The Guarani Aquifer System (Gas) and the Challenges for Its Management

Abstract

It is a huge reserve in South America region and it is considered one of the largest sources of groundwater on the planet. The GAS has strategic value for its countries, especially in a context of increasing scarcity. Its size, its physical and political complexity, as well as its “invisibility” and insufficient treatment in the international scenario, constitute some of the challenging elements for management. The article will, in the first instance, summarize the management cases for transboundary aquifers in the world. Subsequently, a physical and political characterization of the GAS will be made, so that, finally, the existing challenges for the management of this resource will be presented. In order to carry out this work, a bibliographical review of the articles and documents published in recent years concerning the management of transboundary aquifers in the world was carried out, as was done with respect to the Guarani Aquifer and its international framework.