Building dams as a policy instrument within Lebanon’s national water strategy :an overview -

Abstract

The problem of freshwater scarcity, particularly in the Arab region, is not new. It has, however, gotten more acute in recent years given the increased consumption patterns, population pressure and the impact of environmental degradation including climate change. While water governance structures are evolving, governments remain the key actor in formulating water policy and strategy given their importance in both material and security terms. Decision makers have an array of policy tools to choose from, including the use of dams to create or increase water storage capacity. Popular during the 1970s, the construction of dams became controversial during the 1990s and has come under increasing criticism due to their often-detrimental environmental and social impact on local vulnerable communities. In Lebanon, however, dams retain an almost idealized place in national water vision. Indeed, support for dams comes, unusually, from across the political spectrum of Lebanese politics, with little to no dissent coming from different political parties and coalitions. This thesis explores the debate on dams in Lebanon in light of the recent construction of the Chabrouh dam within the terms of Lebanon’s ten-year national water strategy. The thesis provides an overview of this debate and look at the social and environmental impact of such dams. It mainly reviews the literature on dams before studying their adoption as a policy for water shortage in Lebanon within the larger national strategy.