International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Importance, Key Questions on Resilience and Managing Disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalayas

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Supports extensive irrigation systems

HKH is the source of ten major river basins

210 million people in the HKH

1.3 billion people downstream

3 billion people benefit from food and energy

Basins support some of the most populated areas on the globe

Home to4 of the 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, 60 Eco-regions, 488 Pas, and 330 Important Bird Areas

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Major Questionson the HKH Region that needs to be addressed looking into the Future

Drivers of change and impacts on resources and people

Increased scarcity of drinking water

Loss of productive lands

Increased incidence of forest fires

Habitat loss for wildlife and productive lands for domestic animals

Natural springs and water sources drying up

Climate change impacts on cryosphere and future water availability

Sustaining mountain ecosystems and their services - green economy

Energy needs, hydropower and sustainable development of the HKH

Huge Hydropower Potential >500,000 MW in the HKH Region

Water induced disasters

Flash floods result in higher mortality rates

FloodLandslide/AvalancheFamineWater rel. EpidemicDrought

Jonkman, 2005

Poverty, vulnerability and food security

Gender in sustainable mountain development including out-migration

Migration

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

The Himalayas are prone to disasters

Disaster statistics from 1990-2012 Hindu Kush Himalayan region

The region has had an average of

76 disaster events each year.

On average, more than 36,000

people are killed and 178 million affected each year due to

natural disasters in the region.

Source: EM-DAT – The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

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Flash floods result in higher mortality rates

FloodLandslide/AvalancheFamineWater rel. EpidemicDrought

Jonkman, 2005

Water-related hazards

Transboundary floods have greater impact on lives and property

Globally, 10% of all floods are transboundary, and they cause over 30% of all flood casualties and account for close to 60% of all those displaced by floods. Bakker, 2006

Lack of information, little preparation

· 9 April 2000: Landslide blocked the Yigong River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River

· Outburst on 10 June 2000 created a huge flash flood of up to 1.26x105 m3/s

· Extensive damage, but no casualties in China

· In India, heavy causalities - 30 dead - >100 missing - >50,000 homeless - damage of USD 22.9 million

Data sharing can save lives and property

· Data sharing agreement developed between India and China in 2002

· 22 June 2004: Landslide blocked the Pareechu River in Tibet (upper reaches of Sutlej River)

· Lake volume - 79,180,000 m3

· Chinese authorities communicated to their Indian counterparts well before and when the breach occurred

· 56 villages along the Sutlej from Kinnaur to Bilaspur were identified as at risk

· The dam burst on 25 June 2005· The direct cost of flood damage was an estimated

USD 200 million · There were no human casualties because of prior

communication from the upstream country

1 month after landslide

2.5 months after landslide

After landslide dam outburst

Lessons learned from disasters

· Data gaps

· End-to-end information systems

· Proper infrastructure planning

· Overarching need for transboundary cooperation

Data gaps

• High-altitude monitoring stations are sparse• Limited transboundary data sharing

Monitoring station distribution

Designing end-to-end flood information system

Regional cooperation to share data: Global WHYCOS framework

To improve basic observation activities, strengthen international cooperation, and promote free exchange of data in the field of hydrometeorology

HKH-HYCOS: Setting up monitoring stations and establishment of real-time flood information systems

‘Making Information Travel Faster Than Flood Waters’

Establishment of a Regional Flood Information System in the HKH-Region - Timely exchange of flood data and information through an accessible and user friendly platform

HYCOS is a vehicle for technology transfer, training, and capacity building

High-tech, low-cost early flood warning system in Bangladesh using a wireless sensor network

Control Unit

Flood Gauge

Rain Gauge

Flood Early Warning System “AL6M”

Manufactured bySustainable Eco Engineering Pvt. LtdPatan, Lalitpur -16, Nepal

Low-tech, low cost, community-based flood early warning system in Assam

ICIMOD’s state-of-the-art MODIS receiving facility helps provide timely data for various applications, including early flood and fire detection

MODIS receiving facility MODIS images are used for national and regional level mapping including rapid response mapping after a floodevent.

Visit http://geoportal.icimod.org/realtime/modis.aspx# to visualize MODIS image.

Conclusion

• Need for end-to-end information systems– Hi-tech to low-tech– Science to government to community

• Infrastructure planning– Identify risks and vulnerabilities

• Mountain specific planning• Transboundary information sharing

– Sharing mechanisms• Underpinned by regional cooperation

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