s.5 Protection, Preservation, and Management, Ch.11 Management (Article 24)

Subject(s):

Canals — Lakes — Rivers — Marine environment, protection

This chapter discusses Article 24, which deals with the management of international watercourses—also referred to as administrative arrangements for watercourse systems or joint institutional management. Article 24 of the UN Watercourses Convention recognizes that cooperation between riparian States in integrated water management is essential for attaining the maximum possible benefits from and protection of international watercourses. This provision also encourages riparian States to establish joint management mechanisms. The chapter first reviews the drafting history of Article 24, focusing in particular on how the question of management has been addressed by three Special Rapporteurs of the International Law Commission (ILC). It then analyses the scope and normative content of Article 24 as well as its relationship with other provisions of the Convention, such as duty of cooperation, equitable and reasonable utilization, management and regulation, ‘joint’ measures, environmental protection, and procedural obligations and other provisions related to consultations.