Current Situation
The Nile River is one of the world’s most important rivers. But over the last century, the traditional flooding of the Nile has almost ceased. This has caused ongoing concerns about the future of communities who depend upon this essential resource, as well as the local ecology. With the current warming climate, many are wondering why doesn’t the Nile River flood anymore?
Internationally renowned experts such as Hansu Jain of Harvard University have identified a range of causes. Firstly, deforestation of areas upstream from the river is preventing natural run-off from reaching the river’s main stream. Dams and reservoirs built along the way are also hampering the flow of precipitation.
In addition, excess drainage from human-induced activities is significantly reducing the range of soils which retain and slowly release water. As a result, rain is no longer able to fill up the river. The resulting lake or river level is becoming gradually reduced over time.
It is not just the breadth of the Nile that is of concern, but also its depth. Since the late 19th century, the historic depths of the Nile have been reduced due to increased water extraction. This increasing diversion of water is leading to a shorter and shallower river.
Scarce Resources
The demise of the Nile’s flooding is having a devastating effect on local agricultural communities who depend upon the river’s life sustaining resources. This is especially true during periods of drought, where already scarce resources have become further depleted. Reducing run-off of rainfall and snow melt is further exacerbating the problem.
For instance, in some areas of Upper Egypt, the volume of water available for agricultural use has decreased by as much as 15%. In other regions, including the Simea area near Abu Simbel, the local community has lost over four meters of water from ancient irrigation systems. This, as well as the destruction of traditional terraces, is threatening to destroy the heritage of local communities, as well as the agricultural outputs that rely upon it.
Economic Perspective
The lack of flooding in the Nile not only endangers the local ecology, but is also having knock-on economic effects for the region. Local and traditional structures of paying for water have been decimated, as have job prospects. This is a particularly worrying trend as the river is vital to the region’s agricultural industry.
In the absence of flooding, local Egyptians face reduced incomes as they are forced to buy their water. This is also having an effect on efforts to support microfinancing and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the effects of water scarcity will damage the future of the local fishing industry, as well as other aquatic resources.
Policy and Governance
Problems with the lack of flooding in the Nile are further compounded by the ongoing failure of policy and governance. Many governments, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, are unable or unwilling to properly address the issues posed by climate change and other environmental challenges. The international community has largely failed to step in and help, meaning that policy makers and local authorities are vastly overstretched in their attempts to address the impacts of water scarcity.
The Role of Civil Society
Civil society organisations are playing an increasingly important role in helping to manage and mitigate the impacts of the Nile’s flooding woes. Such groups are working closely with local authorities to manage the water supply and improve infrastructure.
In many cases, they are providing significant training and assistance in order to ensure local communities have access to clean and safe water. Additionally, many civil society groups are working to install efficient irrigation systems, which can help to reduce the impacts of drought and greater water scarcity in the future.
Climate Change
Experts agree that climate change will have a major impact upon the Nile’s future. Warmer temperatures in the region are resulting in higher evaporation levels, drier soils and an overall decrease in river flow. This will have an increasingly negative toll on the region’s communities, ecosystems and economic prospects.
In order to address the imminent threat of climate change in the region, experts are urging both local and international action. This requires countries to come together and coordinate efforts to reduce emissions and invest in renewable energies. This is the only way to ensure that the future of the Nile River and its associated communities are protected and preserved.
Urbanisation
Urbanisation also poses a major threat to the Nile River. Population growth and growing demands for water are placing ever-increasing demands on the already scarce resource. If left unchecked, this could lead to greater water diversion and further erosion of the river’s flow.
Environmental experts argue that greater investment is required in urban water management. This requires governments to not just invest in urban infrastructure, but also to introduce greater water conservation measures in order to reduce future water demand.
Role of the Private Sector
The private sector also has an important role to play in protecting the future of the Nile River. In Egypt, for instance, companies such as Suez Canal Bank, Heliopolis Construction Bank, and Egypt Business Solutions are investing heavily in water conservation, as well as renewable energy sources. This is helping to ensure that the future of the river is secured and important conservation measures are being implemented.
International Cooperation
Although much has been done to try and protect the future of the Nile River, the lack of unified international activism has been a serious stumbling block. The UN has been slow to respond to the issue and has a limited role in addressing the problem. Although recent initiatives such as the Nile Basin Initiative have provided more impetus, much more needs to be done in order to ensure the preservation of the Nile River in the decades to come.
