wastewater loads are discharged into the surface waters of the Kura‐Araks Basin (United Nations Economic Committee for Europe 2003). The basin is excessively polluted due to a lack of treatment for urban wastewater and agricultural return flows, pesticides such as DDT that are used in Azerbaijan, and the chemical and metallurgical industries in Georgia and Armenia (Technical Assistance to Commonwealth of Independent States 2002).

Image description: Plastic waste
Photo credit: Chania, 2013

# data[].attributes.body
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the newly independent Armenia found itself in a difficult situation lacking essential infrastructure and governmental leadership previously supplied by the Kremlin. Currently, the environmental stress in Armenia is measured to be 12.9 tons per square kilometer, and is ranked 93rd out of 164 countries. Additionally, the total environmental pollution of Armenia is estimated at 5,000 to 6,000 tons (United Nations).  Behind these numbers lie significant hurdles that Armenia must address to correct the nation’s current environmental problems.

Video Description: Gives information on the number of people affected by pollution as well as other information related to pollution problems.
Video credit: OneArmenia, 2014

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
About the Project

Several mines in Armenia deposit heavy-metal pollutants into the environment affecting the land, water, and air in nearby communities. Poor monitoring and enforcement of regulations leaves these communities exposed to toxic pollution.

Let's Protect Armenia from Toxic Pollution raised the funds necessary to provide the American University of Armenia's Center for Responsible Mining with the laboratory equipment needed to survey the impact of mining on 40 communities.

This independent monitoring is important because it will inform the communities of the dangers that exist as a result of the mining and will empower them to take steps toward preserving the health of their communities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Several mines in Armenia deposit heavy-metal pollutants into the environment affecting the land, water, and air in nearby communities. Poor monitoring and enforcement of regulations leaves these communities exposed to toxic pollution. Let's Protect Armenia from Toxic Pollution raised the funds necessary to provide the American University of Armenia's Center for Responsible Mining with the laboratory equipment needed to survey the impact of mining on 40 communities.

# data[].attributes.body
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), major issues that must be remedied include, “inadequate institutions and infrastructure, lack of public-private partnership modalities, lack of knowledge and trust in cooperation between municipalities and the private sector, as well as the lack of awareness on importance of waste management and recycling.”

Image description: New sorting bins for plastic waste

Photo credit: Panora.am, 2019

# data[].attributes.body
In Azerbaijan, pollutants generated from municipal waste and large households are conveyed into collectors and are treated near when they reach the sea, meanwhile the small settlements are in practice deprived of any treatment facilities.

The Azerbaijani Government adopted and implements a state policy for supplying its citizens with fresh water. Under this policy, permanent and portable wastewater treatment plants were constructed in the large urban areas. In the areas where there are no water treatment plants, the villagers clean the waters of the river themselves.

Image description: Kura river in Azerbaijan
Photo credit: Ali, Muradyan, 2013

# data[].attributes.body
It is estimated that by addressing the waste management problem through the implementation of a program to resell recycled plastic waste could alone generate the country an estimated income stream of five to six million US dollars.

Image description: Recycle pickup service for household paper, metal and glass waste. Subscribers are also eligible for discount coupons at various participating businesses across the city.
Photo credit: Elliot, 2019

# data[].attributes.body
On December 2019, experts from Croatia visited Armenia as part of efforts to enhance the administrative capacity of the country’s Ministry of Environment in the field of plastic waste. The experts shared their experience as an EU Member State on the secondary use of plastic waste, recycling of plastic waste and EU legislation regarding the recycling of plastic bottles.

The expert mission is organised by the European Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) in cooperation with Armenia’s Ministry of Environment.

Image description: Developing a plastic bottle deposit system in Armenia

Photo credit: European Union, Khalapyan

# data[].attributes.body
Azerbaijan is on its way to improve air quality with UNECE's support. UNECE organized a round table in Baku on November 27, 2017 to present and discuss the results of the analysis of the national legislation on air quality management and the recommendations on the steps towards ratification of water protocols.

Image description: Capital of Azerbaijan
Photo credit: Mukherjee, 2019

# data[].attributes.body
Emissions tests became mandatory this January, and 25 percent of vehicles tested between January 1 and early April failed. At the end of April, the city administration launched a mobile station to monitor air quality. A smoking ban in restaurants and enclosed spaces went into effect as well.

Image description: Tbilisi, Georgia's capital and largest city
Photo credit:  Mdzinarishvili, 2018

# data[].attributes.body
Climate and human activities cause strong river flow variability. Strong variability in river discharge is not a new phenomenon. Both Kura and Araks river have experienced floods caused by snow and ice melt and intense precipitation in spring and summer and intensified through anthropogenic interferences in the natural river flow, for instance through settling of flood plains or lining of river courses (Zeeb 2010).

Image description: Kura river flood in 2010, Azerbaijan
Photo credit: 2010, http://www.fhn.gov.az/index.php?aze/pages/33

# data[].attributes.body
Future projections indicate more extreme weather events and continuing ice and snow melting. An analysis of seven locations in the Kura-Aras River Basin using the World Bank’s climate change data tool shows that most projections by the models are relatively consistent concerning the following: Air temperatures will most likely increase, precipitation is likely to happen less regularly but more intensely, average annual precipitation is projected to decrease except for the eastern part of the river basin in Azerbaijan.

