GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF) · in the ten dzongkhags in 2011. Bhutan Himalayas has 677 glaciers and 2,794 glacial lakes and over the last two centuries we have experienced

GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF) ‘REDUCING RISKS AND ENSURING PREPAREDNESS

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5 - 7 DECEMBER, HOTEL OLATHANGPARO, BHUTAN

GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF)‘REDUCING RISKS AND ENSURING PREPAREDNESS’

THE REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INAUGURAL SESSION

PREFACE TO THE DELIBERATIONS

PROCEEDINGS SUMMARY• SESSIONONE:CLIMATECHANGEADAPTATIONANDGLOFRISKREDUCTION INTHEREGION

ANDBEYOND:CURRENTDEVELOPMENTSANDOPORTUNITIES

• SESSION TWO: GLOF RISK REDUCTION IN THE HIMALAYAS-MONITORING, COMMUNITYPREPAREDNESSANDEARLYWARNINGSYSTEM

• SESSION THREE: LESSONS ON GLOF EARLY WARNING SYSTEM AND COMMUNITYPREPAREDNESS:RECOMMENDATIONSANDWAYFORWARD

• SESSIONIV:GLOFRISKMITIGATION:EXPERIENCESINIMPLEMENTINGSTRUCTURALANDNON-STRUCTURALMEASURES

• SESSIONV:PERSPECTIVESONREGIONALANDGLOBALINFORMATIONSHARINGCOOPERATION

• SESSION VI: RECOMMENDATIONS ON GLOF RISK MITIGATION (STRUCTURAL AND NON-

STRUCTURALMEASURES)ANDINFORMATIONSHARING.

CLOSING SESSION

ANNEXES TO THE CONFERENCE

Annex I: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND GLOF RISK REDUCTION IN THE REGION AND BEYOND: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AND OPORTUNITIES

• ClimateChangeAdaptationinBhutanandtheNAPAprocess:ExperiencefromBhutan.KarmaGChhophel,ChiefEnvironmentOfficer,NationalEnvironmentCommission,Bhutan.

• An overview of GLOF risk reduction initiatives in Bhutan (including an overview of theproject:ReducingClimateChange-inducedrisksandVulnerabilitiesofGLOFimplementedinBhutanasaNAPAfollowupproject.DowchuDrukpa,ChiefGeologist,GLOFProjectManager,DepartmentofGeologyandMines,MinistryofEconomicAffairs,Bhutan.

• Sensitivity and response of Bhutanese glaciers to atmospheric warming. Karma Tshering,Director,DepartmentofHydro-metServices(DHMS),MinistryofEconomicAffairs,Bhutan.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


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• GLOFinNorway-Morethan100yearsofGLOFriskreduction.Dr.MariamJackson,NorwegianWaterResources&EnergyDirectorate(NVE),Norway.

Annex II: GLOF RISK REDUCTION IN THE HIMALAYAS-MONITORING, COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

• DevelopmentofGlacialLake Inventory inBhutanHimalayasusingALOS‘DAICHI’.”Dr.TakeoTadono,AssociateSeniorResearcher,JapanAerospaceExplorationAgency(JAXA),Japan.

• GlaciallakesandGLOFMonitoringintheHimalayas.PradeepMool,ICIMOD,Nepal.

• GlacierLakeOutburstFlood(GLOF)EarlyWarningSystem:PreparednessforEventuality.KarmaDupchu,Chief/ProjectManager,(GLOF-EWS),HydrologyDivision,DepartmentofHydro-metServices,MinistryofEconomicAffairs,Bhutan.

• Temporospatial record and future hazardous of Himalayan GLOF-inferred. Dr. Jiro Komori,AssociateProfessor,TeikyoHeisei,University,Tokyo,Japan.

Annex III: RECOMMENDATIONS ON EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

• GroupI

• GroupII

• GroupIII

• GroupIV

Annex IV: GLOF RISK MITIGATION: EXPERIENCES IN IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURAL AND NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES

• TheStudyonGLOFsintheBhutanHimalayas.ProfessorKoichiNishimura,NagoyaUniversity,Japan.

• GLOF RiskMitigation: Experience on Implementing revolved on the experiences from theartificialloweringofthewaterattheThorthormiTshoinLunana,Bhutan.KarmaToeb,ChiefGlaciologist/TeamLeader,DGM,MinistryofEconomicAffairs,Bhutan.

• GLOF Risk Reduction: Experience on Implementing Non-Structural MitigationMeasures inBhutan. ChenchoTshering, ProjectManager (GLOF), Department ofDisasterManagement,MinistryofHomeandCulturalAffairs,Bhutan.

• HazardZonationandcontingencyplanning:AstandardtoolforreducingfloodriskinEuropeanAlps.ProfessorHermannHaeusler,UniversityofVienna,Austria.

• AnIntroductiontotheHighMountainGlacialWatershedProgram:RecentResultsfromImjaGlacialLake,Sagarmatha(Everest)NationalPark,Nepal.Dr.AltonByers,Director,TheMountain

Institute,USA.

Annex V: PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INFORMATION SHARING COOPERATION

• Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities from GLOFs in the Punakha,WangdueandChamkharValleys.KarmaLRapten,UNDP,Bhutan.


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• InformationsharingandcooperationoncryosphericresearchintheHinduKushHimalayas.Dr.DorotheaStumm,ICIMOD,Nepal.

• Information Sharing and Cooperation onGLOF Risk Reduction in theTien-Shan:The 2012BishkekExample.Dr.DiethardLeber,UniversityofVienna,Austria.

• StrengtheningcapacityinaccountingLossandDamages.ReshmiTheckethil,fromthebureau

forCrisisPreventionandRecovery,UNDP,NewDelhi,India.

Annex VI: RECOMMENDATIONS ON GLOF RISK MITIGATION (STRUCTURAL AND NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES) AND INFORMATION SHARING.

• GroupI

• GroupII

• GroupIII

• GroupIV

Annex VII: Welcome remarks by Claire Van der Vaeren, Resident Coordinator, UN System in Bhutan

Annex VIII: Closing remarks by Ms. Hideko Hadzialic, Deputy Resident Representative, UN System in Bhutan

Annex IX: Conference participants list


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ACRONYMS

ADA AustrianDevelopmentAgency

CBDRM CommunityBasedDisasterRiskManagement

CPS CryosphereMonitoringProject

DDM DepartmentofDisasterManagement

DGM DepartmentofGeologyandMines

DHMS DepartmentofHydro-metServices

ELA EquilibriumLineAltitudeSensitivity

EWS EarlyWarningSystem

GDP GrossDomesticProduct

GEF GlobalEnvironmentFacility

GLOF GlacierLakeOutburstFlood

GNH GrossNationalHappiness

ICIMOD InternationalCenterofIntegratedMountainDevelopment

JAXA JapanAerospaceExplorationAgency

JICA JapanInternationalCooperationAgency

JST JapanScienceandTechnologyAgency

LDCF LeastDevelopedCountriesFund

NAPA NationalAdaptationProgrammeofAction

NDRM NationalDisasterRiskManagement

NEC NationalEnvironmentCommission

NVE NorwegianWaterResources&EnergyDirectorate

OECs EmergencyOperationCenters

RBA RoyalBhutanArmy

RGOB` RoyalGovernmentofBhutan

SNC SecondNationalCommunication

SOP StandardOperatingProcedure

UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme

USA UnitedStatesofAmerica

WWF WorldWildlifeFund


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EXECUTIVESUMMARY


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EXECUTIVESUMMARYClimatechangeasaglobalphenomenonisalreadyimpactingmillionsofpeopleallovertheworld,transformingtheirlivesfromacertaintytoanuncertaintyone.Changinglandscapes,increasingtemperature,risingsealevels,increasedriskofdrought,fireandflashfloods,increaseddiseasesandeconomiclossesareallindicationsofclimatechange.ThehardesthitintheworldarethepeoplelivinginthedevelopingcountriessuchasBhutan,wherewearemostvulnerable.TheglaciersintheHimalayas,theworld’sgreatestrepositoriesofsnowandiceareretreatingatarapidpaceleadingtoswellingoftheglacierlakesandincreasingrisksoflivinginafragilemountainecosystem.Extremeweathereventsaremorefrequentandsevere.Windandthunderstormsdamagedmorethan1,400housesinthetendzongkhagsin2011.

BhutanHimalayashas677glaciersand2,794glaciallakesandoverthelasttwocenturieswehaveexperiencedmorethan21glaciallakeoutburstfloodsofwhich4outburstcaseshavebeenreportedinthelastfortyyears.TherecentoutburstoftheLuggeTsoin1994causeddestructiontobothhumanlivesandproperty.Itdamaged1,700acresofagricultureandpastureland,washedawayfivemillsand16yaks,destroyedsixtonsoffoodgrains,washedawayhouses,causedcriticalinfrastructuredamageandkilled22people.

Today,Bhutanhas25glacial lakes thathavebeen identifiedpotentiallydangerous.RaphstrengandThorthormilakeshavebeenassignedasthemostdangerouslakesandthePhoChhusub-basinindicatedasthemostvulnerablevalleyintermsofGlacierLakeOutburstFloods(GLOF).Unlessmeasuresareputinplace,theselakescouldhavefarreachingimpactsasthemajorrevenueearningprojectsarealllocateddownstreamsuchasthePunaTsangchuI and II,MangdeChu,DagaChu, SunkoshChu. Further,damageon the settlements,historicalmonumentsandinstitutionscannotberuledout.

RecognizingthesevulnerabilitiesandtheneedtobemoresensitivetotheGLOFrisks,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)assistedthepreparationofNationalAdaptationProgrammeofAction(NAPA),2006,BhutanimplementedthefirstprojectfundedbytheLeastdevelopedCountriesfundonClimateChangeAdaptationtitled“Reducing climate change induced risks and vulnerabilities from glacial lake outburst floods in the Punakha, Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys.” Under theproject, three componentswere identifiedand implementedbythree separate agencies. Component I “Lowering of water level of Thorthormi Lake” was implemented by theDepartmentofgeologyandMines,MinistryofEconomicAffairs.ComponentII,“InstallationofGLOFEarlyWarningSystem(EWS)inPunakha-WangdiValley,”wasimplementedbytheDepartmentofHydro-metServices,MinistryofEconomicAffairsandcomponent III,“StrengtheningofDisasterManagementandCommunitiesawareness,”wasimplementedbytheDepartmentofDisasterManagement,(DDM),MinistryofHomeandCulturalAffairs.

Theprojectwasasuccessfulonemeetingtheoverallobjectivesundereachcomponent.TheThorthormilakewasreducedby5metersthroughamanualexcavationofseveraloutletchannelsbyinvolving300nationalworkers.InthefrontofEWS,automaticmonitoringstationshavebeeninstalled-withsirentowersandstateoftheartEWScontrolsystem.Onthe frontofDDM,non-structuralmitigationworkshavebeen initiated includingcommunitypreparednessandawarenessworkshops.

WhilemuchhasbeendoneonthefrontofGLOFinBhutan,thepertinentneedtoshareexperiencesandknowledge,viewsandlessonslearnedfromthemeltingglacierscalledforagatheringofexpertsandscientistsfromaroundtheglobeandparticularlyfromtheSAARCcountries.

Fromthe5th-6thDecember,2012,theRoyalGovernmentofBhutan(RGOB)incollaborationwiththeUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,AustrianDevelopmentAgency(ADA),andtheWorldWildlifeFund(WWF)convenedaninternationalconferenceon‘GlacialLakeOutburstFloods–ExperiencesfromBhutan’atParo.

Theconferenceaimedatsharingexperiencesand lessons fromthe implementationof theprojectandtoapplymeasuresinfutureinterventionsinBhutanandotherGLOFpronecountriesintheregionandbeyond.Theconferencealsoconsideredanddeliberatedontherecommendationsandresolutionsfromsimilarpastandongoinginitiativessuchasthe“BhutanClimateSummitforaLivingHimalayas”heldinBhutaninNovember2011andthe“RegionalKnowledgeSharingforEffectiveRiskManagementofHydro-meteorologicalhazardsintheHindu-Kush-HimalayanRegion”heldinKathmanduinMarch2012.

Inaddition,theconferencealsoenhancedlearningandknowledgesharing,enablingthereplicationofeffectivedisasterriskreductionmeasuresandadaptationtoclimatechangebothwithinBhutanandinothercountriesfacingclimatechange-inducedGLOFrisks.

More than70participantsattended theconferencewith representatives fromtheRoyalGovernmentofBhutanandothermountainand/orGLOF-pronecountriessuchasNepal,India,Japan,Austria,NorwayandUnitedStatesofAmerica(USA).Inaddition,theconferencesawparticipantsfromUNDPandUSAID.


