Updated December 2009
Executive Summary
Water Resources Management: The Glacier Trust is working with Practical Action in Nepal to build the resilience of subsistence mountain communities to adapt to climate change. This project is cited in Nawalparasi (north of the Chitwan National Park) and promotes integrated water resources management.
The problems: (i) As a direct impact of climate change, snowmelt is becoming an increasingly unreliable source for irrigation water in the high hills of Nepal.
(ii) Water resources for hill farming in Nepal are primarily derived from rainfall. However changes to the rainfall pattern give rise to periods of drought, allowing the soil to dry out and lose cohesion, making it susceptible to erosion from the monsoons, which are now more intense than previously. Traditional irrigation systems were not designed to cope with this new climate regime of drought and inundation.
(iii) In consequence crop viability can be precarious, while landslides are destroying both terraced slopes and existing irrigation systems.
The Solutions: The Glacier Trust’s support of Practical Action will enable:
(i) Planning the integration and management of water resources for different uses, e.g. drinking, sanitation, agriculture and as an energy source.
(ii) Rehabilitating and strengthening the channel system by use of concrete and polythene piping, improving efficiency
(iii) Harvesting and storage of rainwater for use in periods of drought (iv) Efficient micro-irrigation system such as sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. These also promote soil cohesion.
Outcomes: (i) The benefits of storage providing a year-round water supply will also need be seen in terms of improvements to agricultural practice. Capture of available surface water is enhanced by contour planting and terracing of hill slopes, which conserve soil water and reduce erosion.
(ii) The introduction of new and more diverse crops, promoting a flexible response to a dynamic environment.
(iii) Where feasible, irrigation water can also run water mills and generate electricity for local use. This brings additional benefits to communities and enables them to diversify their livelihoods without carbon emissions.
Sustainability & Assessment: Ultimately the success of any scheme of this type needs to be seen in terms of its wider application (or replication) into other parts of the catchment* area or other catchments. This includes conservation and management of existing forest resources within the catchment and bringing barren land into forestation. The ongoing training and monitoring of community leaders is essential to this project’s success.
*(Note: American use the word ‘watershed’ denotes a ‘catchment’ in British English. Since ‘watershed’ has a different meaning in British English and American English, we will use the word ‘catchment’ here.)
Appeal Target: £20,000. Thanks to your generosity this amount has now been raised for the first phase of this development.
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Content:
1. Introduction
2. The problem
3. Solutions
4. Benefits
5. Literature
1.1 Introduction: The Glacier Trust’s involvement and partnership:
The Glacier Trust is involved in different approaches for mitigating the hazardous effects of climate change upon communities living at high altitudes. It does so by working in partnership with NGOs and with grassroots organisations, providing them with the scientific and/or financial capital by which they can develop holistic adaptation strategies in this dynamic environment.
In the case of this project, The Glacier Trust is appealing for funds to partner a water management project proposed by Practical Action Nepal, which has important implications for both for human welfare and the wider ecology in Nepal.
1.2 Himalayan climate change and its results:
The need arises directly as a result of recent climate change. According to Practical Action’s research, the mean annual temperature of Nepal has increased by 1.3 degrees C between 1975 and 2005. We should take notice. Nepal is already demonstrating those effects of climate change which the IPCC has predicted for much of the Northern hemisphere in the coming years. In a word: higher temperatures mean more droughts and fewer, heavier, rainfall events. In Nepal these trends are already highly visible.
Rainfall patterns are showing a high degree of both spatial and temporal variability from previously recorded data. Rainfall across the country over the last 25 years shows that variability can be as much as 40mm more or 40mm less than average, per annum. Additionally, a preliminary study of climatological data of Nepal showed the rainfall distribution over the seasons is also changing. For example, the Midwestern region of Nepal, which is relatively a dry region, is receiving less rainfall (on an average - 10mm / year). Although monsoon rainfall in this area has shown an increasing trend, it is more than offset by other seasons, which show a decreasing trend. The characteristic of the monsoon rain is also becoming more intense instead of drizzling.
2.1 The problem – Water (too little or too much):
Field observations have shown that the local people are experiencing a decreasing trend in water availability for household use and agriculture. Yet the overall annual volume of rainfall is increasing. This indicates a shift in rainfall pattern away from the periods when it is needed for agriculture.
2.1.2 Meltwater:
In the high mountains the reasons are more easily quantified. The main source of irrigation and drinking water has been from snowmelt. However as temperatures warm, the snowline is retreating upslope, making this water reserve less available. Obviously melt form retreating glaciers increases water short term, until the reduction in ice reduces water flow. In some cases this ‘tipping point’ has already occurred and adequate supplies of meltwater are threatened.
