SOS-WAHA Project
Background
The Middle East and North Africa region is one of the world’s most water-scarce region.
Groundwater is
non-sustainable resource!
In Egypt’s Western Desert, large-scale groundwater and desert development is progressing in the name of food security, and the prevention of salt damage as well as groundwater conservation have become important issues.
Our Focus
Problem is how human manages groundwater and land
Devising sustainable methods for water and land use suitable for the social and environmental conditions of an oasis
In this project, we investigate the appropriate usable amount of groundwater in consideration of the water and salt dynamics unique to oases. Based on this, the project will demonstrate farming techniques to maintain agriculture while curbing the progression of salt damage and the increased use of irrigation water, and establish a digital information platform and basin-wide social management system to support community-wide activities.
Our Approach
“Researchers and farmers together”
Enabling community-wide conservation of the water and land that support life in an oasis!
1- Farmers and residents can understand the actual status of water use and related problem of salinity and drainage water treatment by participating in the research.
2- Researchers can do an innovative research on the issue of water issues in collaboration with farmers, linking scientific knowledge and local knowledge.
3- The project constructs digital platform to connect the knowledge of farmers and residents, researchers.
4- Using digital platform the project assists the farmers and residents to do community activities to enhance sustainable use of water.
SOS-WAHA Project
Overall Goal
Establishment, implementation, and dissemination of a model for sustainable use of water and land with the residents of the oasis
1- Protect oasis societies and environment.
2- Develop the framework of salinity prevention.
3- Establish sustainable water/land use system.
The project is expected to establish a comprehensive participatory system to enable the sustainable use of water and land resources in the desert oases of western Egypt, a system that will help achieve compatibility between the livelihood of local residents and environmental conservation. This methodology will then serve as a prototype for building a sustainable society that takes into account a wide range of environmental and social conditions in a comprehensive manner.
Research Groups
Oasis Hydrology
Oasis water/salt balances
and salinity accumulation
Oasis Agriculture
Oasis irrigation agriculture
Digital Platform
Construct the digital platform to monitor water/soil environment and information sharing with/by residents
Oasis Society
Values and social management of oasis water ressource