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INAUGURALSESSION


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INAUGURALSESSION

PREFACE TO THE DELIBERATIONS

InkeepingwiththetraditionoftheBhutanesesociety,theInternationalconferencecommencedwithamarchingceremony,atraditionalBuddhistritualofofferingsandappeasement,invokingguardiandeitiesandthespiritsforasuccessfulendeavoroftheconference.

HisExcellency,LyonpoKhanduWangchuk,Minister,MinistryofEconomicAffairsandMinisterIn-chargeofForeignAffairspresidedoverasthechiefguestattheopeningceremony.OtherkeyguestsincludedDashoSonamTshering,SecretaryandProjectChairman (GLOF),MinistryofEconomicAffairs,DashoNamgayWangchuk,DirectorGeneral,DepartmentofDisasterManagement,MinistryofHomeandCulturalAffairs,Ms.ClaireVanderVaeren,UNResidentCoordinator,Ms.HidekoHadzialic,Dy.ResidentRepresentative,Dasho Dzongda, Punakha, Dasho Dzongrab, Gasa, representatives from the Hydropower projects ofPuna-tsangchu,participantsfromAustria,India,Japan,Nepal,Norway,USA,BhutanesecounterpartsandmembersfromtheUNDPofficeinBhutan.

InherwelcomeremarksMs.ClaireVanderVaeren,UNResidentCoordinator,welcomedthedelegatesonbehalfoftheUNSysteminBhutan.SheextendedherprofoundgratitudetothehundredsofcourageousmenandwomenfromalloverBhutanwhocontributedtothearduoustaskofloweringthewaterlevelofThorthormiLakesince2009.TheResidentCoordinatoralsoexpressedhergratitudetotheRoyalBhutanArmyfortheircontributiontothetaskin2012.

ShenotedthatBhutanhasmadearenewedcommitmenttostrengthencommunity-baseddisasterriskreductionmeasures,andcongratulatedtheLDCF-GLOFproject,whichinstalledanearlywarningsystemandsupporteddirectlywiththevulnerablecommunitiesofPunakha,WangdueandChamkharvalleys.

ItwasalsopointedoutthatClimatechangemitigationandadaptationissuesareverycomplex,affectingagriculturalproductivity,biodiversity,waterresourceandhealth,tonameafewsectors.Sheunderscoredthattacklingsuchcomplexityrequirespoliciesthatrelatetheinternational,regional,nationalandsub-nationallevelsofinterventioneffectively,andthereisalsoanurgentneedtoacceleratethetranslationof these policies into practical mitigation and adaptation interventions on the ground, and explorewaysofsustainingthefinancingofclimatechange-relatedeffortsoverthelong-runthroughvariedandinnovativemodalities.

Inhisopeningaddress,HisExcellencyLyonpoKhanduWangchuk,Minister,MinistryofEconomicAffairsinformedthegatheringthatinthepursuitofeconomicdevelopmentandGrossDomesticProduct(GDP),theworldatlargehasachievedahighgrowthintheeconomicspherebenefittingmankindasawhole.Further,mankindhasbeenabletoexploreallaspectsofMotherNatureandasaresultmakingattemptstomake our presence felt even in other planets. Our pursuit throughmining and deforestation hascontributedtowardsClimateChangeandmankind’soverconsumptiononlycontributesmoretowardsimpacting our lives negatively.With more economic activities of Bhutan being driven by the Hydropowerprojectsfedbytheglaciallakes,Lyonporemindedthegatheringthatmoresettlementsalongwitheconomichubsaresproutingalongtheriverbasinsandunlesswecomeupwithrelevantmeasures,thesesettlementsareatrisk.

HisExcellencydeclaredthat“it’stimeforustoponderoverourdevelopmentgoalsandquestionedthebasisofoursustainability.”TouchingonthephilosophyofGrossNationalHappiness(GNH),heremindedthegatheringthatweneedtofindabalancebetweenhumanwellbeingandeconomicdevelopment.HealsocontendedthatGNHisintergenerationalandthatweshouldtakeprudentdecisionstherebylimitingexploitationoftheresourcesthatcouldbenefitourfuturegenerations.Lyonpodeclaredthatthereistheurgentneedfortheglobalcommunitytoworktogether,shareexperiencesandtherichknowledgeandcollectivelymoveforward.

TwopublicationswerelaunchedafterthekeynoteaddressbyHisExcellencyandMs.VandeVaeren.

• “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the GLOF Early Warning System Installed in the Punakha-Wangdue Valley.”


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• “Technical Review and Social Impact Assessment: Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities from Glacial lake Outburst Floods in the Punakha, Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys.”

OBjECTIVES

DashoSonamTshering,Secretary,MinistryofEconomicAffairswelcomedtheparticipantsandsaidthathewasinspiredbytheresponsetothisconference.HeoutlinedtheintendedoutcomesandobjectivesoftheInternationalConferenceasfollows:

• Sharelessonsfromthe1stNAPAfollowupprojectinBhutan–“Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities of GLOFs in Punakh-Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys,” fundedbytheLeastDevelopedCountriesFund(LDCF)undertheGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF).

• Enhancelearningandknowledgeexchange,enablingthereplicationofeffectivedisasterriskreductionmeasures andadaptation to climate changebothwithinBhutanandwithothercountriesfacingclimatechange-inducedGLOFrisks.

• Facilitate information sharing and cooperation through sharing of technical lessons fromBhutan with other GLOF-prone countries, based on experience of project implementingpartnersandanindependentreviewconductedinmid-2012.

• Present regional and international experiences and best practices through invitation ofinternationalexpertsfromotherGLOFpronecountries.

• Discusslinkageswithregionalinitiatives.

• Provideavenuetodiscuss,shareknowledgeandexperienceinimplementationoftheGLOFmitigationworks in providing inputs to improve futuremitigationworks in the respectiveinstitutions/organizationsinthecountryandintheregion.


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PROCEEDINGSSUMMARY


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PROCEEDINGSSUMMARYThe two days conference on “Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) ‘Reducing Risks and EnsuringPreparedness”gotunderwayaftertheinauguralsessionandthelaunchofthepublicationsbythechiefguest.Thepaneldiscussionsweredividedintosixsessions.

DAYI:5thDecember,2012

SESSION ONE: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND GLOF RISK REDUCTION IN THE REGION AND BEYOND: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AND OPORTUNITIES

Theproceedingsinthefirstsessionbeganunderthebroadtheme“ClimateChangeAdaptationandGLOFRiskReductionintheRegionandBeyond:CurrentDevelopmentsandOpportunities.” ThesessionwaschairedbyDashoSonamTshering,Secretary,MinistryofEconomicAffairsandCo-chairedbyProfessorKoichiNishimura,NagoyaUniversity,Japan.Thesessionfeaturedfoureminentspeakers.

The proceedings beganwith the presentation byMr. KarmaG. Chhophel, Chief EnvironmentOfficer,NationalEnvironmentCommission(NEC)onthetheme,“Climate Change Adaptation in Bhutan and the NAPA process: Experience from Bhutan.” HebeganbyhighlightingtheeconomicstatusandthegeophysicalpositionofBhutan.HestatedthatBhutanbeingpositionedinafragilemountainecosystemwasvulnerable to theeffectsofClimatechange.Basedon thenewsclippings fromaround theworldandfromAsia,hepointedoutthattheglaciershaveretreatedby20-30metersannuallyespeciallyintheBhutanHimalayasleadingtoaroughestimationofabout500metersretreatinthelast25years.Globallyhesaidthattherehasbeenanincreaseinthewaterlevels,floodrisks,flashfloodsandlandslides,erraticriverflowsandadecreaseinprecipitation.

OnBhutan’svulnerability toclimatechange,hesaid thatourdependenceonclimatesensitive factorsnamelyagriculture (with70%of thepopulationengaged insubsistenceagriculture)andhydro-powerand the lowdiversificationofoureconomyhasalready impacted in termsofGLOF, landdegradation,flashfloods,droughts,windandthunderstormsandpestsanddiseases.Hefurtherstatedthatdroughts,temperaturerise,dryingupwatersources,longerintervalsbetweenrains,windandthunderstorms,pestsanddiseasesareallrecentexperiencesfromaroundthetwentydzongkhags.

HeemphasizedthatbeingawareoftheGLOFrisks,BhutansignedtheUNFCCCin1992andratifieditin1995andtheKYOTOProtocoltotheUNFCCin2002.HefurtherreiteratedthatinstitutionalarrangementshavebeeninplacewithNECasthefocalagencyforClimateChangeandthatithasalreadypreparedaNationalAdaptationProgrammeofAction(NAPA)toundertakevulnerabilityassessmentanddesignadaptationplansandprojectsthroughmulti-sectoraltaskforceandworkinggroups.Hestressedthat55adaptationactivitieshavebeenidentifiedtoaddressclimatehazardsofwhichtheGovernmentconsideredontheartificial loweringof theThorthormi lake,GLOFHazardZoningpilot scheme inChamkharChhubasinandtheInstallationofEarlywarningSysteminthePhoChhuBasin.HesaidthatthefirstNAPAprojectwasReducingClimateChange-inducedRisks&VulnerabilitiesfromGLOFsinthePunakha-WangdueandChamkharValleysin2008.

AsalongtermadaptationprioritybasedonthevulnerabilityandadaptationassessmentsintheSecondNational Communication (SNC), Karmahighlightedonwater resourcemanagement, diversificationofenergymix, climate proofing of hydropower and infrastructure, agriculture diversification, awarenessadvocacytocopewithhealthrisksandenhancingpreparednessandunderstandingofGLOFstriggeredbyclimatechange.

Mr.Karma’spresentationwasfollowedby“An overview of GLOF risk reduction initiatives in Bhutan (including an overview of the project: Reducing Climate Change-induced risks and Vulnerabilities of GLOF implemented in Bhutan as a NAPA follow up project.” ItwaspresentedbyMr.DowchuDrukpa,Chief Seismologist, GLOF ProjectManager, Department of Geology andMines, Ministry of EconomicAffairs.

Mr.Dowchubeganbyprovidingahistoricalperspectiveof theGLOFhazards,andsaid that17events


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hadoccurredbetweenthe19thand20thcenturywith4casesofoutburstinthelast40years.Healsocontended that of the 2,794 glacier lakes in Bhutan, 25 glacier lakes have been identified as beingpotentiallydangerousespeciallyinthePhochhusub-basinthatcouldposesignificantthreatandrisktoover70%ofthesettlementsinthelowervalleys.Besides,heimpressedthatinfrastructuressuchastheHydro-powerplantsandthenewlysetupairstripintheChamkharvalley,thehistoricalmonumentsandsettlementsacrosstheborderinIndiacouldalsobeimpacted.

He also outlined on the various scientific studies that have been conducted in collaboration withinternationalinstitutesoverthelastdecade—particularlyinthePhoChhusub-basinasaresultofthe1994LuggeTsooutburst.Duetotheincreasedfrequencyofdisasteroccurrenceinthecountry,MrDowchuelaboratedthatthegovernmenthasinitiatedvariouspolicyandinstitutionalinterventionsincludingtheup-gradationoferstwhileDivisionofDisasterManagementtoDepartmentofDisasterManagementin2008,DevelopmentofNationalDisasterRiskManagement(NDRM)frameworkin2008andtheCreationofDivisionofGlaciologyundertheDepartmentofGeologyandMinesin2010amongothers.

Focusingontheriskreductionprogrammes,heoutlinedontheGLOFhazardzonationandvulnerabilitymapping conducted in the three valleys of Chamkhar, Punakha andWangdue. He also informed theparticipants that themitigation works of the RaphstrengTso initiated in 1996 has been successfullycompleted with the lowering of the water level by 5 meters in 2012. However, he cautioned thatRaphstrengandThorthormiarestill twoof themostdangerousglacier lakes incountryandthereforerequireconstantmonitoringandvigilance.

On the Thorthormi lake GLOF risk mitigation undertaken in 2008, he shared that the lake has beensuccessfullyloweredby5metersreducingtheriskaswellastheimpactontheenvironment.Highlightingontheothercomponentsoftheproject,hementionedtheinstallationofEarlyWarningSystems(EWS),identificationanddemarcationofsafeevacuationsites,institutionalizationofaCommunityBasedDisasterRiskManagement(CBDRM)andtheadvocacyandawarenesscampaignscarriedthereofinthePhoChhuandPunatsangChhuvalleysasapartofacomprehensiveplanoftheGLOFriskreductioninitiativeunderthecurrentGLOFProject.

FollowingMr.Dowchu’s presentation,Mr. KarmaTsering,Director,Department ofHydro-met Services(DHMS),MinistryofEconomicAffairspresentedon“Sensitivity and response of Bhutanese glaciers to atmospheric warming”thatwasbasedonhisresearchstudy.Inhispresentation,Mr.Tseringemphasizedthatsinceclean-typeglaciersaresensitivetoclimatechange,thesustenanceofcleanwater,ecosystemintegrity,hydropowerdevelopment,agricultureandfoodsecurityareatahighriskbesidesthepossibilityofnaturalhazardslikeGLOF.Healsocontendedthatglacierchangeintermsofthicknessandextentispoorlyquantifiedandthatthereexistsdiscrepanciesinreportedglaciermassbalancesduetodifferingapproaches and methodologies being used. He also stated while there is a limited glacier relatedpublicationsthereseemstobenoneonfieldormodeling-basedmassbalanceestimatesfortheBhutanglaciers.