2.1.3 Rainwater:
In the mid hills, there is a greater reliance upon rainwater. Traditionally, farms were able to rely upon a predictable supply of rainwater for irrigation. For this reason no advanced irrigation and storage system was necessary. Today, the traditional irrigation systems have become increasingly unable to cope with the problems created by irregular rain pattern and the rise in temperature.
2.1.4 Groundwater: This pattern is affecting groundwater levels and springs. There is a further complication. The dates of the monsoons’ arrival are also less predictable. This upsets agricultural rhythms and can, for example, cause the loss of a whole rice crop.
2.1.4 Sheet-flow:
During the prolonged periods of drought, soil will dry out and harden. This reduces its ability to absorb water when the rain comes, and water will run off the surface in sheet-flow. A vicious circle ensues whereby the ground remains hard despite rainfall. Sheet-flow is highly erosional, exploiting any surface cracking or weaknesses along terrace edges and can lead to large scale landslips.
2.2.1. Lack of coping strategy:
These circumstances form a text-book example of the problems The Glacier Trust seeks to address, namely the lack of connection between climate change science and the communities most affected. It is important to realise that while we, in the North, are at least familiar with the concept of climate change, the concept is virtually unknown to Himalayan hill farmers. While they are experiencing its impacts (e.g. landslides, infrastructure destruction and long drought spells), they will have no information about the cause of the problems that are affecting them. Under these circumstances, it is virtually impossible for communities to form and implement adaptation strategies because they have no ‘steer’ on forthcoming trends. Such trends will show an increasing degree of climatic variability, rendering much of their repairs to infrastructure a wasted effort.
3.1 Solutions:
Any solution to the problems cited above need to adopt a step by step approach, so that lessons learned in one area can be translated to other areas. Practical Action Nepal is proposing a series of integrated and holistic solutions to these problems in the mid hills involving education and a fresh approach to irrigation.
3.1.1 Education:
Imparting information about climate change to communities and introducing new technologies will strengthen their capacity to adapt to its impacts. Where possible this will be done by developing existing practices and infrastructure.
3.1.2 Integration:
The use of water needs to be integrated. Since water is becoming an increasingly finite resource in Nepal, education is needed to conserve water and to develop an integrated approach to its use (household needs, farm and irrigation). Integrated Water Resources Management approaches are underdeveloped, wasting both water and money.
3.2.1 Infrastructure:
The first improvement required is to the water channels. Traditionally these are simple earthen channels for gravity flow from which water is diverted from the source to the command area. Because of dramatic changes to the rainfall pattern, these channels are no longer efficient. Their capacity needs to be improved and strengthened by use of concrete and / or polythene piping, depending upon geographical locations. When water can be conveyed effectively, it can also be harvested and stored.
3.2.3 Irrigation:
Once the water harvesting systems are in place by constructing tanks and ponds, collection and distribution of water for household use and for irrigation purposes can be developed and integrated.
3.3.1 Agriculture:
The distribution of water for agricultural purposes may include efficient micro-irrigation system such as sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. Such practises promote soil cohesion.
3.3.2 Soil quality – cohesion & reduced runoff:
Once an efficient water resource is available, soil cohesion can be reestablished, development in agricultural practices can be considered and a virtuous circles can be developed. Contour planting and terracing of the slope land helps conserve the soil water. It also helps for efficient use of available surface water. There is anecdotal evidence from the Bagmati Integrated Watershed Management Project that the construction of series of water harvesting ponds over the sub basins has contributed to the conservation of catchment area through ground recharge and minimization of surface run off. It also has ensured water for irrigation and livestock
3.3.4 Wider context:
The importance of any project such as this is its wider context, for example the whole catchment area including conservation and management of existing forest resources and bringing barren lands under forest area through propagation.
3.3.5 Other uses:
The purpose of integrated water resources management is to promote diverse use of limited water for additional productive activities. Where feasible, the irrigation water can also run water mills and generate electricity for local use. Such usage of water brings additional benefits to the communities both in saving time and in the diversification of livelihood.
3.4. Determining the location
3.4.1 Climatic:
There are two climate change scenarios where intervention will enable community adaptation:
a) Increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall.
This trend is in Midwestern development region of Nepal. This condition has affected the water and other natural resources adversely and ultimately the livelihood of the poor communities.
b) Increasing temperature and increasing rainfall.
This trend is occurring in western part of Mid-development Region and eastern part of Western Development Region of Nepal. Prolonged winter droughts are becoming more frequent (virtually no rain fell from September 2008 to March 2009). Following this, the increasing volume and intensity of rainfall has resulted into heavy soil erosion, destruction of infrastructure including irrigation channels and the destruction of farm land. This is a real threat to livelihood.
