Economic and Ecological Restructuring of Land- and Water Use in the Region Khorezm (Uzbekistan)

Transcription

1 Economic and Ecological Restructuring of Land- and Water Use in the Region Khorezm (Uzbekistan) Ahmad M. Manschadi, John P.A. Lamers, Christopher Martius; Paul L.G. Vlek

2 Khorezm Region Expansion of irrigation: Reduction in Aral Sea surface area: 5 to 8 million ha between 1965 and million ha - Population: 1.3 million (70% resides in rural areas) - Area: 0.7 million ha - Irrigated cropland: 0.3 million ha - Representative for irrigated lowlands in Central Asia

3 Aral Sea Crisis and Khorezm Project Desiccation of Aral Sea - Area diminished by 74%; volume by 90% - 10-fold increase in water salinity (from 10 to >100 g -1 ) - Creation of Aralkum desert - Decimation of native fish species (

4 Aral Sea Crisis and Khorezm Project Desiccation of Aral Sea - Area diminished by 74%; volume by 90% - 10-fold increase in water salinity (from 10 to >100 g -1 ) - Creation of Aralkum desert - Decimation of native fish species Initiation of dust/salt storms Degradation of deltaic biotic communities - Collapse of the fisheries: Loss of livelihood for 60,000 people - Local climate change - Human health problems NASA MODIS Image: May 11, Dust Storm over the South Aral Sea

5 Aral Sea water balance Aral Sea Restoration? average annual discharge in the next years = 10 km 3 Restoring size and level to pre-1960s = 46 km 3 stable Significant deficits Reducing irrigation water use by 50% (~ 50 km 3 ) Full restoration appears impossible drought (Micklin 2007)

6 Aral Sea Crisis and Khorezm Project Partial restoration of Aral Sea - Kok-Aral Dam: 13 km long; blocking flow from Small to Large Aral - Completed in 2005; US$ 86 North Aral Kok-Aral Dam Syr Darya (

7 Aral Sea Crisis and Khorezm Project Partial restoration of Aral Sea (Environment News Service (ENS) 2008) 30% rise in sea surface Water level increased from 30 m (2003) to 42 m (2008) Salinity dropped from 30 to 12 g l -1 Reviving of fish industry Improvements in sea and shoreline ecosystems (Photo courtesy of Joel Stern)

8 Irrigated Lowlands of the Amu Darya River Total irrigated area: 1,000,000 ha Population: 3.5 million Water supply through Tuyamuyun reservoir Dashoguz (Turkmenistan): 310,000 ha irrigated Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan): 500,000 ha irrigated Khorezm (Uzbekistan): 270,000 ha irrigated 1.3 million people

9 Khorezm Region - Inefficient water use (2000 mm) - Low soil quality - Secondary soil salinisation - State order for cotton & wheat - Low crop yields - Rural poverty: 27.5% lives below the poverty line (1$/day) - Poorly-developed agro-processing industry

10 Uzbekistan Project Project duration: Donor: BMBF Project ojective Develop a comprehensive, science-based restructuring concept for sustainable management of land and water resources in the Khorezm region: Providing discussion support systems for improved agricultural policy and decision making; Developing innovative agricultural technologies; Improving the capacity of regional institutions for implementing the alternative approaches and technologies.

11 Uzbekistan Project Four project phases Inventory; establishment of central databases and infrastructure (GIS) Field trials and surveys, development of first versions of integrated modelling tools (current phase) Integration of innovative technologies, model/dss development and concept validation: Policies, institutions, and technologies Out-scaling of restructuring concept and implementation in the region (first: Khorezm-wide, then to irrigated lowlands in the Aral Sea Basin)

12 Uzbekistan Project Restructuring concept

13 Degraded Cropland - Afforestation Biomass production March 2004 Fuelwood supply Nutritive value of leaf fodder Financial profitability C sequestration May 2006 N fixation Soil fertility Wildlife habitat

14 Productive Cropland Enhancing water productivity: Socio-technical improvements in irrigation water distribution and management (concepts, models, monitoring systems) Increasing cropping systems productivity Conservation agriculture (reduced tillage, residue retention, crop diversification) Adequate fertiliser application Optimisation of crop allocation and production inputs

15 Landscape Segment 75 ha at Cotton Research Institute Implementing innovative technologies and concepts Monitoring and quantifying ecological and economic indicators Afforestation site

16 Capacity Development Human Capacity Building (August 2009) Ph.D. (University of Bonn) Uzbek Non-Uzbek Total completed on-going M.Sc. total B.Sc. total Postdoc total Habilitationen completed on-going Total

17 Capacity Development Implementing and adapting innovations with stakeholders: Follow the Innovation Internal Innovation Ranking & Selection Transdisciplinary Groups incl. key stakeholders Key stakeholder engagement, discussions and agreement Research for outscaling Farming System Research Innovation System Analysis Recommendations Extension Agencies, Donors/ TC Agencies Policy makers Suitable: having potential for adoption Unsuitable: no potential for adoption under current conditions Joint Monitoring & Evaluation of outcomes Preconditions/ Enabling Conditions?? Adaptation considering local concerns Joint Implementation Joint experimental planning 6

18 Capacity Development Implementing and adapting innovations with stakeholders: Follow the Innovation

19 Capacity Development Supported establishment of the NGO KRASS (Khorezm Rural Advisory Support Service) in November, 2008 cooperation with government, local and international NGOs to support agricultural reform and development in a changing socio-economic period. Policy outreach and dissemination

20 Project Partners

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