Restoring the Flows in the Great Ruaha River Tanzania

Transcription

1 WWF Tanzania Programme Office Restoring the Flows in the Great Ruaha River Tanzania OCTOBER 2005 George Jambiya

2 The Ruaha in the Rufiji Basin

3 Some facts & figures about the Ruaha The Kilombero & Luwegu form the Rufiji (S & SW) 177,000 km² (~ 20% of TZ); 30% of surface run off Headwaters in the Kipengere Mountains, descends to the Usangu plains (important for irrigated agriculture and livestock) Ruaha NP (WCS Landscape mgt) Mtera dam Kidatu dam Kilombero UMNP Selous GR Rufiji Delta Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa seascape GRR catchment area covers about 83,970km2 or 47% of the Rufiji Basin Dodoma, Singida, Iringa and Mbeya regions pop around 6,326,550 Livelihoods (90% agriculture; livestock 300,000; fisheries 700 tonnes of fish per annum; etc.)

4 Facts & figures (cont d) MISSION Billion TSH Irrigated Paddy Cultivated Area Ha 19.5 Average yield Average price Marketing/ Proc. 2.5 tonne/ha 175 Tsh/kg 30% mark up Irrig. dry season veg. Cultivated Area 2500 Ha 3.3 Average yield Average price Marketing/ Proc. 6 Tonne/Ha 180 Tsh/Ha 30% mark up Rain fed maize Cultivated Area Ha 8.8 Average yield 1.5 tonne/ha Average price 75 Tsh/kg Marketing/ Proc. 20% Livestock Cattle numbers 300, offtake 10% price per animal 60,000 Tsh Marketing/ Proc. 20% mark up Sheep /Goats 10% of cattle Liv. (Mbarali) 200 m Tsh/yr Fisheries Catch per year 700 tonnes 0.3 Average price 200 Tsh/kg Marketing/ Proc. 225% mark up

5 Biodiversity Miombo & Acacia woodlands (RNP, UGR, M/KGR). Much lies outside PAs EMgt. > 15,000 Elephant, Hippo, Giraffe, Buffalo, G & L Kudu, Roan & Sable antelope, Lion, Wild Dogs - Ruaha N.P. & elsewhere in the catchment. Permanent & seasonal Wetlands - Important Bird Areas (IBAs) for Tanzania & potential fourth Ramsar Site. ~ 450 species incl. 2 endemic sp. (Ashy Starling & Yellow collared Lovebird). Large aggregations of migratory wetland birds Montane woodlands of the Kipengere & Livingstone mountains contain several endemic or altitudinally localised plant and animal species

6 The Issues Sub-basin with significant water competition - 6 main users of water: irrigation, domestic, livestock, fishers, wildlife + environment, HEP. Prolonged drying up period of the river in the dry season early 1980s Contested stakeholder perspectives on causes of drying of Ruaha river: a test case for competing theories on hydrological change Conflicting & uncertain policy objectives, strategies and criteria to manage water (e.g. MoWLD, MAFS) In-migration (and increased demand for water) STRATEGY

7 Priority Issues Climate change (rainfall not declining over time) Indirect relationship between wet season irrigation & RNP Poor relationship between irrigation & HEP needs Deforestation (in high catchment) Degradation of wetland sponge effect by cattle

8 Why is the River drying up? Extension of abstraction for rice > 300 days Dry season use of surface water to meet domestic needs Large & small scale dry season crop irrigation influence Possible changes to Usangu/Ihefu swamp configuration resulting in reduced through flow Losses in Ifushiro swamp no Ruaha through flow during dry season; a natural process. Western wetland replaced by irrigation fields that collectively hold and evaporate water unlike the wetlands which slowly drain through the outlet Source: RIPARWIN

