18.2 Institutional capacity

According to Bakker (2009), only 78 international river basins were represented by a transboundary rivers institution. Discarding the water wars myth, research and case studies have shown that greater institutional capacity can prevent water conflicts, leading to enhanced cooperation in international basins (Yoffe and Wolf, 1999; Wolf et, 2005; Chalecki et, 2002; MacQuarrie et, 2008). Institutional capacity also would possibly benefit transboundary floods management. Through the investigation of average death and displacement tolls between 37 basins with institutional capacity and those basins without, Bakker drew the conclusion that institutional capacity plays a role in the reduction of flood-related casualties and affected individuals (Bakker, 2009). Even if imperfect, Odom and Wolf state that the existence of treaty/RBO provisions to deal with water variability, can help to reduce tensions that may arise during extreme climatic events by providing riparian countries with specific mechanisms (Odom & Wolf, 2008). Regardless of the fact that the institution and treaties in international basins might throw light on the regional cooperation, the design or make-up of these treaties and institutions is important (Dinar, 2008).

Giordano discovered that even the international community has concentrated on the development of global principles of water quality management; however, the vast majority of the world's international basins are without any type of water quality institution (Giordano, 2003). He also states that despite the fact that international environment protection law has gained notable achievements in the past decade following the Dublin and Rio conferences, many international basins still lack any type of joint management structure (Giordano & Wolf, 2003).