HisresearchwasbasedonGlacierAreaMapping,EquilibriumLineAltitudeSensitivity(ELA)perturbationmodel,ClimateInputDataandMassbalanceandGlacierChangesundercurrentclimate.Basedonthestudy,heconcludedthatforallglaciers,theresultsoftheELAsensitivitytestsaresimilartothatobtainedusingfullenergybalancemodelforablation,thatareaswithhigheraccumulationratesarelesssensitivetochangesintemperaturethanareaswithlowaccumulationratesandthattheglacierELAsensitivitytotemperatureincreasesfromwesttoeast.Ontheresponsetotheglaciersunderfutureclimatescenariosheconcludedthat,evenforaconservativewarmingof1oC,minimum25%oftheglacierizedareawillbelostandthatthepresentmeltwaterfluxwilldecrease,afteraninitialmeltspike,to35%oftoday’svalue.Healsocontendedthatwiththe2.5oCaverageprojectedtemperaturechangeforthenextcenturyoverSouthAsia,thesewillresultinthelossofmorethanhalfoftheglacierarea.

ForBhutan,Mr.KarmaTseringcontendedthattheBhutaneseglacierareaisconsiderablyoutofbalancewiththerecentclimatologyandthatevenifnoadditionalwarmingweretooccur,theglacierswilldecreaseinordertoreachasteadystateandthatthemeltwaterfluxaregoingtobesignificant.Hesuggestedontheneedtoidentifylocationstoprioritizeandfocusadaptationandmitigationinterventionstoglacierchangessoastosafeguardwaterresources,sustainhydropowergenerationandreduceGLOFrisktolivesandproperties.


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For possible researches in the future, he outlined the need to quantify uncertainties associatedwithdifferencesinglacierareaestimates,validatemeltfactorswithobservationaldata,accuratelyassessforms,magnitude(intensity,frequencyandduration)anddistributionpatternofprecipitationandidentifythelikelydebris-coverthicknessatwhichalbedoandinsulatingeffectscanceleachotherout.

Dr.MariamJacksonfromtheNorwegianWaterResources&EnergyDirectorate(NVE),Norway,followednext with the presentation on “GLOF in Norway-More than 100 years of GLOF risk reduction.” PresentingabriefbackgroundonGLOF,sheinformedthatNorwayhad2,000glaciersofwhichGLOFhadoccurredfrom12differentglaciers.ThefirstknownGLOFhadoccurredin1736fromlakeDemmevatnontheNorthWestsideoftheicecapHardangerjøkul.Twoseriousfloodshadalsooccurredin1937and1938.Asfarasfatalitiesareconcerned,shesaidthatsofartherehasbeen12knownfatalities.

Shethanzoomedinto lakeRembesdalskåka-Demmevatnetwheretheearliestrecordedfloodwasin1736,subsequentlyoccurringagainin1813,1842,1861,1893,1897,1937,and1938.From1941to1954,GLOFhadoccurredalmostannuallyendingonlyafteraflood-relieftunnelhadbeencompletedin1959.TouchinguponotherglacierlakessuchastheSupphelle,SisovatnetandBlamannsisenglaicerlakes,sheimpressedupontheparticipantsthatGLOFoccurredmainlybecauseofthechangesintheglaciers.Thesechanges,shesuggestedwerearesultofwarmandwetweatherwherebywithoutproperdrainageundertheglaciers,alargevolumeofwaterforceditswaythroughthemorainecausingfloods.

SumminguponthelonghistoryofGLOFsandotherrelatedglacierhazardsinNorway,shehighlightedontheneedtocarryoutmitigationworksespeciallyastheglaciersarelocatedatarelativelyshortdistancefromthehumansettlements.Shepointedoutthatbuildingreservoirsupstreamcannotonlybenefitthehydropowerplantsbutcanalsominimisedamagefromfloods.

KEY COMMENTS/DISCUSSION POINTS

• Climatechangeisaglobalphenomenon.Ithasbeenfuelledbytheconsumeristattitudeofhumanactivitiesandthedevelopmentalactivitiesthereof.Humanwellbeing,sustainabilityandtheissueofresourceuseforfuturegenerationshavebeenovershotbytheideologyofdevelopment.

• Evenwithaconservative increaseof1°C,aminimum25%oftheglacieredareawillbe lostresultinginthedecreaseinthepresentmeltwaterflux.Withthetemperatureprojectedchangeof2.5°CforthenextcenturyoverSouthAsia,morethanhalfoftheglacierareawillbelost.

• 17eventshadoccurredbetweenthe19thcenturyandthe1970’sand4casesofoutburstinthelast40yearswith25glacierlakesasbeingpotentiallydangerous.TheimpactsofclimatechangeinBhutanhavebeensignificantlyfeltwiththeformationofsupra-glaciallakes,aresultoftheacceleratedrateofretreatingglaciers.

• Bhutanhasalreadyfelttheimpactofclimatechangeintheformoflanddegradation,flashfloods,droughts,windandthunderstorms,temperatureriseanddryingupofwatersources,longintervalsbetweenrainsandpestsanddiseases.

• The Government has drawn up various policies and institutional intervention measures.The Division of Disaster Management has been upgraded to the Department of DisasterManagement in 2008. ANational Disaster RiskManagement (NDRM) framework has beendrawnupin2008andtheDivisionofGlaciologyundertheDepartmentofGeologyandMineshasbeencreatedin2010.

• TheGovernmentofBhutanhasidentified55adaptationactivitiestoaddressclimatehazardsof which artificial lowering of the Thorthormi lake, GLOF Hazard Zoning pilot scheme inChamkharChhuBasinandtheInstallationofEarlywarningSysteminthePhoChhuBasinwerefewamongstothers.

• AsalongtermadaptationpriorityBhutanneedstoemphasizeonwaterresourcemanagement,diversification of energy, climate proofing of hydropower and infrastructure, agriculturediversification, awarenessadvocacy to copewithhealth risksandenhancingpreparednessandunderstandingofGLOFstriggeredbyclimatechange.


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• NotjustBhutan,evenEuropeandcountriessuchasNorwayhasalonghistoryofGLOFsandotherrelatedglacierhazards.BasedontheexperienceofNorway,thebestwayofmitigatingthreatsistoconstructreservoirsupstreamrelatedtohydropowerplantswhichcanminimiserisks.

Bhutan,NorwayontracktomitigatingGLOF

NorwayandBhutan,thetwocountriesthatarebothvulnerabletothreatsfromGlacierLake Outburst Floods (GLOF) and after having had experienced glacial floods andlearned lessons, are on track tomitigatingpossible flash floods fromglaciers in thetimestocome.

OnemitigationmeasureadoptedbyNorway,Dr.MiriamJacksonfromtheNorwegianWaterResourcesandEnergyDirectorate(NWRED)said,isthebuildingoftunnelsanddrainsdownthelakeandchannelingwaterintothereservoirsusedbythehydropowerprojects.

“Someofthemitigationmeasuresactuallywentonprimarilybecauseit’salsorelatedtohydropower,”sheadded.

AndifasimilarsystemcanbeemulatedinBhutan,Dr.MiriamJacksonexplainedthatthesituationinthetwocountriesweredifferent-inBhutan,glaciersandhydropowerprojects are located far off from each other with settlements in between, while inNorwayglaciersareclosetohumansettlements,thusmakingiteasytobuildreservoirsneartheglaciers.

However,whatcouldbeasimilarbetweenNorwayandBhutan,accordingtoDr.Miriam,aretheexperienceoftwocountriesknowingtheexistenceofGLOFandtheexperiencesin studying and specifically measuring glaciers and the possibilities of what mighthappentoglaciersinthefuture.

“NorwayhasseveraldecadesofexperienceinmeasuringglacierswhichIthinkcanbebeneficialtoBhutan,”Dr.MiriamJacksonsaid.

Bhutan’spreparednesslevelagainstthreatsfromGLOFpresentlydependsonthebasisofcases.Thelevelofawareness,especiallyinthePunakha-Wangdivalley,seemstobequitehighascomparedtoplacesinothervalleys.

“Infact,therewouldbecommunitiesthatdon’tevenknowsuchthreatsexistintheirlivingspace,”theDirectoroftheDepartmentofHydro-metServices(DHMS),Ministryof Economic Affairs in Bhutan, KarmaTshering said. The high-level preparedness inPunakha-Wangdivalleyshasbeenattributedto1994GLOF,triggeredbytheoutburstoftheLuggeTshoinLunana.

“TheincidenthasbeenaneyeopenertoBhutan.”

Conversely, the challenge in reducing risks from glacial floods, according to KarmaTshering,isthedifficultyinmonitoringglaciallakesastheyareinsomeoftheharshest,remotestandbarrenareaswithveryfewpeople(fewsettlements)andsettingupofficesinsuchplaceshavebeenagruelingtask.


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“Wearealsonotreallyclearabouttheclimate-dynamics;westilldon’tproperlyunderstandtheglacialdynamics,theglacialprocessesthatarehappening,andwhatactuallytriggerstheformationofglaciallakes,”KarmaTsheringsaid.

However,ThothormiLakehasbeendecreasedbyfivemetersrecently,althoughthewaterlevelmayriseupagainnextyear.

KarmaTsheringdefinestheconstructionofaconduit forwater toflowfreelyasamajorachievementasthewater levelhasbeenbroughtdowntomorethanfivemeters for itsearlierheight.

“Soasmuchaswatermayaccumulateinthelake,thereistheoutletthroughwhichwatercanmoveoutfreelyandsafely,”hesaid,addingthatevenifthe lake’swater levelrises itwon’treachthelevelthatwasoriginallytherebeforetheinceptionoftheproject.

“Having an efficient early-warning system that runs 24x7, community awareness andeducationsothatpeopledon’tremaincomplacent,andaccesstomediaarefewsolutionsBhutanneedstoadapt,”KarmaTsheringsaid.

ButDr.MiriamJacksonofNWREDinNorway,ontheotherhand, thinksthatBhutanhasalreadymadeaverygoodstartonthesolutionfront.

“Lookingat theareasdownstream, ifBhutanhasaGLOF, lettingthecommunitiesknowwhatareasareaffecteddownstreamandbynotbuildinginareasthatarevulnerablearethesolutions,”shesaid.However,itisgoodtodealwiththeproblemifpossibleratherthanhavinganearlywarningsystem.

NorwayexperiencedGLOFrecentlyin2004.

“TherecentGLOFcausedalotofdamages.Eventhoughwehavealotofexperiences,wecanstillbe takenbysurprise.Thereweremanysmallerevents thatsignalNorway tobeawareevenifithasalotofexperiences,”Dr.MiriamJacksonsaid.


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SESSION TWO: GLOF RISK REDUCTION IN THE HIMALAYAS-MONITORING, COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

SessiontwowaschairedbyDr.AltonByers,Director,TheMountainInstitute,USAandco-chairedbyDr.MariamJacksonfromtheNorwegianWaterResources&EnergyDirectorate(NVE),Norway.

TheafternoonsessionofDayIbeganwithapresentationbyDr.TakeoTadono,AssociateSeniorResearcher,JapanAerospace ExplorationAgency (JAXA) Japan. He presented on “Development of Glacial Lake Inventory in Bhutan Himalayas using ALOS ‘DAICHI”. It was a project undertaken through JapanInternationalCooperationAgency(JICA)andJapanScienceandTechnologyAgency(JST)BhutanGLOFProject2009-2011basedonSatelliteGrouporRemoteSensingGrouptoanalyzeglaciallakeexpansionhistoryusingterraininformationderivedfromsatellitedata.ThestudyincludedterrainanalysisforthepastGLOFs,basemapanalysisusingASTERonboardNASA’sTerrasatellitecollaborationwithProcessStudyGroup,extractpreciseterraininformationandvalidationusingPRISMonboardlatestJapanesesatelliteALOS, development of glacial lake inventory based onmulti-temporal satellite imageries, applicationoffloodanalysisgenerationof ahazardmapcollaborationwithAssessmentGroup, andprovisionsoftrainingandsystemsforremotesensing.

Dr.TakeoTadono’spresentationwasfollowedbyapresentationbyMr.PradeepMool,ICIMOD,Nepal.Withhispresentationthemed“Glacial lakes and GLOF Monitoring in the Himalayas,” Mr.Mool,touchedonpastGLOFeventsintheHindukushregion.Hesaidthatoutofthe56GLOFevents,4occurredinBhutan,29inChina,14inNepaland9inPakistan.HefurtherinformedtheparticipantsthatbasedonthereportofISRO,16thMay,2011,75%oftheHimalayanglaciersareretreatingleadingtotheformationofglaciallakesespeciallyatelevationsabove4000meters.

