Global Flood and Drought Vulnerability Map

Global Flood and Drought Vulnerability Map

The 1:40,000,000 World Map of Groundwater Vulnerability to Floods and Droughts is the result of a joint effort by several international bodies: the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Global Groundwater Emergency Project (GWES), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the WHYMAP programme (see www.whymap.org).

The GWES project was implemented during the sixth (2002-2007) and seventh (2008-2013) phases of the UNESCO-IHP. Its aim is to study extreme natural disasters that could pose a threat to human health and life, and to identify potential safe, low-vulnerability groundwater resources that could replace the public water distribution service in the event that it is damaged or polluted as a result of emergency and/or post-emergency situations, making it possible to improve the efficiency of drinking water distribution operations to populations in distress.

The concept of groundwater vulnerability is based on the assumption that the physical environment can provide groundwater resources with a certain degree of protection against natural and human impacts, and that some aquifers are more vulnerable to external shocks than others. The purpose of the map is to support environmentally sound planning, regulation, management and decision-making in relation to land use and groundwater protection. It can also help to assess disaster risk and formulate risk reduction policies.

The World Map of Aquifer Vulnerability to Floods and Droughts combines data validated and/or published to date. These data highlight the relative vulnerability of the aquifers studied and therefore do not represent absolute values. The map shows the intrinsic vulnerability of a groundwater system and its fragility or resistance to natural disasters.

A CD with explanatory notes in English is supplied with the map.

Global Flood and Drought Vulnerability Map