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1

CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER MANAGEMENT, AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE NORTHERN

SAVANNAH ECOLOGICAL ZONE

Water Resources Commission

Three Dimensional Model (P3DM) Presentation Workshop.

RCC _Bolgatanga

May 27, 2011

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N

CLIMATE CHANGE

Evidence

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NIncrease in Mean Annual Temperature

• Gradual increase in Temp. by 1.9oC

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NMean monthly rainfall

• Reduction in rainfall over the decades.

0

100

200

300

April May June July Aug Sept Oct

Month

Rain

fall (

mm

)

1961-1975 1976-1990 1991-2003

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NEvapotranspiration (Navrongo)

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N– The NSEZ experiences a single rainfall regime in a year

from April/May to October with a peak in September.

– More than 80% of the total annual rainfall is

recorded in just four months (June to Sept)

– During the dry season (November to March)

there is very little or no rainfall at all

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N

Daboya gauging station

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

01/0

1/20

06

01/0

2/20

06

01/0

3/20

06

01/0

4/20

06

01/0

5/20

06

01/0

6/20

06

01/0

7/20

06

01/0

8/20

06

01/0

9/20

06

01/1

0/20

06

01/1

1/20

06

01/1

2/20

06

Dai

ly f

low

(m

3 /s)

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COUPLED WITH

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Land use (Cultivating along River banks)

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N

RESULTS IN EXTREME EVENTS

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NFloods during rainy season

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N

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N... And droughts during the dry season

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Key Factors in WRM

Interactions among these factors determine the environmental quality of the RIVER BASIN

PEOPLEWATER RESOURCES

ENVIRONMENT

DEGRADATION

POLLUTION

POLLUTIONDEGRADATION

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NIWRM – Linking Water use Sectors

Eco

-sys

tem

Ind

ust

ry &

Oth

ers

Fo

od

Peo

ple

WATER USE SECTORS IW

RM

CROSS-SECTORAL DIALOGUE

IWRM is the ‘integrating handle’ leading from

Sub-sectoral to cross-sectoral water management

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Constraining factors in ensuring Food Security:

• Soil nutrients

• Water• Energy• Capital• Labour• Markets

farming systems more resilient to rainfall variability

Increase buffering capacity:

- control over water

- capital goods: grain, livestock

-financial insurance

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NConservation and Protection of source

• Create a buffer• Keep good soil and water managment practices

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NReservoirs

xx

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NSmall reservoirs

xx

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Structural measures:- Multipurpose Dams and reservoirs,- Channel improvements.

Non-structural: flood forecasting and warning;flood plain regulation;development policies (master plans)information and education

Preserving the natural resources of flood plains through flood plain zoning and regulation

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NSustainable Water Management for

Food Security involves all

Research

Basin Management

Technical Services

NGOs and Civil Society

Chiefs & Land Owners

Women’s Groups

Youth

Farmers and herdsmen

Traditional Authorities

Metropolitan/Municipal/District

Assembly

Water User association

Nat. res. User group

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NPossible Challenges

• Diversity in institutional mandates and interests• Human and Financial Resources • Linking water governance to the MDGs• Administrative boundary thinking and planning• Active involvement of Research • Transboundary water management Issues• Bringing the communities along as partners, is

important for sustainability but slow and expensive

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NConclusion

• Integration of downstream and upstream, quantity and quality, surface water and groundwater issues

• Integration of land use and water resources in a practical manner.

• Integration of environmental and socio-economic issues into evolving management plans and regulatory decisions.

• Facilitates the practical integration of downstream and upstream as well as basin-wide issues

• Address the linkages between water resources management and the management of land and other related resources