He also focused on the trans-boundary issues of glacial lakes and shared on the GLOF events fromChina/TibetthathaditsimpactinNepalcausingdamagetofarmland,livestockandinfrastructuresuchasbridgesandhydropowerplants.Reiteratingtheneedtoidentifypotentialglaciallakes,hesaidthatcriteriasuchasthesizeandgrowthinarea,increaseinwaterlevel,itspositionvisavisthemorainesandassociatedglacier,andthesocio-economicvulnerabilityassessmentalongthedownstreamareasneedtobeconsidered.CitingexamplefromNepal,hepresentedtheparticipantswithalistof21potentiallydangerousglaciallakesasidentifiedbytheICIMOD.

GLOF riskassessmentscarriedout in the threeglacial lakesofTshoRolpa, ImjaandThulagiwerealsopresentedalongwiththedownstreamvulnerabilityassessmentonthesettlementssuchasDingbocheincaseofafloodoninfrastructure,landandpeople.SumminguphispresentationMr.MoolsharedonthevariousregionalprogramsonGLOFriskmanagementhappeningbetweencountriessuchasAfghanistan,Bhutan,China,India,Myanmar,NepalandPakistan.Healsostressedontheneedtocollaboratebetweenthenationswithintheregionsandalsowithotherstoexchangeviewsfromeachotherandsharelessonslearned.

KarmaDupchuwasthethirdpresenterandhemadeapresentationon“Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Early Warning System: Preparedness for Eventuality.” His presentation was based on theimplementation of one of the components under the project “Reducing Climate Change-Induced Risks and Vulnerabilities from Glacier Lake Outburst Flood in the Punakha-Wangdu and Chamkhar Valleys”. The main outcome of the projects that included lowering the water level of Thorthormilake, installation of GLOF EarlyWarning System, and strengthening of theDisasterManagement andCommunitiesAwarenesswerealsotouchedupon.

He highlighted on the main components of the EWS that included Automatic Monitoring Stations,communicationsystem,sirentowersandtheStandardOperationProcedures(SOP).HestatedthattheEarlyWarningSystemsareimportanttoprovidearealtimeearlywarningsystemandtoinformpeopleof the approaching floods so that lives could be saved and property damages reduced. He furthermentionedthatsystemconsistsof5waterlevelstationsand3sirensinLunanaand1waterlevelstationand14sirensinthePunakha-Wangdivalley.HealsosaidthattheprojectalsoinstalledtwoAutomaticWeatherStations(AWS)atLunanaandDangsatocollectweatherinformationasthereislimitedstationsinthenorthernboundary.Besides,automaticmonitoringstationshavebeeninstalledinfourlakesand


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oneontheconfluenceofThanza.Inthefrontofcommunications,acontrolcenterhasbeenlocatedatWangdiwiththestateofarttechnologymanned24hoursaday.EmphasizingthatitisultimatelypeoplethatneedstobeeducatedandmadeawareofGLOF,mockdrillsandawarenessonGLOFandEWShavebeencarriedoutforvulnerablecommunitiesresidingalongthevalleytogetherwiththeDepartmentofDisasterManagement.

Summinguphispresentation,hesaidthatwhile lessons learntfromthisprojectespecially intermsofknowledgeandskillsareusefulandcanbereplicatedinotherprojects,therestillremainchallenges.Hesaidthatlimitedaccessibilityandremotenessoftheprojectsites,lackoftechnicalcapacity,lackofaccesstocommunicationsystemandscarcityoffundsneedstobeaddressed.

Dr.JiroKomorifromTeikyoHeiseiUniversity,Japanmadehispresentationon“Temporospatial record and future hazardous of Himalayan GLOF-inferred.” He started off by posing questions on whatamountoffearshouldwehaveinGLOFandhowdoweprepareourselveswithsuchcatastrophesandhowoftenandwherewillGLOFoccurinthefuture?

ThosepertinentquestionswereansweredbypresentingasketchofthelatestGLOFsthathadoccurredinBhutanandinNepal.FromBhutan,the1994LuggeTshoGLOFandthe2009minorfloodfromsupraglaciallakesonTshojoGlacierwerepresentedwhilefromNepalhediscussedtheGLOFfromtheSabaiTshoandfloods intheeasternAnnapurna.HesaidthatthesourceoftheTshojoglacierGLOFthatdischarged5millionm3ofwaterwasnotfromthemorainedammedlakebuthaditsorigininthesupraglaciallakes.

FurtherhealsopresentedalistoffloodsthathaveoccurredinBhutannumberingto21,16inNepaland9 inSikkim.Of the21floods inBhutan,hementionedthat76%hadoccurredbefore the1970’swhilethere seems tobenoGLOF record in thewesternhalf ofNepal. Sequences from the Satellite imageswerepresentedindicatingthatthesefloodsoccurredfromglacier iceavalanche.Fromthesefloodsheconcludedthatthebehaviorofhangingglacierandsupraglaciallakesshouldbeaconcernasasourceoffloodaswithglacierlakes.Thelakeshavesometopographicalandsedimentologicalcharacteristicsincommon.

KEY COMMENTS

Thereisastrongneedfortheregionalcountriestocollaborate,exchangeviewsandsharelessonslearnedonGLOFasthelakesarelocatedintheregionandtheimpactsofGLOFsarealsofeltintheneighboringcountriesasaresult.

• At least four lakes inBhutanarebeingmonitored throughout thedaywithacontrol roombased at Wangdiphodrang. EWS and automatic monitoring stations are also in place inupstreamPunakhaalongthePhochhuandinthelakestogetherwithsirentowersplacedatstrategiclocationsformaximumsoundprojections.

• ThechallengesposedbyEWSaremanyincludinglimitedtechnicalcapacityandscarcityoffunds.EWSinitselfwillnotsavelivesandpropertiesfromGLOFandthereistheneedforallpartners,communitiesandthelineagenciestoworktogether.

• Thebehaviorofthehangingglaciersandthesupraglaciallakesshouldbeaconcernasasourceoffloodaswithotherglacierlakes.Thelakeshavesometopographical,andsedimentologicalcharacteristicsincommon.


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SESSION THREE: LESSONS ON GLOF EARLY WARNING SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS: RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD

The last session forDay Iwas chairedbyDashoNamgayWangchuk,DirectorGeneral,DepartmentofDisasterManagement,MoHCAandco-chairedbyMr.PradeepMool,ICIMOD,Nepal.

The sessionbeganwith a groupdiscussion on the lessons learned especially from the EarlyWarningSystem and Community Preparedness and based on the presentationsmade by the panelists in themorningandafternoon.Themembersweredividedintofourgroupstodeliberateuponandcomeupwithrecommendations.Eachgrouphadachairtofacilitatethediscussionandarapporteurtopresentthefindings.

ThelessonslearnedfromthepastexperienceinEWSandCommunitypreparednesswerebasedontwobroadquestions:

1. What are some of the lessons (positive and negative) and best practices from your past experience in implementing GLOF/disaster early warning systems and community preparedness programs?

On the positive benefits accrued from EWS and community preparedness, the following were outlined by the working groups:

• ThecommunitymembersinthehazardzoneespeciallyinthePunakha-WangdiandChamkharvalleyshavebeensensitizedonGLOFandearlywarningsystemscontributingtoanincreaseintheirknowledgelevel.ThishasbeenpossibleduetoextensiveawarenesscreationandthroughthemockdrillsonGLOF-EWS.ThemembersfeltthattheconfidencelevelofthecommunitiesinGLOFandEWShasincreaseddrastically.ThelocalcommunitymembersarenowbeginningtotakeinitiativeinGLOFrelatedactivitiesandbearownership.

• ThecommunitybackupmanualEWShashelped in trouble shootingwhenever therewereminorcomplications in thesystem.Further, themanualonSOPhasenabledpeopleat thecontrolcentertorelayinformationthroughproperchannels.

• EWSequipmentssuchasthewaterlevelsensorsandautomaticweatherstationspurchasedfromasinglevendor,hasbeenabletominimizetoalargeextenttheissuesofcoordinationandintegration.

• Theotherbenefitof EWS isenabling the relevantorganization suchas theDepartmentofHydro-metServicestocollectclimateandwaterresourcesdata.

• There is proper coordination between relevant departments including the Department ofDisasterManagement, Department of geology andMines, and Department of Hydro-metservices.Thiscoordinationhasprovedusefulespecially incoordinationand intheresourceutilization.

• 17sirenswhicharestrategicallylocatedinLunanaandPunakha-WangduevalleytosignaloftheimpendingdangerasaresultofGLOFarefoundeconomical.Thesirenscanalsobeusedtowarnthehydro-powerplantsdownstreamsuchasthePunatsangchuIandII,andSunkoshhydroprojectincaseofGLOF.ThesewouldgivethemenoughtimetorespondpositivelytoGLOFthreat.

• HazardzonationmapsalongthevulnerablecommunitiesespeciallyinthePunakha-Wangdivalleyshaveprovedusefulinsensitizingthepeopleonsafeplacesforfuturesettlements.

On the Negative aspects, the following were outlined by the group members:

• Falsealarmsdue to technicalglitchesevenwithoutanoutbreakcould inhibitpeople fromtakingsirenwarningsseriouslyintheactualevent.Further,thelocationofsirensinthevicinityof theHydropowerplant construction sites are found inaudibledue tomany constructionactivities.Thenoise from thedrillingmachines, theblasting thatoccur frequently and themovementoftheheavymachineriesattheconstructionsitesmakesthesireninaudible.

• While the EWS systems have been set up with assistance from the LDCF funding, thesustainability issuetooperateandmaintainwouldariseattheendoftheprojectduration.


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Meeting even the recurrent costs in terms of satellite communication is expensive andunsustainable.

• EWSsystemthatisplacedinthePunakha-Wangdivalleyreliesonlyonwaterlevelsensorwithnoalternatives.Therefore,intheeventofmalfunctionofthewaterlevelsensor,EWSwillnotreactwhenthereisGLOF.Similarlythecommunicationsystemisprovidedviasatellitelackingothermeansofreliablecommunicationbackups.

• Whileonpaper,theactualhazardmappinghasbeencarriedoutsmoothlysegregatingintoRed“Mostdangerous”Yellow“Intermediate”andGreen“Safe”zones,theactualimplementationoftheplansatthegroundlevelisverychallenging.

• Setting up EWS in the Punakha-Wangdi valley has been found expensive incurring hugeamountofmoneyvisavisthepossibilityofGLOFoccurrence.

• Mapping,recordingandincorporatingofthelocalknowledgeonGLOFisimportantandthereisnoindicationofanystudyundertakenonthisarea.

2. What are some of the indigenous methods of EWS and how can these be utilized?

• Thelocalshavearichexperienceinpredictingfloods.Oneimportantlocalknowledgeisthatthehousesintheoldentimeswereallconstructedatahigherlevelandawayfromtheriverbanks.This iswith theperception that theycanavoiddamages in caseoffloodandothernaturaldisasters.

• Thelocalsalsotalkofapeculiarsmellofmudprecedingafloodevent.

• Theyarealsoaware that thedomesticanimalsbehavepeculiarlyduring suchevents sincetheycouldfeelthevibrationandheartheoncomingfloodnoisefromfarawaydistance.

• Wecouldalsomakeuseoftheavailable localexpertiseandtheresources indesigningtheEWS.Thiscouldreducethecostandinthelongrunbemoresustainable.Thelocalswouldalsohavebettertrustinthesystemandtherebycreateasenseofownership.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Therecommendationsmadewereinthefollowingareas:

• Since the sirens are found inaudible because of the ongoing constructionworks and alsosoundsimilarinnature,itisrecommendedtouseuniquesoundssuchaspistolsignals.Usingpistolsignalscouldbebettertoalarmthepeopleandthecommunities.InstallingCCTV’swiththewaterlevelstationsbesidesthesirenscouldalsohelpinthevisualvalidationoftheflood.Besidesadoptingastandardwarningsystemofsound/colorsinthecountrycouldalsoenableinalertingpeopleofanoncomingflood.

• Since, the method of communication is based on only one system which is satelliatecommunication,itisrecommendedtohaveinplacemorethanonesothatthereisareliablebackupsystem.

• Whilehazardmappingof thecommunitiesat riskespecially in thePunakhaWangdivalleyhasbeensuccessfullycarriedithasbeenimpededinitsfullenforcementontheground.Tosuccessfullyimplementandadheretothezonationmap,supportfromrelevantorganizationsincludingtheLocalgovernmentandotherstakeholdersisnecessary.

• SincethecurrentEWSisbasedonasinglesensorsystemwhichisthewaterlevelsensor,itisrecommendedtouseacombinationofsensorslikeearthquakeandvibrationsensortoensurethattheEWSistriggeredappropriately.

