Water Storage - A strategy for climate change adaptation in the Himalayas

Knowledge Gaps
evolution of measures for minimising water stress in the front, (Aylward et al. 2006). A review compiled in
densely populated plains that depend on water supplies 2002 identiﬁ ed 63 examples from around the world
from the HKH rivers; secondly, measures for mountain of the application of market-based approaches to the
communities to adapt to the changing climate and water provisioning of watershed services (Landall-Mills and
endowment. For coastal countries, adaptation needs are Porras 2002). This needs not only a revolutionary
more related to sea level rise and monsoon inundations. scientiﬁ c and technological approach, but also a very
It will be important to ensure the mutual consistencies of informed and able political leadership to initiate the
the diverse adaptation measures suitable for the various practice of the concept in smaller areas (to start with)
Asian countries. with rich monsoon precipitation. Political vision, eco-
hydrological wisdom, and diplomatic expertise of
A considerable amount of thinking has gone into
the highest order are required for such an innovative
adaptation strategies for mountain communities.
arrangement to be put in place.
Notwithstanding the lack of data, efforts based on
smaller parameters and sensitivity analyses can identify
the adaptation processes in small, but effective,
References
directions. At the macro level, the design of adaptation
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measures to protect the water towers of Asia offers some
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management. For centuries, land and water use has
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“Adaptation includes
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and conservation”
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of provisioning to the agri-industrial economies in the
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surrounding plains based on the principle of rewards of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the
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providers. This should be the main adaptation strategy
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Adaptation includes promoting water storage and
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conservation. Land management offers a very cost-
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poor. London: IIED
needs to be put in place for mountain land being used
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for the production and storage of water rather than
and regional cooperation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas’
wood, crops, and others. Areas in the HKH with heavy
In Proceedings of the International Mountain Biodiversity
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services could provide the mechanism on the institutional
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