3.4.2 Accessibility:
Because of the limited budge for this project, travel and monitoring costs need to be minimised. The site selected in the Lower Mahabharat Hills is the Hupsekot Catchment in Nawalparasi district (Western Development Region). This area belongs to the second category area mentioned above (increasing temperature and increasing rainfall). The project site has the important advantage of being one of the catchment areas in the district where Practical Action is already working on issues of disaster avoidance and food security.
3.4 3 Socio-economic factors:
While there are no obvious cultural barriers in reaching the affected communities, site selection is also determined by the type of the communities, namely the poorest of the poor, living literally hand-to-mouth. These are most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
3.5 Stages in introducing the technology
3.5.1 Research:
Practical Action will gather information from various sources. First it will accumulate data from local inhabitants. Since the proposed catchment area has not been the subject of hydrological survey, the most reliable source of information is the indigenous community. This will be done by using participatory tools in which Practical Action is well versed.
3.5.2 Data gathering and preparation:
Information will be gathered about rainfall and temperature trends, which, if not clear, may require some external expertise. A preparatory period of 2 months will probably be required before the main project begins, in order to arrange staff and communication with local stakeholders. Detailed planning will be needed both with local partners and the communities involved. Students from The Glacier Trust's postgraduate suport programme will participate.
3.5.3 Duration:
After the two month preparatory period, the main project is expected to last just over a year. This will include time taken to make agreements with the households to share the resources; agree mode of implementation; let the district stakeholders know of the project etc. The final assessment will be undertaken during the final (15th) month. Any subsequent technical evaluation will require additional time.
3.5.4 Mobilisation:
The strategy is to implement this project is through community mobilization. An executive committee will be formed from among the householders, whose tasks are to mobilise labour and local resources. Discussion is needed to identify the specific problems as they relate to the climate change and to plan adaptation strategies. This requires time, which may not be easy. Indeed the poorest households may find it very difficult to give time to the project’s activities. Although it will benefit them in the coming months, such households are under severe pressure to get enough food on a daily basis. This is a true reflection of their poverty, where daily pressure precludes investment of time for the longer term in. These problems should not be underestimated.
3.5.5 Implementation:
The Glacier Trust and Practical Action will need the agency of local partners in the form of local Community Based Organization (CBO) who will play roles in mobilising local communities and local resources and implement the activities in the field. Practical Action will oversee and manage the project and provide technical supports to the partner or the CBO. In other projects, Practical Action have used resources form government line agencies - especially seedlings from District Offices of Agriculture and Forestry, check dam materials from Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP) and District Development Committee (DDC) and Village Development Committees (VDCs). It is anticipated that resources from these organizations will be available.
3.6 Sustainability of inputs. Ensuring the success of this adaptation strategy
3.6.1 The risk:
Ensuring sustainability is perhaps the most important part of this project. Aid projects can easily do more harm than good because of a lack of follow up and trouble-shooting. In this case we envisage that risk might arise, not during the project implementation, but after the completion of the project for lack of management of the infrastructure. This would be a waste both of money and of the developed skills of the local people who were trained during the project period. The importance of a sustainability plan that helps the communities to continue the management activities and use of skill beyond the project will very likely be needed. The following strategies will be used to minimise the risk.
3.6.2 Support agencies:
Government agencies together with the District Agriculture and District Development Committee will be consulted for technical support for the communities. The involvement of government agencies will help develop their links to the communities for continuity of the project after its completion. This may require some monitoring. Mobilisation of the CBOs will have the effect of strengthen their capacity technically, financially and institutionally. This will enable them to ensure the projects maintenance, long term.
4. Benefits: A wider community?
4.1. Immediate benefits: Providing a water system that will ensure the viability of these communities will cost The Glacier Trust something of the order of £60 a head. The communities themselves are contributing to the scheme over and above this sum.
4.2 Replication?
It is important to note that this project has the opportunity to demonstrate and package an adaptation strategy for possible replication elsewhere. Benefits can be shared with other Village Development Committees (VDCs), which will help development of VDC level policy and planning for climate change adaptation in future. However, within the proposed catchment an additional 200 households will be able to observe these activities and learn directly from them.
4.3 Wider application:
District level policy: The project activities will be shared with district level authorities and development practitioners. A lesson-learning paper will be published after the project, enumerating the problems, both resolved and unresolved. This will help to build the foundations for the development of appropriate policies at local level and may generate necessary information for national level policy formulation.
5 Literature
A review of some literature is in preparation. However the following is very useful background reading on the subject:
Poudel, K.P. 2003 Warershed management in the Himalayas: a resource analysis approach, Adroit Publishers, Delhi.
