The world's oceans, rivers, lakes and groundwater systems are not limited by political boundaries.

These large water systems cover most of the planet, but because they are managed nationally and in a fragmented manner, they jeopardize food supplies and the livelihoods of billions of people.

If our nation continues to exploit these most shared resources in unsustainable ways, we face a bleak future of depleted water and ocean resources, increasing poverty, and exacerbating conflict.

Diversion of water for irrigation, bulk water and drinking water, and contamination of local water bodies leads to cross-border tensions.

These tensions extend to the oceans, where three-quarters of fish stocks are overfished, exploited to the max, or are depleted.

The Global Environment Facility established the International Waters Focus Area to help countries work together to overcome these tensions in large water systems.

Key areas help countries jointly manage transboundary surface water basins, groundwater basins, coastal and marine systems to achieve maximum sharing of benefits.