Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain

This paper presents a historical analysis of the different policy tools used to manage and regulate groundwater abstraction in the Western Mancha aquifer. Without much initial regulation and control, groundwater resources and aquifer levels decreased dramatically, threatening agriculture and also hi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Closas, Alvar, Molle, Francois, Hernández Mora, N.
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89523
_version_ 1855514630786383872
author Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
Hernández Mora, N.
author_browse Closas, Alvar
Hernández Mora, N.
Molle, Francois
author_facet Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
Hernández Mora, N.
author_sort Closas, Alvar
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper presents a historical analysis of the different policy tools used to manage and regulate groundwater abstraction in the Western Mancha aquifer. Without much initial regulation and control, groundwater resources and aquifer levels decreased dramatically, threatening agriculture and also highly valuable groundwater-dependent wetland ecosystems. The interplay between sticks and carrots used in La Mancha shows the necessity for regulatory bodies to complement soft management approaches based on incentives with the threat of sanctions and limitations. However, as this case study shows, each policy modality has its legal, administrative and practical loopholes, which can be negotiated and exploited by groundwater users to their own advantage. The paper also studies the distribution of decision-making power and how local dynamics and individual behaviors are linked to higher level policies and their impacts on groundwater management, with an emphasis on the effectiveness and limitations of these tools.
format Artículo preliminar
id CGSpace89523
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher International Water Management Institute
publisherStr International Water Management Institute
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace895232025-11-07T08:41:47Z Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain Closas, Alvar Molle, Francois Hernández Mora, N. groundwater development groundwater aquifers ecosystems water governance water users environmental management water policy socioeconomic development water rates legal aspects river basins regulations decision making incentives resource depletion water law public participation This paper presents a historical analysis of the different policy tools used to manage and regulate groundwater abstraction in the Western Mancha aquifer. Without much initial regulation and control, groundwater resources and aquifer levels decreased dramatically, threatening agriculture and also highly valuable groundwater-dependent wetland ecosystems. The interplay between sticks and carrots used in La Mancha shows the necessity for regulatory bodies to complement soft management approaches based on incentives with the threat of sanctions and limitations. However, as this case study shows, each policy modality has its legal, administrative and practical loopholes, which can be negotiated and exploited by groundwater users to their own advantage. The paper also studies the distribution of decision-making power and how local dynamics and individual behaviors are linked to higher level policies and their impacts on groundwater management, with an emphasis on the effectiveness and limitations of these tools. 2017 2017-11-30T05:36:54Z 2017-11-30T05:36:54Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89523 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Closas, Alvar; Molle, Francois; Hernandez-Mora, N. 2017. Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).. 42p. (IWMI Working Paper 177) doi: 10.5337/2017.218
spellingShingle groundwater development
groundwater
aquifers
ecosystems
water governance
water users
environmental management
water policy
socioeconomic development
water rates
legal aspects
river basins
regulations
decision making
incentives
resource depletion
water law
public participation
Closas, Alvar
Molle, Francois
Hernández Mora, N.
Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title_full Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title_fullStr Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title_full_unstemmed Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title_short Sticks and carrots: managing groundwater overabstraction in La Mancha, Spain
title_sort sticks and carrots managing groundwater overabstraction in la mancha spain
topic groundwater development
groundwater
aquifers
ecosystems
water governance
water users
environmental management
water policy
socioeconomic development
water rates
legal aspects
river basins
regulations
decision making
incentives
resource depletion
water law
public participation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89523
work_keys_str_mv AT closasalvar sticksandcarrotsmanaginggroundwateroverabstractioninlamanchaspain
AT mollefrancois sticksandcarrotsmanaginggroundwateroverabstractioninlamanchaspain
AT hernandezmoran sticksandcarrotsmanaginggroundwateroverabstractioninlamanchaspain