• Pre-disasterplanningandmitigationshouldbegivenequalpriority to thatof reliefeffortsafterGLOFhasoccurred.

• WhilethesystemisinplaceandtoanextentadvocacyonGLOFEWShasbeencarriedout,itis


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importanttotrainfewfocalpersonsfromeachcommunityonGLOFEWS.

• While,thelocalcommunitieshavebeenengagedinthesettingupofEWS,ithasbeenlimitedtoonlycertainphasesoftheprojectimplementation.Therefore,itisrecommendedtoengagethecommunitiesrightfromtheinceptiondesignandthroughallphasesoftheproject.

• WehavetostrategizesustainablemethodsofmaintainingtheEWSincollaborationwiththestakeholderslikehydropowerplants,whichislackingatthemoment.

• EWSsystemshouldnotbelookedasameretooltowarnthecommunitiesduringtimesoffloodsbutalsomake itasanavenuetoeducatepeopleonhydro-metservices,ondisastermanagementandachievingotherdevelopmentplans.

• Thereisthefearthatoncetheprojectisover,theresponsibleagencieswouldhavelesscontactwith the community level. It is recommended that there is inplace agoodmechanism tocommunicateandadvicethecommunitiesperiodically.

• ForwarningstobemoreeffectiveincaseofGLOF,itissuggestedthatbesidesbroadcastmedia,weshouldalsomakeuseofothersocialnetworkservicesandSMSthroughmobileservicesaspracticedinBangladesh.

• While the EWS system is relativelynew, there are chances that they couldmal- function ifregularmaintenance isnotcarriedout.Therefore, it issuggestedtohave inplacearegularmaintenancearrangement.

• Thefrequencyofmockdrillsinthecommunities,schoolsandinstitutionsshouldbecarriedoutregularlyforbetterpreparednessduringtheeventofGLOF.


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DAYII:6thDecember,2012

SESSION IV: GLOF RISK MITIGATION: EXPERIENCES IN IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURAL AND NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES

ThefirstsessionforDayII,SessionIVwaschairedbyMr.SonamYangley,DirectorGeneral,DepartmentofGeologyandMines(DGM),MinistryofEconomicAffairsandco-chairedbyDr.DiethardLeber,UniversityofVienna,Austria.

Prof.KoichiNishimura,NagoyaUniversity,Japan,presentedhisstudyon“The Study on GLOFs in the Bhutan Himalayas.”Hispresentationwasbasedonaprojectspreadoverathreeyearperiodparticularlyto evaluate GLOFs hazard level in Bhutan with focus on the Mangdechu valley for which the GLOFhazardlevelwasbelievedtobehighbutyetinformationformitigationwaslacking.Bathymetricsurveys,geophysicalexplorationsandmeteorologicalobservationswereconductedintheZanamregionattheheadwatersof theMangde-ChhuRiverbasin, toevaluate thepotential riskofGLOFsandthepossibleamountoffloodwaterdischargeinthecaseofaGLOF.Fieldsurveysandsatellitedataanalysiswascarriedouttoprovideacompletehazardmapintheregion.

The analysiswas basedon theALOSmosaic images.The study included triggeringofGLOF,morainestability,hydrologicalsurveyandbehavioroftheglacier.Mr.Nishimura’steamconductedageophysicalexploration, breach simulation, flood simulation, hazard mapping, landslide inventory, active faultmappingandEarlyWarningSystem.Besides,theteamalsoconductedtrainingsontechnologytransferfocusingonsatellitedataanalysis, landslidedatamapping,floodsimulationandhazardmapping.Thestudywhilefindingnoimmediatethreathowevercautionedthatweneedtobeprepared.

HispresentationwasfollowedbyapresentationbyMr.KarmaToeb,DepartmentofGeologyandMineson“GLOF Risk Mitigation: Artificial lowering of the water at the Thorthormi Tsho.”HesaidthatthethreatposedbyThorthormiisreal.Thelakehasbeenrapidlyexpandinginsizetoabout3.42km2andcould releaseabout53millioncubicmetersofwater.Hence,he felt that itwaspertinent tocarryoutmitigationworksthatincludedartificiallowering,hazardzonationandinstallationofEWS.Heopinedthatduringtheengineeringandsafetystudyin2008,theprojectlookedatthreeoptionstolowerthelakelevelincludingbysiphoning,pumpingandmanualconstructionofspillway.

Thethirdoptionofmanualconstructionofaspillwaywasconsideredbasedonseveralfactorsincludingunknownrateofrechargeintothelake,extremeweatherconditionsatthesiteandalsobasedonlessonslearnt from the Raphstreng Tso mitigation in the late 1990s. Mr Karma presented that the artificialloweringoftheThorthormilakestartedin2008withafundofUS$4.23millionco-financedbytheRoyalGovernmentofBhutan (RGOB),andspreadovera fouryearperiod.Thegoalwasto lower the lakeby5meters.The total fund allocated for themitigationwork at the lakewasUS$ 2.7million.Mr Karmapresentedthatafter4yearsofhardworkandsacrifice,theprojecthassuccessfullyloweredthelakelevelby5m.This,hepointedoutresultedinreleaseof17millioncubicmetersofwateroverthelast4years.Hefurtherclarifiedtheprojecthasbeenabletominimizetheriskofoutburstfromthelakeandmoreover,evenifanoutburstoccursfromthelakeinfuture,damagedownstreamwillbeminimizedtoalargeextentasaresultofthemeasuresundertakenbythecurrentproject.

Summinguphispresentation,heoutlinedtheconstraintsfacedincarryingouttheproject.Hepointedouttheunpredictableweathersystem,highaltitudesicknessandemergencyevacuation,difficultiesinthe transportation ofmaterials,managing a large force ofworkers, planning and financial difficultiesandfinallyachievingthedesiredgoals.Healsosuggestedrecommendationsonthelinesofrequiringadetailedscientificinformation,moretechnologybasedapproachtoavoidlargeworkforcemanagementissues,multipledrillingmachinescombinedwithsilentexplosives,avoidingwetworkingconditions,useoffuelefficientstovesandifpossibletomaintainsameworkingteammembers.

Mr.ChenchoTsheringmadeapresentationon“GLOF Risk Reduction: Experience on Implementing Non-Structural Mitigation Measures in Bhutan.” HetouchedupontheDisasterManagementStrategyandontheNationalDisasterManagementBill,2011.HementionedthattheNationalDisasterManagement


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Bill,2011 is important tobuilda sustainableandadecentralizeddisastermanagementmechanismatboththeNationalandtheLocalGovernmentandtoestablishCriticalDisasterManagementInstitutionsinthecountry.Further,hesaidthattheBillcouldalsoenableinmainstreamingdisasterriskreductionsintoallnationalplansandpolicies.

Hethenpresentedonthenon-structuralmitigationmeasuresundertakenbythedepartmentofdisastermanagement such as community preparedness, GLOF hazardmapping along the Punakha-wangdueandChamkharvalleys,vulnerabilityassessmentincaseofGLOF,hazardzonedemarcation,identificationofGLOFSafeevacuationsiteandpossibleroutesespeciallyforthecommunitiesthatfallundertheredzone,alternatecommunitybasedearlywarningsystemwheretheyhaveidentifiedabout31vulnerablecommunitiesstartingfromLunanainthenorthtoLhamoizingkhainthesouth.Healsohighlightedonthe trainings conducted for capacity development and for creating awareness.The trainings focusedonCommunityBasedDisasterRiskManagementPlanningProcess, schoolpreparednessandresponseplanning,mockdrillsandmainstreamingDRRintoplans,policiesanddevelopmentalactivities.

Lastlyhedelvedintothelessonslearntfromthemockdrillsandthechallengesfaced.Hesaidthatthecommunitieslackedknowledgeaboutsafeevacuationsites,lackedcoordination,lackedownershipoftheEWSequipmentandthatthesirenssoundedsimilartothewarningsoundsofthePHPAconstructionsites.Hesaidthatsomebestpracticestobeincludedwerefora“BottomUp”anda“ParticipatoryApproach”especially in designing disaster management plans for the gewog and chiwog levels as carried outby theDRM.He said that theoverall challenges thatDRM facedwas in termofbudgetconstraints inimplementingtheprioritizedpreparednessandmitigationactivitiesandinadequateresourcesforsettingupEmergencyOperationCenters(OECs)andSearchandRescueequipmentandtrainings.

“Hazard Zonation and contingency planning: A standard tool for reducing flood risk in European Alps” followednextbyDr.DiethardLeberfromtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalgeosciences,UniversityofVienna,Austria.HefocusedontheGeo-hazardassessmentandriskmanagement.Hebasedthephasesof disastermanagement into three categorieswhich includes Preparedness, Response and Recovery.UsingtheBuddhistWheelof lifeasanexample,Dr.Lebersaidthatpreparedness level is thephaseofplanningactivitieswithalong-termviewoftheriskmanagementaimingatthereductionofvulnerability,hazardpotentialandhazardexposure.OnResponse,hesaidthatitisthephaseofreactingtoanongoingoranimpendingdisasterwhileonRecovery,hesaidthatitisthephaseofrestoringtheaffectedareatoitspreviousstateintermsofconditionsoflife,infrastructure,communicationandsocialorganization.

Healsohighlightedonthecommonproceduresinvolvedinhazardassessmentsuchasmaintainingdatabase,fieldmapping,observationandbackcalculationofpasteventsandestimatingfutureevents.

Dr.AltonByers,Director,TheMountainInstitute,USAsharedon“An Introduction to the High Mountain Glacial Watershed Program: Recent Results from Imja Glacial Lake, Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, Nepal.” He shared the Peruvian-Nepal collaborationwhose goalswere to strengthen scientific,social,andinstitutionalcapacityformanagingdangerousglaciallakesinPeruandimplementcommunity-based,participatoryglaciallakeriskreductionprojectinNepal.ThefieldworkattheImjalakeinNepalcarriedoutusingGPRsurveyandbathymetricsurveywerealsosharedwiththeresults.Thestudyfoundout that the lake isgrowingandgrowing fastand that thebestwayofminimizing risk isbybuildinga60metershighdamthatcouldreducetheriskby89%.Finallyhesharedtheprocess forward intheriskmanagementprocessthatincludedbesidesotherstodevelopglaciallakemanagementhandbook,undertakecasestudiesoftheglaciallakeanddevelopadaptationoptionsbasedontherecommendationsthroughcommunityconsultation,developGISdatabaseforvulnerabilityanalysis.

KEY DISCUSSIONS

• Carryingoutmitigationworksinthehighaltitudeareasduetounpredictableweathersystemposes many challenges such as, altitude sickness, emergency evacuation, transportingmaterials,managingalargeworkforce,planningandfinancialdifficultiesandfinallyachievingthedesiredgoals.

• Forfutureprojects,weneedtolookatacquiringadetailedscientificinformation,moreHi-techapproachtoavoidmanagementissues,useofmultipledrillingmachinescombinedwith


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silentexplosives,avoidingwetworkingconditions,useoffuelefficientstovesandmaintainingthesameteammembers.

• Mitigation measures are important including community preparedness, GLOF hazardmapping,vulnerabilityassessment,hazardzonedemarcation,andidentificationofGLOFsafeevacuationsites,alternatecommunitybasedearlylearningwarningsystemsandidentifyingvulnerablecommunities.

• Riskmanagementprocessshouldbecontinuedandthewayforward isbuildingdamsthatcouldminimizerisk.


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SESSION V: PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INFORMATION SHARING COOPERATION

ThissessionwaschairedbyProf.HermannHaeusler,UniversityofVienna,Austriaandco-chairedbyKarmaTshering,Director,DepartmentofHydro-metServices,MinistryofEconomicAffairs.

Karma L Rapten, UNDP, presented on the findings of technical review and social impact assessmentcarriedoutbyUNDPundertheproject.Itcoveredthetechnicalandsocialassessmentfocusingonbestpracticesandformulatingrecommendationsforanexitstrategywhichincreasessustainability,enablesup-scalingandreplicationof theproject.Someof thebestpracticesandkeyfindingswerepresentedincluding detailed engineering mitigation plan based on comprehensive site investigation, healthandsafetymanagement, laborbasedapproachandlimitednegativeenvironmental impact.Thestudyrecommended high-tech approach in boulder clearing, armoring and slope stabilization, seepagemonitoringandfuelwoodmanagementandmulti-disciplinaryteam,visualcheck,alertandalarmlevelsandcommunityengagement.

