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Water
Presently the Western Balkan countries are some
of the most water-rich in Europe with regards to
the amount of water available per person (10,600
cubic metres, which is twice the European average)
(World Bank, 2003). Most of this water originates
from the mountainous headwaters (García-Ruiz
et
al.
, 2011), and several countries receive a significant
share of their water from other countries through
transboundary rivers.
3
Water resources have always
played an important role in the economy of Western
Balkans countries, and are exploited for irrigation,
drinking water supply, industrial needs, livestock
Key risks for relevant sectors and ecosystems
production and tourism. Agriculture still plays an
important role in the economies of the region and
employment, despite its overall decline compared
with industry and the services sector.
4
Almost 50 per
cent of land in the region is used for agriculture: 19
per cent as pastures and 29 per cent for arable land
and permanent crops. This sector is heavily water-
dependent, where disruptions in the precipitation
regime and a higher risk of drought and extreme
weather have significant implications on the stability
of the sector. Water resources are also used to
generate electricity. On average, about 37 per cent
all electricity generated comes from hydropower,
although this is much higher in Albania (100 per
Projected decline in days with
snow cover for the 2050s
100 km
CROATIA
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
SERBIA
FYR MACEDONIA
ALBANIA
MONTENEGRO Kosovo*
Source:C.Schneideretal.,2013, “Howwillclimatechange
modify riverflow regimes inEurope?”, Hydrology and
Earth System Sciences, n.17, pp.325-339.
Days
Baseline period 1971-2000.
*This designation is without
prejudice to positions on status,
and is in linewithUNSCR1244/99
and the ICJOpinionon theKosovo
declaration of independence.
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
Copyright© 2015GRID-Arendal • Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo
cent), Croatia (42 per cent) and Montenegro (45.3
per cent). Hydropower can be affected by accelerated
evaporation and drought, and changes in the timing
and volume of flow to storage systems. More frequent
extreme events, such as flooding, may also threaten
all types of energy infrastructure, with the associated
increase of maintenance costs.
The region faces a number of common water issues
across all countries, including weak transboundary
cooperation and pollution. Climate change poses
additional challenges to water availability, quality
and management. Following the breakup of former
Yugoslavia, there are more than 13 internationally
Mavrovo ski centre, FYR Macedonia