The effect of policy incoherence on the emergence of groundwater-related subsidence phenomena: a case study from Iran

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Seyed Taha Loghmani Khouzani - , Faculty of Environmental Sciences, United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Author)
  • Sabrina Kirschke - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Author)
  • Ali Yousefi - , Isfahan University of Technology (Author)
  • Rudolf Liedl - , Chair of Groundwater Systems (Author)

Abstract

Land subsidence due to overexploitation of aquifers is often attributed to incoherent public policies. Taking the case of the Mahyar valley in Iran as an example, and based on a mixed-method research design, this study analyses the effects of policy incoherence on well use for agricultural irrigation and the resulting groundwater levels. Results show how an accumulation of policy incoherence over time results in an increased construction of wells, ultimately leading to a groundwater table drawdown, with a significant decrease of 7.61 m in the last 16 years.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-204
Number of pages24
Journal Water international : official journal of the International Water Resources Association, IWRA
Volume47
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • agri-food, governance, groundwater, Iran, Policy coherence, resource nexus, subsidence