Dr.DorotheaStumm,fromICIMOD,Nepalmadeapresentationon“Information sharing and cooperation on cryospheric research in the Hindu Kush Himalayas”.ShepresentedanoverviewofthepastglaciallakesprojectsundertakenbyICIMODfrom1987till2011.ItcenteredroundtheBhutanandNepalandtheHindukushHimalayanregions.BasedontheCryosphereMonitoringProject(CPS),sheoutlinedthatthebasicobjectivewasimprovingknowledgeandsharingexperiencebasedonitsfivecomponentsofIn-situglaciermonitoringandcapacitybuilding.Shehighlighted that ICIMODas theCryosphereKnowledgehubdisseminatesinformationsharedthroughthelocalcommunities,governmentbodies,scientistsanddonors,trainings,throughreportsandleaflets,interactiveCDs,articles,sponsorshipofstudiesthroughamasterscourseinglaciologyinKathmanduUniversityanddevelopmentofawebportal.

ProfessorHermannHaeusler,UniversityofVienna,Austriafollowedwithtalkon“Information Sharing and Cooperation on GLOF Risk Reduction in the Tien-Shan: The 2012 Bishkek Example,” basedontheADCproject1998-2003.ItfocusedontheAustrianAlps,SwedishAlpsandtheTienShanduringthelastfiftyyears.UndertheBishkekworkshop2012,acasestudywascarriedoutonlakeBishkekinCentralAsia.ItincludedexcursionsformappingthegeohazardassessmentofBaitikfloodedarea,undertakingfieldworktostudythesocio-economicimplicationsofthe2003and2012floodsfromAlaArchaNationalPark and carry out the risk management processes and continuous situation analysis. Based on thestudy, lessons learnedwerepresented.Hesaid that therewasa limitedcooperationandcoordinationbetween countries in the Central Asia and that there were also restrictions in cooperation betweennational institutions.Besides,hesaidthatcapacitiesofthenationalexpertswerealsolimitedandthattheuniversitiesdidnothaveanycoursesthatfocusedongeo-hazardassessments.Asawayforwardhepointedoutthepossiblesolutionsthatincludeddrawingupaninternationalcharterformajordisasters,internationalcooperationandsettingupof Information&LearningManagementSystem(fordifferentlevelsofdecisionmakers&differentstakeholdersatgovernmentalandregionallevel),useofsocialmediasuchastwitter,facebookthatcouldpromoteinteractiveknowledgeexchangeandenhancementofsocio-economic studies through GIS, implementation of hazard zonation plan and intensivate cooperationbetweenBhutaneseDRRteam,expertsandcommunities.

Reshmi Theckethil, fromtheBureauforCrisisPreventionandRecovery,UNDP,NewDelhi throughherpresentationon“Strengthening capacity in accounting Loss and Damages,” presentedtheworldwidecatastrophesthatoccurredbetween1984and2011beforesharingthelossesanddamagesarisingoutofGLOFanddisasterfocusingontheClimateChangeconferencesheldatCancumandDurbanandUNFCCCfirstglobalexpertmeetinginTokyoinmarch2012.Sheoutlinedthatthedismalstateofdatabases–lackofbaselinedataandinabilitytoupdateit,lackofsystematicassessmentofdisasterimpactsandthelackofsystemstocapturechangingclimatearesomeofthechallenges.Shesuggestedthatthewayforwardissettingupdisasterdatabases,improvepost-disasterdamageandneedsassessmentsandhavesystematicways of capturing climate change/variability impacts in disaster riskmanagement and developmentsectors.Addedtothese,shesaidthat there is theneedtodevelop institutionsat theglobal, regional,nationalandsub-nationallevelsforlossanddamageassessments,enhancecapacitiestocapture,analyze,disseminateandapplydisasterlossandclimatedataandprioritizeresourcemobilizationandallocationforriskreductionandadaptation.


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KEY DISCUSSIONS

• High-techapproachwithamulti-disciplinaryteamisimportantalongwithacomprehensivesiteinvestigation,communityinvolvementinmitigationworksandlimitingnegativeimpactontheenvironment.

• InternationalcooperationandsettingupofInformationandLearningManagementSystemfordifferentlevelsofdecisionmakersanddifferentstakeholdersatgovernmentalandregionallevelisimperative.

• There is theneedtosetupadisasterdatabases, improvepost-disasterdamageandneedsassessments and have systematic ways of capturing climate change/variability impacts indisasterriskmanagementanddevelopmentsectors.

• Develop institutions at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels for loss anddamageassessments,enhancecapacitiestocapture,analyze,disseminateandapplydisasterlossandclimatedataandprioritizeresourcemobilizationandallocationforriskreductionandadaptation.


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SESSION VI: RECOMMENDATIONS ON GLOF RISK MITIGATION (STRUCTURAL AND NON-STRUCTURAL MEASURES) AND INFORMATION SHARING.

ThelastsessionwaschairedbyMr.YeshiDorji,Geo-TechnicalAdvisor,DrukGreenPowerCorporationandco-chairedbyDr.DorotheaStumm,ICIMOD,.Theparticipantsweredividedintofourgroupsandassignedwiththetaskofcomingupwithrecommendationsonthefollowingfourquestions:Whataresomeofthelessons(positiveandnegative)andbestpracticesinimplementingGLOFRiskMitigation(bothstructuralandnon-structuralmeasures)?

POSITIVE

Thepositive lessonsand someof thebestpractices in implementingGLOF (both structural andnon-structuralmeasures)were

• TheprojecthasbeencarriedoutfollowingstrictenvironmentalguidelinesthatwasclearedbytheNEC.Therewasaminimumnegativeimpactontheenvironment.

• A multi-disciplinary team was engaged during the project to provide their expertise indifferentfieldsandtoavoidanyuntowardincidents.TheteamsengagedwereDepartmentofGeologyandMines,DepartmentofHydro-metServices,DepartmentofDisasterManagementandDepartmentofRoads(DoR).

• ThebasicgoaloftheprojectinmitigatingGLOFriskshasbeenachievedbyloweringthewaterlevelby5meters.Themitigationof5meterswascarriedoutgraduallyspreadoveraperiodof fouryears.This strategyensured thestabilityof themorainedamat theopeningwhichotherwisecouldhaveresultedinweakeningthemorainedamifcarriedoutatonego.

• TheEWSsystemsalongthePhochhuriversub-basinhavebeencompletedto increasetheawarenesslevelonGLOFandEWStothevulnerablecommunities.

• TheprojecthasbeenabletogenerateinformationanddocumentssuchastheTechnicalReviewandSocial ImpactAssessment:ReducingClimateChange-inducedRisksandVulnerabilitiesfromGlaciallakeOutburstFloodsinthePunakha,WangdueandChamkharValleys,StandardoperatingProceduresandbrochureonEarlyWarningSystem,pamphletsondo’sanddon’tsduringGLOFevent.

• Becauseoftheproject,theotherbenefitwasinthecapacitybuildingofdoctorsintermsofaddressinghighaltitudesickness..ThedoctorsfromBhutanweresenttoSwitzerlandtogettrainedonhighaltitudesicknesscare.

• The local communities have benefitted economically by way of involving them as workforce in theproject aswell as indirectbenefits to the local communities throughbusinessopportunities.

• Theotherbenefitwasthemanagersandthesupervisorshavenowgainedtheexpertisetomanageahugeworkforceespeciallyworkinginhighaltitudeanddifficultterrain.

NEGATIVE

Someofthenegativelessonslearnedfromtheprojectwereasfollows:

• Whilethewaterlevelhasbeenreducedby5meters,itisstillnotconfirmedthattheriskhasbeencompletelymitigated.

• Theglacier lakesathighaltitudearethemainsourceofriversystems inBhutan.Therefore,draining outwater from these lakeswithout proper studywould lead to scarcity ofwaterresourcesinthefuture.


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• Duetothelocationoftheprojectsitesathighaltitudeandaccessibleonlyduringthesummer,thewetweather conditions inhibited theefficiencyof thework force andoftenmade theworkerssick.Thewetworkingconditionswerefurtheraggravatedbywaterseepageandlackofproperpipingsystem.

• The project was heavily depended on human labor. Employment of new technique andmechanizedloweringprocesswouldhavebeenabetteralternativeintermsofachievingthetargetsfasterandfromthesafetyaspects.

• Thelocationoftheprojectsiteatthehighaltitudelessenedthenumberofworkingmonthsinayeartofourmonthsonly(MaytoAugust).Theothertimesoftheyearremainedinaccessibleduetosnow.

• The other disadvantage was lack of emergencymedical provisions like gammo bags andhealthcareprofessionalsespeciallypriorto2010.

• Duetothepresenceofahugenumberofworkforceincludinganimalsusedintransportation,therewereseveredegradationofthegrazinglands.Thelargeworkingpopulationalsohadahugeimpactonfuelwoodandpropermanagementofwaste.

• The primary focus of the scientific study was on lowering the lake missing out on otherimportantaspectslikeacceleratingglaciermeltingandretreatandscouringeffects.

1. What kinds of techniques and approaches have been deployed to engender community ownership of disaster risk reduction and management programs?

Someofthetechniquesandapproachesthathadbeendeployedtoengendercommunityownershipofdisasterriskreductionandmanagementprogramswereasfollows:

• Therewastheinvolvementofvarious-stakeholderslikethelocalgovernmentadministration,hydro-electric power projects and communities during the planning and implementationprocessoftheproject.

• Adequatenumberofawarenessprogramswascarriedouttothecommunitymemberssoastoinstillasenseofownershipbesidesthemockdrills.

• The communities have been empowered through the formation of a Community BasedDisasterRiskManagement(CBDRM)committee.

2. What are some of the methods used to integrate traditional and modern knowledge/know-how on GLOF risk reduction? Share best practices.

SomeofthetraditionalandmodernknowledgeintegratedintheGLOFreductionprocesseswere:

• Religiousceremoniesinvolvingalocallamawereperformedonadailybasisattheprojectsitetoappeasethedeitiesandensuresafeconductofthemitigationworks.

• A religiouspersonality is also includedas amemberof themulti-disciplinary task force toprovidereligiousperspectives.

• Areligiousmonument(Chorten/stupa)wasalsobuiltattheprojectsiteforthewellbeingandpsychologicalsupportoftheworkers.

• Explosiveswerenotusedsoasnottodispleasethelocalguardiandeitiesandthedeityofthelakeaswell.

• Lowering of the lake was carried outmanually using locally available equipment such asspades,spikes,crowbarsetc.

• A medical team consisting of both modern and traditional health care professionals wasengagedtoprovidetheworkerswiththeirchoiceoftreatment.


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• Ananimatedclipknownas“ApChuri”hadbeenbroadcastoverBBStelevisiontosensitizeandeducatepeopleonfloodissues.

3. What are some of the issues with regard to information sharing and knowledge management on GLOF in the region? What are some of your recommendations in this regard?

Someof the issueswith regard to information sharing and knowledgemanagement onGLOF in theregionwere:

• ThereisalackofinformationsharingonGLOFandotherfloodsintheregion.

• ThereisalsoalackofpropernationaldatabaseexclusivelyforGLOFandfloodaspects.

• Countriesarebeingveryprotectiveasfarassharingwaterdatas/informationareconcerned.

• Hazardzonationmapsarenotupdatedregularly.

• Hydro-power stakeholders shouldprovide substantial support inmitigationofpotentiallydangerouslakesandsettingupofEWSfortheirownsafety.

• Thereisalsoalimitedmediumofcommunicationthatcouldbesharedinsocialnetworkssuchasfacebook,websites,twitterandothers.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Therecommendationsthatcameoutasaresultofgroupdiscussionsonthequestions1to4were:

• Before futuremitigationprojects are carried out, there is the need to carry out a detailedscientific study and have in place a strong data-base and information. Besides, moderntechnologiesandhi-techequipmentshouldbeused/explored.

• Toconservewater,adamcouldhavebeenconstructeddownstream,ratherthanlettingthewaterflowaswasthecasewithThorthormilake.

• Localpeopleshouldhavebeenconsideredandengagedmeaningfullyrightfromthestarttogivethemabetterperspectiveonallaspectofthemitigationproject.

• A diverse inter-disciplinary team could have been used including local and internationalexperts.

• An eco-friendly approach could have been used thereby integrating conservation in theproject.

• Thereisthestrongneedtobriefthestakeholdersonthevariouspoliciesforsustainabilityinthefutureandtheneedtoreassesspreviousworksingreaterdetailtoprovidebetterinformation.

• ThebarrierbetweenRaphstrengandThorthormilakesneedtobemonitoredregularly.

• Thereistheneedtodevelopcapacityespeciallyinthehealthprofessionalsonhighaltitudemedicineandremoteemergencycare.

• AsGLOF isbecomingmorepertinent, related subjectandcurricula suchasglaciologyanddisastermanagementneedtobeintroducedintheeducationcurriculumatalllevels.

• There should be a better understanding of GLOF trigger factors such as earthquakes andglacialhydrologytostudymonsoonflowandglacierflow.

• ThehazardzonationmapsshouldbereassessedbasedontheuseofhighresolutionALOSsatimages.

• Regionalagencies suchas ICIMODshould take lead in the integrationandcoordinationofdifferentstudiesanddatabasebothatthenationalandregionallevels.Besides,toenabletrans-boundaryknowledgesharingandmanagementregionalwebportalscouldbedeveloped.