9 Extension of abstraction in Usangu Rice grown between days Rice plots in Usangu are irrigated >300 days Doing early season mosaic planting Doing late season cascade plot-to-plot irrigation Assisted by modernised intakes and water rights that legitimise increased abstraction NAFCO farms have different reasons for water overuse, e.g... meeting domestic needs Practice encouraged by poor monitoring of water use

10 The Situation in the field

11 Impacts on Water, Livelihoods, & Natural Resources Negative impacts on local livelihoods as a result of reduced water availability downstream and within the main irrigated areas. Water dependence of tail enders renders them vulnerable to changes Exclusion of pastoralists from Usangu G.R. for grazing & watering. Agriculturists - pastoralist conflict in Usangu. Exclusion of fishermen from Usangu G.R. Effects on wildlife (breeding, movements, survival and behaviour) Increased Wildlife/Human conflict Overall biodiversity loss due to poor Land Use Future effects on tourism quality and visits to Ruaha N.P.

12 The different Stories Traditional intake Diverted water

13 The Stakeholders TANESCO NAFCO RESEARCHERS MAFS and ZIO RUBADA WATER USERS MOWL & RBWO Great Ruaha River RBMSIIP VPO-UNDP MNRT (WD) TANAPA NGOs (WCS, WWF) Friends of Ruaha District councils

14 WWF s Goals and Purpose GOAL By 2010 the people of the Great Ruaha River catchment area are planning, managing and utilising their water and related natural resources sustainably. Year round flow in the Great Ruaha River restored PURPOSE Achieving sustainable water resource management in the Great Ruaha river catchment by the support of integrated capacity building and action at catchment, district and community levels

15 Expected Outputs An IRBM plan completed and operational in the Great Ruaha River catchment area - beginning to happen Effective local government and community participation in WRM in line with the Water Policy of Roots taking place through Water Users Association Local governments & communities are aware & understand WRM and related environmental issues in the GRR catchment area. They are aware, though may not agree on certain issues Key WRM issues relating to the decreased flow of the Great Ruaha River addressed whilst providing solutions that contribute to improved livelihoods. Its happening and the number of drying up days has shortened (especially in 2004 which is a dry year)

16 Are flows being reduced? The trend shows declining period of zero flow of the Great Ruaha River at Msembe gauging station in the Ruaha National Park The number of days of zero flow of the river (trend), at Msembe Gauging Station declined from 72 days in 1995 to 20 days in (The year 2004 was one of the driest year since 2000). The reduction in zero flow period of the river may be due to improvements in WRM & utilization in the upper catchment.

17 Additional Successes Institutionalization of IWRM approaches in all 8 districts within the Great Ruaha Catchment area Transformation of the Usangu Planning Group into a broader Catchment Coordinating Committee. From July 2003 to date has seen the formation of 19 Water User Associations. The work with the WUA development remains very strong and is being very successful Generally accepted that the dry season regulatory water control exercises carried out in the small scale irrigation areas were effective in improving flow into the wetlands Quality of wildlife diversity & populations in Ruaha is improving. Populations of aquatic animals are better with clear evidence of apparently balanced population structures in Hippo s previously impacted as a result of the river drying through over concentration. Communications/stories. Highlighting actions or successes meriting communications attention etc. Issues have to be tackled at all levels & coordinated, bearing in mind what is doable & affordable.

18 Challenges Improved water data collection. Data must be available and documented in order to track & demonstrate impact. The issues of the level of impact of the livestock on the wetland remain unsettled and inconclusive. The position on the sale of the large (and potentially thirsty) government farms remains unclear. The restructuring process in the MWLD for implementing the New Water Strategy is incomplete and thus holds back our collaborative activities. The development of an IRBM plan is an expensive undertaking, and the transaction costs are high - and the resources for doing this are inadequate. Policy & Political statements can be confusing but important & have to be engaged Prime Minister Sumaye: Ruaha to return to year-round flow by Prime Minister Sumaye: boost food production using dry season water The local politicians declarations in the light of the upcoming elections

19 THANK YOU