Exploring cooperation over transboundary wetlands: the Hamoun Wetlands, Okavango Delta and Wadden Sea

ABSTRACT Where wetlands transcend country borders, cooperation is key for their management, comparable with transboundary rivers and lakes. Building on existing research on rivers, lakes and groundwater, this paper uses document analysis and interviews to understand how countries work together on transboundary wetlands. First, indicators of cooperation are identified based on the water diplomacy literature. These are then applied to three wetlands, finding strong evidence of cooperation in the Wadden Sea, moderate evidence in the Okavango Delta and no evidence in the Hamoun Wetlands. Wetland cooperation seems highest where it is institutionalized.