Cairo: The Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) of the cabinet has examined a report released by the World Bank (WB), highlighting the significance of groundwater as a vital component for protecting global ecosystems. The report, titled ‘Groundwater is Key to Protecting Global Ecosystems,’ underscores groundwater’s role as a critical natural asset, serving nearly half of the domestic water needs worldwide and supporting a substantial portion of agricultural irrigation.

According to State Information Service Egypt, groundwater, often termed ‘blue gold,’ is a hidden resource beneath the Earth’s surface, sustaining a wide array of ecosystems that are crucial for human livelihoods, particularly in climate-sensitive regions. Groundwater’s presence at the Earth’s surface allows life to flourish even in arid areas, acting as a reserve during droughts by providing essential moisture to ecosystems such as desert springs, mountain meadows, coastal wetlands, and more. These ecosystems are biodiversity hotspot
s, supporting rare species and serving as crucial resources for rural communities, especially pastoralists.

The report reveals that new global and regional data, enhanced by machine learning algorithms, are bringing these ecosystems into focus. A recent study used 30,000 data points of confirmed groundwater-dependent ecosystem locations to develop a computer model that identifies such ecosystems using satellite data. This cutting-edge dataset shows that nearly 60% of these ecosystems coexist with pastoral lands, offering vital services for both wildlife and livestock.

The World Bank’s database, supported by the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP), emphasizes the diversity and significance of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. By compiling local and academic knowledge, the database has identified over 250 ecosystems that rely on groundwater, highlighting their importance to rural communities.