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CLOSINGSESSION


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CLOSINGSESSION

TheclosingsessionwaspresidedoverbyDashoSonamTshering,Ms.Claire,DirectorGeneralNamgayWangchuandDirectorGeneralSonamYangley.

Mr.KarmaTsheringbrieflytouchedupontheproceedingsandtheoutcomeofthetwodayInternationalconference.He reiterated on the pertinent fact of the retreat of the glaciers in theHimalayas by 20-30%thathadledtoaroughestimationof500metersretreatinthelast25years.HealsostressedthatGLOFasaglobalphenomenonhadtobetackledtogetherandtheneedofthehourwastocollectivelycarry out further scientific researches, share knowledge and expertise, strengthen capacity, developawarenessandshiftourfocustodevelopingadaptationandmitigationinterventionsespeciallytotheglacierchangessothatlivescouldbeprotectedandminimizelossesanddamages.HealsohighlightedsomeofthelimitationsonthemitigationworkscarriedoutatThorthormithatcameoutclearfromthegroupdiscussions.HesuggestedthatlessonsfromtheartificialloweringoftheThorthormilakecouldbeconsideredforupcomingprojectsinBhutanandintheregion.

DashoSonamTshering,Secretary,inhisclosingremarksstatedthatoverthelasttwodays,wehavebeenabletounderstandthethreatandrisksofGLOFintheHimalayanregionandhadtheopportunitytolearnfromandlistentoexpertsonthesciencebehindGLOFandthedifferentmeasuresandpolicyoptionsavailable forGLOF riskmitigationandadaptation.Hesaid that thekeyconsideration forusnow is toensure that all these researchfindings, lessons andbest practicesget translated into actionson-the-groundthatwillbenefitthepoorandvulnerablecommunities.

HeremindedthegatheringthatthecompletionoftheGLOFprojectinBhutanisjustthebeginningofalongandarduousjourneyinmitigatingclimate-relatedrisksintheHimalayasandimportanttobuildpartnershipsamongexpertsandinstitutionsinsuchgatherings.

Heremindedthatthefocusshouldnowbeinmovingforwardtointegrateormainstreamclimatechangemitigationandadaptationintogovernmentpoliciesandsystemssothatitbecomesourcorebusiness,especiallyaswearenowfacedwithdiminishingresourcesandaid.

Dasho thanked the high level expertise from all over the world and said that their advice andrecommendationswouldgoalongwayinourupcomingprojects.Thesecretaryalsothankedthedonorsandtheorganizers.

ThiswasfollowedbytheclosingremarksbyDeputy.ResidentRepresentative,UNDP.Shethankedthedelegatesandsaidthattheconferencewasasuccess.Theconferenceallowedtheexpertsondifferentdisciplinestoexchangetheirmostupdatedresearchesandnetworktoeachotherforfuturecollaboration.Sherecappedsometake-awaypoints,andalsooutlinedthathenceforth,priorityshouldbegiventotheimportanceofpre-disasterplanninganddevelopmentofsoundwarningsystemtobefamiliarizedbycommunities, including learning from the experiences from theTsunami in Japan, to supporting theelderly,womenandthechildrenduringtimesofdisasters.Shesaidthatit’simportantforustocontinueinvestingincapacitydevelopment.

Representingtheparticipants,EnvironmentalOfficer,Wangdue,Dzongkhag,notedthattheconferencewasknowledgeableandgainedmoreknowledgeabouttheGLOFsandthechallengesfacedbypeopleinothercountries.Hesaid thathe isnowbetterequippedandencouraged toworkactivelywith thecommunityinhisworkplace.

Dr.MariamJackson,onbehalfoftheinternationalparticipants,alsonotedthattheconferencewasabigsuccess.Shethankedtheorganizerswhohadputintheireffortsinorganizingtheconference.Shenotedthatwhile thedataon theGLOFsweredifferent, itwashowever veryuseful as a scientific approach.Shesaidthatthedisagreementsandthedifferingviewsprovidedallof themwiththeopportunitytoexchangefurtherandlearnfromeachother.Shesaidthattheconferenceprovidedwithanopportunityforallofthemtobroadentheircontactsforfutureuseandreferences.

SonamYangley,DirectorGeneral andGLOFProjectDirector, proposed the voteof thanks.HeopinedthattheGLOFprojectshadbeensuccessfulinloweringthewaterlevel,establishingEWSandcreatingawarenessallofwhichhadbeenpossiblewith support from thedzongdags, thehealthministry, the


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ministryofworksandhumansettlement,theRoyalBhutanArmy(RBA)andtheCentralmonasticbody.Healsothankedtheorganizersandtheparticipantsforsharingtheirexpertiseandtheirknowledge.HefinallyconcludedthattherecommendationsfromtheconferencewouldbeusefultotackletheissueofGLOFinBhutanandbeyond.


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ANNEXESTOTHEREPORTOn GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF)

‘REDUCING RISKS AND ENSURING PREPAREDNESS’


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AnnexICLIMATECHANGEADAPTATIONANDGLOFRISKREDUCTIONINTHEREGIONANDBEYOND:CURRENT

DEVELOPMENTSANDOPPORTUNITIES


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AnnexIIGLOFRISKREDUCTIONINTHEHIMALAYAS-MONITORING,COMMUNITYPREPAREDNESSANDEARLY

WARNINGSYSTEM


34

AnnexIIILESSONSONGLOFEARLYWARNINGSYSTEMANDCOMMUNITYPREPAREDNESS:RECOMMENDATIONS

ANDWAYFORWARD


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AnnexIVGLOFRISKMITIGATION:EXPERIENCESINIMPLEMENTINGSTRUCTURALANDNON-STRUCTURAL

MEASURES


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AnnexVPERSPECTIVESONREGIONALANDGLOBALINFORMATIONSHARINGCOOPERATION


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AnnexVIRECOMMENDATIONSONGLOFRISKMITIGATION(STRUCTURALANDNON-STRUCTURALMEASURES)

ANDINFORMATIONSHARING.


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AnnexVIIWelcomeremarksbyClaireVanderVaeren,ResidentCoordinator,UNSysteminBhutan


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WELCOME REMARKS BY CLAIRE VAN DER VAEREN, RESIDENT COORDINATOR

UN SYSTEM IN BHUTAN

InternationalConferenceonGlacierLakeOutburstFlood(GLOF)

‘ReducingRisksandEnsuringPreparedness’

5thDecember2012

HotelOlathang,ParoBhutan

Hon’bleChiefGuest,LyonpoKhanduWangchuk,Minister,MinistryofEconomicAffairsandMinisterIn-chargeofForeignAffairs,RoyalGovernmentofBhutan;

DashoSonamTshering,Secretary,MinistryofEconomicAffairsandChairoftheProjectBoard;

Excellencies,Dashos,Aums;

RepresentativesofmultilateralandbilateralagenciesinBhutan;

UNcolleagues;

Otherdistinguishedguests;

Ladies and gentlemen,

Onbehalf of theUnitedNations in Bhutan, Iwould like to joinDasho SonamTshering inwelcomingyoutothisInternationalConferenceonGlacialLakeOutburstFloods.Itisveryhearteningtoseeseniorgovernment officials, eminent experts, development partners, civil society representatives and otherprofessionalsgatheredat this forum. I take thisopportunity to thankall theparticipantspresentheretoday,especiallythosewhohavetravelledfromothercountriestobeheretoday.

Firstofall,letmeexpressmyprofoundgratitudetothehundredsofcourageousmenandwomenfromalloverBhutanwhocontributedtothearduoustaskofloweringthewaterlevelofThorthormiLakesince2009.IwouldalsoliketoexpressmygratitudetotheRoyalBhutanArmyfortheircontributiontothetaskin2012.Withouttheircourageandcommitment,reducingthe lakewater levelby5meterswouldnothavebeenpossible.

The Project – “Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities of GLOF in the Punakha,Wangdue and Chamkar Valleys” is the first on-the-ground adaptation project supported by the GEF/LDCFund,whichstemmedfromtheNationalAdaptationProgrammeofAction (NAPA)process. Theimplementationofthisprojecthasnotbeenaneasytask.Ithasentailedhardmanuallabourinveryharshconditionsinhighaltitudeareas.Ithasalsorequiredmultifacetedcoordinationamongdifferentsectorsandagenciesatnationalandlocallevels. IbelievetherewillbeopportunitiestolearnmoreaboutthechallengesandlessonsoftheprojectinthenexttwodaysofthisConference.


Climatechangeisposinganunprecedentedchallengetohumankindtoday.Weneedtorecognizethatthisisnotadistantthreatbutonewhichhasalreadybeguntounfold;indeedathreatthatBhutanandothercountriesinthisregionareexperiencingfirsthand.Thewide-rangingimpactsofclimatechangeareunderminingtheverysurvivalandsustainabilityofourdevelopmentefforts.Itissadlyironicthattheseimpactsarefeltmostlyincountrieswhichaccountfortheleastgreenhousegasemissions.Thesecountriesalsohappentohavehighpovertyincidenceandlimitedfinancialandtechnicalresourcestoadapttotheimpactsofclimatechange.

Bhutan is a typical example of this scenario. Although a net negative emitter of greenhousegases, asubstantialportionofBhutanesecommunitiesareatsignificantriskfromclimate-induceddisasters.TheglaciersinBhutanareretreatingatanalarmingratecausingthreatsofGLOFstohundredsofcommunitieslivingdownstream.Themeltingofglaciersmayalsoresultinreductionoffreshwateravailableforpeople’slivelihoodaswellashydropowergenerationasBhutan’smainsourceofrevenue.WhileBhutanhasmadeaboldcommitmenttoremainingcarbonneutral,theeffortsoftheRoyalGovernmenttoexploreotherrenewableoptions suchasbiomass, solar andwindenergy is amove in the rightdirectiongiven the


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uncertaintyofwateravailabilityandhydropowerdevelopmentinthelongrun.

BhutanisontracktoachievetheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.However,naturalhazards,suchasGLOFscan easily erode the development gains, compromising achievements already made and sustainingthembeyond2015.It iscriticalforBhutantobewellpreparedtoadaptandmitigatesuchdisasterssothatthenegative impactondevelopmentresults isminimized.TheDisasterManagementBillwhichisbeforeParliament isexpectedonceenacted, tocontributesignificantlytostrengtheningthecountry’spreparedness.

Aswenoted, less developednations and communities are likely to face thebrunt of climate changeimpacts.Thisenhancedvulnerabilityandlowadaptivecapacityatcommunitylevelunderscorestheneedtoformulatecoordinatedandcomprehensiveriskmitigationandpreparednessstrategies.

Bhutan has made a renewed commitment to strengthen community-based disaster risk reductionmeasures.Someprogresshasalreadybeenmade.Iamhappytonotethat,theLDCF-GLOFprojecthasinstalledanearlywarningsystemandalsoworkeddirectlywiththevulnerablecommunitiesofPunakha,WangdueandChamkharvalleys.


Climatechangemitigationandadaptation issuesareverycomplex,affectingagriculturalproductivity,biodiversity,waterresourceandhealth,tonameafewsectors.Tacklingsuchcomplexityrequirespoliciesthatrelatetheinternational,regional,nationalandsub-nationallevelsofinterventioneffectively.Lookingat climate change from a development perspective, it is important that we continue tomainstreamclimatechangeintonationalpolicies,plansandprogramsinaholisticmanner.Thereisalsoanurgentneedtoacceleratethetranslationofthesepoliciesintopracticalmitigationandadaptationinterventionsontheground,andexplorewaysofsustainingthefinancingofclimatechange-relatedeffortsoverthelong-runthroughvariedandinnovativemodalities.

It is equally important thatwe learn from the results and lessons of GLOF and other similar projectsimplementedinBhutanandothercountries,feedtheseexperiencesintothedesignofpolicies,andupscaleinterventions.Knowledgesharingandmanagementshouldbefurtherenhanced,andpartnershipsandnetworksbuilttofindpracticalsolutionstoproblems.Thistwo-dayconferenceisalsoanopportunitytofostersuchcooperationamongcountriesthatfacetheriskofGLOF.Therecommendationsofthe“BhutanClimateSummit for a LivingHimalayas”held inBhutan inNovember last year and the“FrameworkofCooperation” that resulted from it can contribute to the operationalization of practical measures forcollaborationthatbuildonexistingknowledgeandinstitutions.

AsClimateChangeAdaptationandDisasterRiskReductionareclosely linked, there isanopportunityfor Bhutan and other countries in the Himalayan region to bring the GLOF agendawithin the realmof Priorities of Action under the Hyogo Framework for Action. The UN Secretary-General has askedthe UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to lead the development of a successor to theHyogoFramework forActionby2015.Disaster risk reductionand resilience,witha stronger focusonpreparedness, requiresmorecentralconsideration inthepost-2015globaldevelopmentagenda if theobjectivesofsustainabledevelopmentaretobeachieved.

