PRESENTED By Khalid Mahfood Al Busaidi

Transcription

1 Sultanate of Oman THE OMANI AFLAJ: AN ANCIENT INDIGENEOUS IWRM SYSTEM PRESENTED By Khalid Mahfood Al Busaidi Director of Water Resources Management for Muscat Governorate Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources

2 Location Map of Sultanate of Oman

3 General Layout of a FALAJ

4 Cross section of a Daudi Falaj

5 IWRM Components in the AFLAJ System: 1- Development and Management Aspects Establishment of a falaj system Conveyance of a falaj water (Mother well or umm al falaj, Access shafts, Tunnel) Measurement of falaj water Maintenance of falaj system

6 IWRM Components in the AFLAJ System: 2- Socio-Economic Aspects Falaj water ownership Stakeholders participation Equitable distribution of falaj water Financial sustainability Conflict resolution 3- Institutional Aspects Falaj water utilization Falaj water management Community arrangement (administrative structure) Government role

7 IWRM Components in the AFLAJ System: 4- Legal Aspects National legislations Types of aflaj water rights: Private water rights, Public (common) water rights, Semi-public water rights Characteristics of aflaj water rights: Separation from land, Duration, Privacy, Proportionality, Priority, Seniority, Transferability Water rights markets: Management of water rights, Types of water markets,

8 IWRM Components in the AFLAJ System: 5- Environmental Aspects Flow of water by gravity prevents evaporation/ over abstraction No outside energy need to withdraw water; hence no pollution from diesel, etc. Low discharge rate guarantee against deterioration of water quality Development of a culture protecting community s mainstay of life High value attached to Aflaj induces its judicious

9 Status of IWRM Components in AFLAJ System a) Enabling Environment IWRM Component Policies Legislative framework Financing and incentive structures Status in Aflaj Details Water use priorities (domesti c use is primary and agricultural use is secondary) Free access to fresh water for domestic use upstream of village and shari ah (i.e. before any potential pollution sources) Equitable distribution of water on the basis of water and land shares Allocation of water for women s public baths (gender issue) Prevalence of enforceable water rights with clear distinction between water rights (private vs., public and semi-public) Protection of water source (mother well) an d the remaining network from pollution Ownership of the water at both individual and community level A traditional financial arrangement that enabled local communities to practice local governance and hence sustained the system for generations

10 b) Institutional Roles IWRMComponent Creating an organizational framework Building institutional capacity Status in Aflaj Details Local authorities, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies (wali, wakil, qadhi, etc.) Preserving local know how and technical skills required for establishing the systemat minimum cost, through generations Involving everyone in the community in the O&M of the system

11 c) Management Instruments IWRM Component Status in Details Aflaj Water resources assessment Not present The local community has no scientific know -how to determine neither the volume of water stored in the mother well nor the quality of the water Plans for IWRM Not present There are no plans related to specific time frame or long term objectives Efficiency in water use Partially present Efficient supply of water only but not demand Social change instruments Communication between stakeholders in water markets, local markets, water distributio n points, etc. Creating a culture of protecting community s mainstay of life via a deep respect, conservation and protection of the system embedded in every member of the community Raising awareness through direct involvement of all stakeholders in day-to-day falaj activities

12 c) Management Instruments (cont d) IWRM Component Status in Aflaj Details Creating a culture of protecting community s mainstay of life via a deep respect, conservation and protection of the system embedded in every member of the community Raising awareness through direct involvement of all stakeholders in d ay-to-day falaj activities Conflict resolution; Involving local government and judicial authorities ( wali and qadhi ) in conflict management Natural flow of water (by gravity) protects both the quantity (no over pump ing) and quality (no Regulatory instruments diesel and other energy sources) Land use planning (priority to date palm vs. other crops) for sustainability and protection against droughts Water markets and transferable water rights to allow sales o f water from one group to another Economic instruments Income generation for the community and job creation for some of its members Treating water as an economic commodity or property that can be inherited sold or rented. Information exchange Exchange of inform ation on water flow, volume, etc. in water markets and local village markets

13 Thank You