![]() The regular melting of snow cover results in considerable amounts of surface water that percolate downward into sinkholes and feed the Cenomanian limestone formation, the major groundwater reservoir in Lebanon. Sinkholes are one of the surficial karst features that are widespread landforms in the mountainous regions of Lebanon, notably at higher altitudes, where hard carbonate rocks exist in a region with a high precipitation rate exceeding 1500 mm and covered by snow for more than nine months a year. In Lebanon, karstification is a dominant geomorphologic phenomenon that occurs either on-surface or subsurface, and plays in both cases a major role in the water flow regime and accumulation. ![]() However, concerns in groundwater assessment are often given to other hydrologic elements, such as the fracture systems and stratigraphic characterizations of the existing lithologies. Groundwater recharge is an essential hydrologic property that must be considered while determining potential zones for groundwater storage and protection. It has been a catalyst for further work to help understand and deal with the many complexities and uncertainties relating to decisions about the future of irrigation in NA. NAIF exhibits many of the characteristics of the emerging discipline of implementation and integration science. Key questions are whether irrigation should play a significant role, and if so, where should it be located, what should it look like and how should it be managed? Established in 2003, Northern Australia Irrigation Futures (NAIF) is a collaboration of four governments responsible for NA, research organisations and industry developing new knowledge, tools and processes to support debate and decision-making about the future of irrigation in NA. Taking this opportunity requires forethought about the future of NA and what role irrigation should play in that future. ![]() The Australian Government has recognised this growing pressure and that there is a unique and historic opportunity to ensure the management and use of Australia's northern land and water resources takes place within a strategic, sustainable framework. With 60 to 70% of Australia's fresh water discharging from tropical rivers, and reduced water availability in much of southern Australia due to drought, climate change and increasing water demand, there is rapidly growing interest in the land and water resources of the north. The interplay between the landscapes, rivers, groundwater and strongly monsoonal weather pattern has resulted in unique, diverse and iconic ecological systems that will need special attention to ensure their integrity is retained as development pressure increases. Northern Australia (NA) accounts for 40% of the Australian landmass, is largely undeveloped and is one of the few large natural areas remaining on earth.
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