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Note to the reader from the UNU


The programme area of the United Nations University (UNU) on Sustaining Global Life-support Systems responds to the priorities identified in the "Agenda 21" emanating from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Within this programme area, the programme on Integrated Studies of Ecosystems aggregates issues of environmentally sustainable development from the entry point of the capacity of ecosystems and their ability to support, resist, or recuperate from the long-term impact of major transformations. Projects within this programme approach issues from three perspectives: One focus is on integrated studies of fragile ecosystems and other vulnerable regions in given geographical zones-mountains and lowlands, and fragile ecosystems in critical zones. A second set of projects covers improved methods of measuring and monitoring sustainability and environmental management. A third comprises sectoral studies of critical resources such as forests, oceans, biodiversity resources, and waters.

As a part of its activities concerned with water as a critical resource, the UNU is continuing to organize a series of projects that work to harness the inextricable link between water and geopolitics in arid and volatile regions. The aim is to identify the issues in disputes concerning water resources, select alternative scenarios that could lead to the solution of the complex problems related to water issues, and recommend processes through which the countries concerned are likely to agree on mutually satisfactory solutions to the problems.

The Middle East Water Forum held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1993, organized by the UNU, produced an authoritative book on the subject, entitled International Waters of the Middle East: From Euphrates-Tigris to Nile. The forum proved highly successful and contributed, informally but importantly, to the progress of the Middle East peace talks. The present book has emerged as a part of the UNU's continuing efforts in this field and is one of a series of books related to water issues and conflict resolution.


Abbreviations


International organizations and agencies

DTCD Department of Technical Cooperation for Development (UN)
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
WHO World Health Organization
WMO World Meteorological Organization

Academic add professional associations

AGU American Geophysical Union
AWWA American Water Works Association
IDA International Desalination Association
IHP/IHD International Hydrological Programme/Decade
IWRA International Water Resources Association
NWSIA National Water Supply Improvement Association (USA)

Projects

EGMC East Ghor Main Canal
INWC Israel National Water Carrier
MDS Mediterranean-Dead Sea (canal/conduit
PG Palestine Grid

Desalination technology

CA cellulose acetate
ED electrodialysis
EDR electrodialysis reversal
ME multi-effect evaporation
MSF multi-stage flash evaporation
RO reverse osmosis
VC vapour compression

Units of measurement

gal. (US) gallon(s)
GWh gigawatt hour(s)
ha hectare(s)
km² square kilometre(s)
km³ cubic kilometre(s)
kV kilovolt(s)
kVA kilovolt ampere(s)
kW kilowatt(s)
kWh kilowatt hour(s)
cubic metre(s)
m³/sec cubic metre(s) per second
MCM million cubic metres
mad million gallons per day
mg/l milligram(s) per litre
mig million imperial gallons
MW megawatt(s)
MWh megawatt hour(s)
µm micrometre(s) (micron[s])
ppm part(s) per million
psi pound(s) per square inch

Miscellaneous

BOD biochemical oxygen demand
CFU colony-forming unit(s)
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Union, since 1991)
EDTA ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid
El. ground elevation
JD Jordanian diner(s)
KD Kuwaiti diner(s)
M&I municipal and industrial
O&M operation and maintenance
PLO Palestine Liberation Organization
TDS total dissolved solids
UAE United Arab Emirates

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