Image description: Table showing change in sea level in South Caucuses
Photo credit:  UNEP and GRID-Arendal 2007

# data[].attributes.body
Over the last decades, the biodiversity in the basin has been affected by extensive anthropogenic activities. Major impacts on the basin biodiversity include loss of species and habitats. Many flora and fauna species have become endangered or threatened and have been listed in IUCN, former USSR and National Red Books, and recently, the Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus (2006). Some species have also become extinct.

Image description: Average annual concentration of ammonium.
Photo credit:  Bakradze, Kuchava, Shavliashvili, 2017

# data[].attributes.body
The major threats to the biodiversity and habitats are: uncontrolled harvesting of flora and fauna, including poaching; habitat destruction as a result of the development of agriculture, industry, tourism and recreation activities, and the development of infrastructure and urbanization etc and climate change.

Image description: Agricultural activity in Azerbaijan
Photo credit: https://acruisingcouple.com/2017/02/bright-colorful-festivals-south-caucasus/, 2017

# data[].attributes.headline
Socio-Economic Consequences: Reduction of Hydrological Flow

# data[].attributes.subject
Socio-Economic Consequences: Reduction of Hydrological Flow

# data[].attributes.body
The main socio-economic consequences of variation and reduction of hydrological flow are water shortages for ecological processes and impacts on the various economic sectors, causing:
- Low productivity of agricultural land due to inadequate and poor irrigation
- Low income from agricultural and fishing activities
- Poor local sanitation and increased incidence of water-borne diseases
-  infection of shallow groundwater potable sources
- Loss of groundwater resource due to over-extraction
- Loss of commercial fish populations
-Decrease in ecosystem health critical for biological waste absorption
- Decreased capacity for hydro energy generation downstream.

Image description: Map of the Kura River basin and study area showing the streams and meteorological and hydrological stations referred to herein.

Photo credit: Smakhtin

# data[].attributes.body
During the Soviet era, all three countries were ruled by USSR and water resource management was controlled by the Soviets. When these countries became independent, they had neither water resources management regulations nor water codes. However, each country has adopted a water code since 1992. Armenia adopted the water code in 1992 and revised in 2002 according to the European Union Water Framework Directives; and Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1997 (Campana et al). Nevertheless, they still lack uniform management system for the basin and there is no formal water quality monitoring.

Image description: Countries neighboring Russian, once ruled by the USSR.
Photo credit: Ankasam

# data[].attributes.body
Due to ethnic conflicts, the region has 1,500,000 refugees and/or internally displaced people (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 2008; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency 2002). The South Caucasus region still has political issues due to ethnic conflicts, poor economy, environmental degradation, and political instability.

Image description: Migration in the South caucuses
Photo credit: UN

# data[].attributes.body
Of the three countries, Georgia has made the greatest progress towards building a democratic polity. Azerbaijan and Armenia are still in somewhat of a transition period from authoritarian regimes to full democracies. Azerbaijan in particular is more authoritarian than the other two. Political violence was once a constant threat in the three countries.

Image description: Map of the three South Caucuses
Photo credit: Ionescu, 2014

# data[].attributes.body
“Azerbaijan on Its Way to Improve Air Quality with UNECE Support.” UNECE Homepage, 2017, www.unece.org/info/media/news/environment/2017/azerbaijan-on-its-way-to-improve-air-quality-with-unece-support/doc.html.

Campana, Michael E., et al. “Hydrostrategy, Hydropolitics, and Security in the Kura‐Araks Basin of the South Caucasus.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 16 Jan. 2013, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2012.03124.x.

Egan, Connor. “Waste Management and Recycling Efforts in Post-Soviet Armenia.” Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law, Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law, 24 Aug. 2015, www.kjeanrl.com/full-blog/grigoryanblog#_edn7=.

“Issues of the Kura-Araks River Basin: Now and Then.” Epress.am, Epress.am, 6 Feb. 2013, epress.am/en/2013/02/06/issues-of-the-kura-araks-river-basin-now-and-then.html.

“Kura–Araks River Basin.” Irrigation in the Middle East Region in Figures – AQUASTAT Survey 2008, 2008, www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/basins/kura-araks/kura.araks-CP_eng.pdf.

Nair, Prathap. “The Fight for Clean Air and Green Space in Tbilisi.” CityLab, 1 June 2018, www.citylab.com/environment/2018/06/tbilisi-comes-up-for-air/561227/.

Reducing Transboundary Degradation in the Kura-Aras Basin, iwlearn.net/resolveuid/5ed0f3514f4447f4703162c0ca76b1c1.

Turner, Timothy, et al. “Kura-Aras River Basin Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis.” Reducing Trans-Boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin , Jan. 2007, www.ais.unwater.org/ais/aiscm/getprojectdoc.php?docid=771.

United Nations Development Programme, Global
Compact in Armenia, http://www.am.undp.org/content/armenia/en/home.html

Zeeb, Stefan. Adaptation to Climate Change in the Kura-Aras River Basin, Sept. 2010, iwlearn.net/resolveuid/166c61b7bbfc4def7dffa12d5102d4b3.