Download - Importance, Key Questions on Resilience and Managing Disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayas
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Importance, Key Questions on Resilience and Managing Disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayas
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Supports extensive irrigation systems
HKH is the source of ten major river basins
210 million people in the HKH
1.3 billion people downstream
3 billion people benefit from food and energy
Basins support some of the most populated areas on the globe
Home to4 of the 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, 60 Eco-regions, 488 Pas, and 330 Important Bird Areas
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Major Questionson the HKH Region that needs to be addressed looking into the Future
Drivers of change and impacts on resources and people
Increased scarcity of drinking water
Loss of productive lands
Increased incidence of forest fires
Habitat loss for wildlife and productive lands for domestic animals
Natural springs and water sources drying up
Climate change impacts on cryosphere and future water availability
Sustaining mountain ecosystems and their services - green economy
Energy needs, hydropower and sustainable development of the HKH
Huge Hydropower Potential >500,000 MW in the HKH Region
Water induced disasters
Flash floods result in higher mortality rates
FloodLandslide/AvalancheFamineWater rel. EpidemicDrought
Jonkman, 2005
Poverty, vulnerability and food security
Gender in sustainable mountain development including out-migration
Migration
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
The Himalayas are prone to disasters
Disaster statistics from 1990-2012 Hindu Kush Himalayan region
The region has had an average of
76 disaster events each year.
On average, more than 36,000
people are killed and 178 million affected each year due to
natural disasters in the region.
Source: EM-DAT – The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database
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Flash floods result in higher mortality rates
FloodLandslide/AvalancheFamineWater rel. EpidemicDrought
Jonkman, 2005
Water-related hazards
Transboundary floods have greater impact on lives and property
Globally, 10% of all floods are transboundary, and they cause over 30% of all flood casualties and account for close to 60% of all those displaced by floods. Bakker, 2006
Lack of information, little preparation
· 9 April 2000: Landslide blocked the Yigong River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River
· Outburst on 10 June 2000 created a huge flash flood of up to 1.26x105 m3/s
· Extensive damage, but no casualties in China
· In India, heavy causalities - 30 dead - >100 missing - >50,000 homeless - damage of USD 22.9 million
Data sharing can save lives and property
· Data sharing agreement developed between India and China in 2002
· 22 June 2004: Landslide blocked the Pareechu River in Tibet (upper reaches of Sutlej River)
· Lake volume - 79,180,000 m3
· Chinese authorities communicated to their Indian counterparts well before and when the breach occurred
· 56 villages along the Sutlej from Kinnaur to Bilaspur were identified as at risk
· The dam burst on 25 June 2005· The direct cost of flood damage was an estimated
USD 200 million · There were no human casualties because of prior
communication from the upstream country
1 month after landslide
2.5 months after landslide
After landslide dam outburst
Lessons learned from disasters
· Data gaps
· End-to-end information systems
· Proper infrastructure planning
· Overarching need for transboundary cooperation
Data gaps
• High-altitude monitoring stations are sparse• Limited transboundary data sharing
Monitoring station distribution
Designing end-to-end flood information system
Regional cooperation to share data: Global WHYCOS framework
To improve basic observation activities, strengthen international cooperation, and promote free exchange of data in the field of hydrometeorology
HKH-HYCOS: Setting up monitoring stations and establishment of real-time flood information systems
‘Making Information Travel Faster Than Flood Waters’
Establishment of a Regional Flood Information System in the HKH-Region - Timely exchange of flood data and information through an accessible and user friendly platform
HYCOS is a vehicle for technology transfer, training, and capacity building
High-tech, low-cost early flood warning system in Bangladesh using a wireless sensor network
Control Unit
Flood Gauge
Rain Gauge
Flood Early Warning System “AL6M”
Manufactured bySustainable Eco Engineering Pvt. LtdPatan, Lalitpur -16, Nepal
Low-tech, low cost, community-based flood early warning system in Assam
ICIMOD’s state-of-the-art MODIS receiving facility helps provide timely data for various applications, including early flood and fire detection
MODIS receiving facility MODIS images are used for national and regional level mapping including rapid response mapping after a floodevent.
Visit http://geoportal.icimod.org/realtime/modis.aspx# to visualize MODIS image.
Conclusion
• Need for end-to-end information systems– Hi-tech to low-tech– Science to government to community
• Infrastructure planning– Identify risks and vulnerabilities
• Mountain specific planning• Transboundary information sharing
– Sharing mechanisms• Underpinned by regional cooperation
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