WP6: Perception of changes by populations and adaptation

Centre for Himalayan Studies

Olivia AubriotJoëlle Smadja

Ornella Puschiasis (Ph D student)

Objectives:

To study the socio-economic impact of climate change, its consequences on water availability & population practices

Impact of variability of water availability on practices: studied in the three main landscape units

Study areas

Geographical units Origin of water

Meltingof glaciers

Melting of snow

Rain

Springstorms

Monsoon

High mountains x x (x) (x)

Middle mountains x xx xxx

Low mountains or hills (x) xxx

Terai plain areas drained by rivers flowing - from the high chain

x x (x) xxx - from the Mahabharat (x) xxx

Table: Hydrological resources in the four geographical units of Nepal

High mountain case study: Pangboche and his territory

Middle mountain: Kharekhola-Jhubing

* Main economic activities are/ were – Cattle husbandry– Agriculture

* Many changes occured during the last 20-30 years : - Tourism

- Sagarmatha National Park- Lukla Airport- Water supply and hydro-electricity plants– Vegetable production (water consuming)– Political changes

Water mill supplied by the melting of a glacier+ melting of the snow

Water use

Hydro-electricity

Mills, pipes, fountains, sprinklers…

Water collected from other side of the river

The « kharka » : upland grazing area with a shelter + an enclosured field to produce fodder (not ploughed but receive manure)

The Koshi area

Flooded area in feb. 2010

Canal not completed

Changing course of the Koshi (120 km in 200 years)

3 main changes within the last 50 years in the Eastern part of the Koshi :

1. Clearing of the forest quite recent

US Army maps 1962 (western part) & 1959 (eastern)

Casestudies

2. Massive migration from the hills from the end of the 1960s -1970s

Inside the Koshi area:Grazing area

Serves as a road

3. Hydraulic infrastructures:

a. Koshi embankment (1964)

b. Canal irrigation systems from Koshi -Sunsari Morang Irrigation System= 61 000 ha, the largest of Nepal (1964 + 1978-2002)- Western koshi canal (1986). In Nepal : 13 800 ha lift irrigation and 13 100 ha canal

irrigation

Koshi water divertedin Chatara

Looking towards North

Looking towards South

Canal gates viewed from other bank

East canal gatesWest canal from dam

c. KOSHI BARRAGE(1959-1965)

OnlyFor India

27000 haIn Nepal

THANK YOU