In closing, let me also take a moment to congratulate the Departments of Geology and Mines andHydrometServicesundertheMinistryofEconomicAffairsandtheDepartmentofDisasterManagementunder theMinistryofHomeandCulturalAffairs for theirhardwork in achieving the intended resultsundertheprojectandfororganizingthisconference.Theproject,hasamongothers,greatlyreducedthethreatofGLOFsinthevulnerablecommunitiesofthePunakha-Wangduevalley.

Ourdeepestappreciationalsogoestoourco-financingpartners-AustrianDevelopmentAgency(ADA)andtheWorldWildlifeFund(WWF)BhutaninadditiontotheGEF/LDCFforsupportingtheproject.Thishasbeenaverymeaningfulcooperationandwelookforwardtoworkingwithyouinthefuture.

Iwishyouallfruitfuldeliberations.

ThankyouandTashiDelek!


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AnnexVIIIClosingremarksbyMs.HidekoHadzialic,DeputyResidentRepresentative,UNSysteminBhutan


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CLOSING REMARKS BY MS. HIDEKO HADZIALIC, DEPUTY RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

InternationalConferenceonGlocialLakeOutburstFloods

Olathang,Paro

06December2012

Hon’bleChiefGuest,DashoSonamTshering

DistinguishedParticipants,

Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

A very good afternoon to all!

I thank you all for invitingme to the closing session of the International Conference onGlacial LakeOutburstFloods.IamverypleasedtonotethattheconferencehasbeensuccessfullyconvenedinBhutan,where the linkagebetweenclimate riskmanagementanddisaster risk reduction isacriticalaspect inourquestforsustainabledevelopment.OnbehalfofUNDP,Iwouldliketothankourpartners-theRoyalGovernment of Bhutan, Austrian Development Agency,WorldWildlife Fund and Global EnvironmentFacility for supporting the international conference, as well as technical experts from Austria, Nepal,Norway,Pakistan,India,Austria,JapanandtheUnitedStatesforenrichingourdiscussions.Amongothers,suchmeetingsserveasexcellentplatformtofurtherourcommonagendaofreducingrisksandsecuringlivelihoods.Afterall,whatwedo,asdevelopmentpractitioners,ultimatelybenefitspoorandvulnerablecommunities.

Inthelasttwodays,wehavebeenabletounderstandthethreatandrisksofGLOFintheHimalayanregion.ThereisawealthofscientificinformationandindigenousknowledgeonGLOFriskreductionaroundtheregionandbeyond.WealsohadtheopportunitytolearnfromandlistentoexpertsonthesciencebehindGLOFandthedifferentmeasuresandpolicyoptionsavailable(eg.earlywarningsystemandcommunity-basedapproachtoDRR)forGLOFriskmitigationandadaptation.Fromwhateverwaspresentedintheconference,itappearsthatthereisawealthofscientificinformationandindigenousknowledgeonGLOFriskreductionaroundtheregionandbeyond.Itisalsoevidentthatalotofresearchandworkonglaciallakeoutburstfloodshavebeenundertakeninthepastfewdecades.Manymorewillprobablyfollow.Thekeyconsiderationforusnowistoensurethatalltheseresearchfindings,lessonsandbestpracticesgettranslatedintoactionson-the-groundthatwillbenefitthepoorandvulnerablecommunities.

AswecelebratethecompletionoftheGLOFprojectinBhutan,Iwouldliketoremindyouallthatthisisjustthebeginningofalongandarduousjourneyinmitigatingclimate-relatedrisksintheHimalayas.WhatwedointheHimalayashasadirectbearingonthemorethan1.7billionpeopleinthesub-continent.Itisimportantthatwelearnfromeachother’sexperiencesandresearchactivities.Asyouallknow,theexpertiseisinthisroom.Itisimportanttobuildpartnershipsamongexpertsandinstitutionsinsuchgatherings.Ihopethistwo-dayconferenceprovidedagoodplatformfornetworkingandinformationsharing.GLOFriskscallsforconcertedeffortsnotonlyatnationallevelbutalsoatregionallevel.Mechanismstofacilitatesharingofinformation,knowledge,experienceandexpertisetoeffectivelytackletheimpendingthreatsposedbyclimatechangemustbedeveloped.Ihopetheexpertsandpractitionersgatheredhererepresentingthefieldsofdisastermanagement,climatechange,environmentalmanagement,developmentplanning,administratorsandcivilsocietyactorshavedonejustthat.AsnotedbytheUNRCinheropeningremarksyesterday,aframeworktopromotegreaterregionalcooperationwouldhelpreducedisasterrisksnotonlyintherespectivecountriesbutalsointheregionasimpactsofclimatechangeanddisasterriskshaveastrongco-relationandareboundinadelicatecauseandeffectrelationship.

Whilewehave,overthelasttwodays,discussedanddeliberatedextensivelyonreducingrisksofGLOFs,thisisjustoneaspectofdisasterriskreduction.WemustalsolookatwaysandmeanstointegratethiselementintotheoverallDRRagenda.Foracommunity-baseddisasterriskreductionandmanagementprogrammetobeeffective,itispertinentthatwelookatallkindsofhazardsinaholisticandcomprehensive


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manner.

Iamveryhappytolearnthatthediscussionswereveryrichandsubstantive,andthatthesameresultedinacollectionofinnovativeideasandknowledge(technicalapproachesonlakemitigationandsettinguparobustearlywarningsystem)thatcouldbeusedtoaddresschallengesinoureffortstoreducerisksof climate-induceddisasters.The focusmoving forward shouldbe to sustain these activitieswith theultimategoal to integrateormainstreamclimate changemitigationandadaptation intogovernmentpoliciesandsystemssothatitbecomesourcorebusiness,especiallyaswearenowfacedwithdiminishingresourcesandaid.

I am also hopeful that the recommendations from this conference will be useful to other countries,especially Nepal and Pakistan, who are embarking on similar initiatives. The UNDP will be happy tofacilitateknowledgesharingandexchangeof technicalexpertiseamongcountries topromotesouth-southcooperationintheregion.

Lastly,letmethankalltheresourcepersons,expertsandparticipantsforcomingallthewaytoBhutantoattendthisconference.Wethankyouverymuchforyourcontributionsandlookforwardtoworkingwithyouagaininthefuture.IhopethatthatyouhadsometimeduringtheconferencetoexplorebitofBhutan.

IwishyouallanenjoyablestayhereinBhutanandsafetravelbackhome.

ThankyouandTashiDelek.


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AnnexIXConferenceparticipantslist


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1

Professor Hermann HaeuslerDepartmentofEnvironmentalGeoScienceUniversityofViennaE-mail:[email protected]

2Dr. Diethard Leber,UniversityofVienna,AustriaE-mail:[email protected]

3

Dr. Miriam jacksonNorwegianWaterResources&EnergyDirectorate(NVE),NorwayE-mail:[email protected]

4

Professor Alton ByersDirectorofScienceandExplorationTheMountainInstitute,USAEmail:[email protected]

5

Prof. Koichi NISHIMURAGraduateSchoolofEnvironmentalScience,Na-goyaUniversityE-Mail:[email protected]

6

Dr. Takeo Tadono, ResearcherJapanAerospaceExplorationAgency(JAXA),JapanE-mail:[email protected]

7

Dr. jiro KOMORI, TeikyoHeiseiUniversity,Higashi-ikebukuro,Toshima-ku,Tokyo,JAPANE-mail:[email protected]

8

Mr. Pradeep MoolInternationalCentreofIntegratedMountainDe-velopment(ICIMOD),NepalE-mail:[email protected]

I. RESOURCE PERSONS/SPEAKERS:

ConferenceParticipantsList


46

9

Dr. Dorothea StummInternationalCentreofIntegratedMountainDe-velopment(ICIMOD),NepalE-mail:[email protected]

10

Mr. Karma Tshering, DirectorDepartmentofHydro-metServicesMinistryofEconomicAffairE-mail:[email protected]

11

Mr. Dowchu DrukpaDepartmentofGeology&MinesMinistryofEconomicAffairs,BhutanE-mail:[email protected]

12

Mr. Karma ToebDepartmentofGeology&MinesMinistryofEconomicAffairs,BhutanE-mail:[email protected]

13

Mr.Karma Dupchu, ProjectManager(GLOF-EWS)DepartmentofHydro-MetServicesMinistryofEconomicAffairs,BhutanE-mail:[email protected]

14

Mr. Chenco Tshering,ProjectManager(GLOFProject)DepartmentofDisasterManagementMinistryofHomeandCulturalAffairs,BhutanE-mail:[email protected]

15

Mr. Karma G. Chhophel,ChiefEnvironmentOfficeNationalEnvironmentCommissionE-mail:[email protected]

16Mr. Karma L RaptenU.N.DevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)BhutanE-mail:[email protected]

17

Ms. Reshmi Theckethil,BureauforCrisisPreventionandRecovery,U.N.DevelopmentProgramme(UNDP),IndiaE-mail:[email protected]


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II. INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS

1

Mr.MichaelErnst,SouthAsiaRegionalAdvisor,USAID/OfficeofU.S.ForeignDisasterAssistance,RegionalDevelopmentMission/Asia,Thai-landE-mail:[email protected]

2

Mr.ColinFernandesInternationalFederationofRedCrossandRedCrescentSocieties,SouthAsiaRegionalDelegationE-mail:[email protected]

3

Mr.GautamRajkarnikar,Dy.DirectorGeneralDepartmentofHydrologyandMeteorology(DHM),NepalE-mail:[email protected]

4 Ms.AnupaLamichhane,UNDP,NepalE-mail:[email protected]

5 Mr.GulnajamJamy,UNDP,PakistanE-mail:[email protected]

6 Ms.ReshmiTheckethil,UNDP,IndiaE-mail:[email protected]

7 Ms.CatlinWeisen,UNDP,IndiaE-mail:

# Name Organization E-mail address

1 Mr.SangayChophel PPD,MoAF [email protected]

2 Mr.NedupTshewang DoA,MoAF [email protected]

3 Mr.JigmeTenzin MFA [email protected]

4 Ms.KuenzangChoden, MoWHS [email protected]

5 DashoSonamTshering MoEA [email protected]

6 Ms.TashiPem DHPS,MoEA [email protected]

7 DashoSonamYangley DGM,MoEA [email protected]

8 Mr.KarmaToeb DGM,MoEA [email protected]

9 Mr.DawchuDrukpa DGM,MoEA [email protected]

III. NATIONAL PARTICIPANTS:


48

10 Mr.LalitKumar DGM,MoEA [email protected]

11 Mr.KarmaTsering DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

12 Mr.KarmaDupchu DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

13 Mr.PhuntshoNamgyal DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

14 Mr.ChhimiDorji DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

15 Mr.SangayTenzin DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

16 Mr.Manila DHMS,MoEA [email protected]

17 DashoNamgayWangchuk DDM,MoHCA [email protected]

18 Mr.ChenchoTshering DDM,MoHCA [email protected]

19 Ms.PeldenZangmo DDM,MoHCA [email protected]

20 Mr.KeshapMoktan DDM,MoHCA [email protected]

21 Mr.WangchuHazso PHPA-I [email protected]

22 Mr.ThinleyPeljorDorji PHPA-I [email protected]

23 Mr.KinleyNamgay PHPA-II [email protected]

24 Mr.SonamWangchuk PHPA-II [email protected]

25 Mr.SonamTshewang PHPA-II [email protected]

26 Mr.YeshiDorji DGPC [email protected]

27 Ms.PratigyaPradhan DGPC [email protected]

28 Mr.KhargaBdr.Rai GNHC [email protected]

29 Mr.KarmaG.Chhophel, NEC [email protected]

30 Mr.TsheringPhuntsho RSPN [email protected]

31 Wangmo Tarayana [email protected]

32 HemantaBasnet Tarayana [email protected]

33 DashoKunzangN.Tshering,Dzongda DA,Punakha [email protected]


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IV. UNDP-BHUTAN:

1Mr.KarmaRaptenUNDP-BhutanEmail:[email protected]

2Mr.PemaDorjiUNDP-BhutanEmail:[email protected]

3Ms.SonamRabgayUNDP-BhutanEmail:[email protected]

4Ms.RigzomWangchukUNDP-BhutanEmail:[email protected]

34 Mr.TsheringNorbu DA,Punakha [email protected]

35 DorjiWangdi DA,Wangdue [email protected]

36 DashoChewangJurmi,Dzongrab DA,Gasa [email protected]

37 Mr.SonamThinely DA,Gasa [email protected]

38 Mr.Tshewang BBS

39 Mr.TenzinRabgye BBS [email protected]

40 Ms.TashiDema Kuensel [email protected]


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Documents

GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD (GLOF) · in the ten dzongkhags in 2011. Bhutan Himalayas has 677 glaciers and 2,794 glacial lakes and over the last two centuries we have experienced