Groundwater Resources of Africa (WHYMAP GWRA)

The Groundwater Resources of Africa Map represents the current state of WHYMAP’s groundwater resources mapping in Africa and was prepared for the 7th Africa Water Week 2018 in Libreville (Gabon). It includes novel features, such as cross-sections and regional transboundary hydrogeological maps, bringing together generalised overview maps and regional hydrogeological studies, thereby adding value through the inclusion of higher resolution spatial information in regions where ongoing BGR technical cooperation projects are taking place. These regional mapping activities methodologically follow the spirit of the development of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe (IHME1500), the only harmonised, pan-European dataset at a scale of 1:1?500?000. For the IHME1500, a lithological classification scheme was developed at BGR (Duscher et al., 2015) and combined with the Standard Legend for Hydrogeological Maps (SLHyM) of Struckmeier & Margat (1995). The regional maps apply this European approach to the mapping of groundwater resources in Africa. These medium-scale maps are a further step towards regional integrated water resources planning and allow for specific analyses, such as vulnerability assessments of groundwater resources to climate change and pollution. The World-wide Hydrogeological Mapping and Assessment Programme (WHYMAP) is a joint programme consisting of a consortium composed by the UNESCO, the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), and the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). Its main objective is to contribute to the global effort to better understand, manage and protect aquifer resources, and to communicate this groundwater-related information appropriately to groundwater experts, non-experts and policy-makers.