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Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters

The Second Assessment provides a comprehensive overview of the status of transboundary waters in the European and Asian parts of the UNECE region, covering more than 140 transboundary rivers, 25 transboundary lakes, about 200 transboundary groundwaters and 25 Ramsar Sites or other wetlands of transboundary importance.


It has been carried out under the auspices of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), in close cooperation with water and/or environment administrations of some 50 countries and with involvement of more than 250 experts.


Utilizing data and information provided by national Governments and river commissions, maps, graphs and statistical data, the Second Assessment presents a broad analysis of transboundary water resources, pressure factors, quantity and quality status, and transboundary impacts, as well as responses and future trends. It also documents national and transboundary legal and institutional frameworks for water management and cooperation. The Second Assessment seeks to provide a picture of the expected impacts on transboundary water resources, including the measures planned or in place to adapt to climate change.


Partners in the preparation of the Second Assessment include the Finnish Environment Institute, International Water Assessment Centre hosted by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Geneva, International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre and Zoï Environment Network. The Second Assessment was supported by the Governments of Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Georgia.


New York and Geneva, 2011
Read the Press release on Launching of the Second Assessment in English, in Russian
Download the Executive Summary of the Second Assessment in English [3287 KB] in Russian [3602 KB]
Download the full Second Assessment in English [43 MB] in Russian [46 MB]

Download the Assessment by parts:

Introduction in English [683 KB] in Russian [763 KB]

Part I, Overview in English [3725 KB] in Russian [4053 KB]

Part II, Objectives in English [512 KB] in Russian [572 KB]

Part III, Major Findings in English [957 KB] in Russian [981 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 1, Drainage basins of the White Sea, Barents Sea and Kara Sea, in English [3378 KB] in Russian [3659 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 2, Drainage basins of the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan, in English [1295 KB] in Russian [1373 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 3, Drainage basin of the Aral Sea and other transboundary waters in Central Asia, in English [3017 KB] in Russian [3186 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 4, Drainage basin of the Caspian Sea, in English [3409 KB] in Russian [3650 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 5, Drainage basin of the Black Sea, in English [8870 KB] in Russian [9220 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 6, Drainage basin of the Mediterranean Sea, in English [5033 KB] in Russian [5364 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 7, Drainage basin of the North Sea and Eastern Atlantic, in English [6066 KB] in Russian [6461 KB]

Part IV, Chapter 8, Drainage basin of the Baltic Sea, in English [8044 KB] in Russian [8815 KB]

Annexes in English [244 KB] in Russian [363 KB]

Index in English [134 KB] in Russian [134 KB]