Water Resources Management in Bhutan. G.Karma Chhopel

Transcription

1 Water Resources Management in Bhutan G.Karma Chhopel

2 Introduction China Area 38,394km 2 Nepal Bhutan Bangladesh India Population 634,982 (2005) Altitude range from 100m above 7500m above msl

3 State of Environment High-level political commitment 60% forest cover for all times Pristine Environment 72.5% forest cover 9% biological corridor ~50% protected area

4 High bio-diversity concentration Conservation jewel of the Eastern Himalayas Flora and fauna 7500 vascular plants (82 are endemic) >300 medicinal plants, 50 species rhododendron, >40 species of orchids 770 sps of Birds (14 IUCN) 167 sps mammals (26 IUCN)

5 Biodiveristy - invertebrates Rich biodiversity Historical reasons; N-Thailand, N- Myanmar, Yunan, Assam, etc. Rhyacophila 34 sps, 32 in Nepal Glossosomatidae 16 sps, 14 in Nepal Epiophlebia laidlawi Hydraena karmai

6 Water Resources Bhutan is endowed with rich perennial water resources due to its head water source fed with permanent glaciers & associated glacier lakes, vast forest coverage & recurrence monsoon Four major river basins are: Amochhu, Wangchhu, Punatsangchhu & Manas Major rivers flows North to South culminating into Indian plains 3 transboundary rivers: Amochhu, Kurichhu & Gamri

7 Major River Systems Wangchhu Amochhu Punatsangchhu Manas

8 Water Resources Most promising hydropower potential sites are located deep steep river reach in narrow valleys (30,000 MW) All most all the hydropower projects are run-ofthe-schemes except few storage schemes in the foot hills Natural rivers/streams water quality is reported as excellent conditions expect at localized urban areas Deep groundwater is virtually unused in Bhutan; hydro-geological science is still at infancy

9 Water Resources in Bhutan Characteristic National Features Long-term mean annual flow for entire country Per capita mean annual flow availability Per capita minimum flow availability Value/Description 2,325 m 3 /s=73,000 million m 3 /year 109,000 m 3 20,000 m 3 98% urban and 88% rural population has access to safe drinking water

10 Middle Path: National Environment Strategy 3 avenues to sustainable development Agriculture Intensification Hydropower Industrialization All the above are major users of water

11 Water Act : Guiding Elements 7 th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011 Ensure conservation & protection & sustainable management of Water Resources Grant equity in water allocation and use Respect traditional water rights if based on equity and social justice Ensure licensing of water for commercial uses Be supported by secondary legislations Uphold international legal norms and conventions

12 Water Act th Session of the Parliament, 31 May 2011 Coordinate national IWRM Conduct inventory on water resources River Basin Management Plan (River basin committees and WUAs) Set WQ standards Set minimum environmental flow

13 Challenges and consequences Unpredictable seasonality Accelerated melting of glaciers Extreme Climate: Higher incidence of flooding and dry spells Reduction in over all river flows & water shortages Drying of water sources & rivers

14 Challenges and consequences Increasing demand from increasing populations Unsustainable development of hydropower Extinction of plant and animal species GLOF is another serious threat

15 Adaptation measures Investing in alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, biogas) Establish flood & weather forecasting and advance warning systems Build check-dams & water reservoirs using natural contours of riverbeds Promote rainwater harvesting & WSUD Green Roof

16 Adaptation measures (contd..) Adopt drought resistant varieties of crops & livestock Place more areas under parks and protected areas Protect watersheds and wetlands

17 Regional & National initiatives Bhutan Climate Summit for the Eastern Himalayas Southern watershed Establish strong upstream-downstream economic linkages (cost-benefit sharing) Establish an effective networking system for information, data and technology Focal institutes for glaciology, hydrology, energy, food security etc. Conduct inventory of water resources

18 Regional & National initiative Conservation of wetlands Improvement of irrigation systems Promoting rational use of irrigation water Control the spread of impervious ground cover that impedes the recharging of ground water resources

19 International support Funds and technology for mitigation and adaptation measures Funds to develop sectoral rules and regulations Technology/ knowledge transfer from institutions such as MRC Support research & monitoring programmes

20 Conclusion Events in HKH have global consequences (social, economy, ecology) Strong evidence of climate change Need to act now rather than later Investing for the world

21 བཀ ན ཆ ལགས