Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
Message 2 – Social networks and local institutions design used by the Mishing communities, even though
play a vital role in enhancing adaptive capacity the construction has proven to help avoid flood impacts,
simply because they do not want to be associated with
Social networks and institutions contribute significantly
the lower-caste Mishings.
when facing challenges related to uncertainty and
scarcity in water resources. Social networks facilitate
At the same time, many people acknowledge the need
collective water management, equitable distribution
to make exceptions. A shift in attitude may be the result
of irrigation water, livestock management, communal
of fewer options, as well as generational differences. In
grazing, and securing external assistance to supplement
order to deal with climate-related changes and stress,
traditional adaptation strategies. Traditional institutions
people in Assam have had to take on new occupations
like the gram in Chitral district, Pakistan, and the
and livelihood options previously considered socially
designation of women as water guards in Yunnan
unacceptable, such as trading, selling fish, and liquor
Province, China, help to manage water conflicts.
production.
Networks play a vital role in making migration an
option, for example by ensuring that migrants go to Message 4 – With good governance and planning
the same location and support each other once there, that takes into account climate risk, infrastructure
for example for migrants in Chitral. In communities development can contribute to enhancing water
where cultural ties are strong, kinship and willingness security and flood management
to cooperate and help their fellow villagers has helped
Reducing the risk posed by floods and droughts is often
deal with some tenure issues, landlessness, and
associated with infrastructure construction. In the case
homelessness created by the continuous loss and gain of
studies, infrastructure development has been mainly for
land.
irrigation and flood control.
Access to new land for settlement and farming in
Water-related infrastructure such as dams, pumping
a dynamic riparian environment is assured when
stations, water tanks and drainage systems (serving
land rights are recognised by community and social
irrigation and flood control needs), mostly managed on
institutions. However, in the light of increasing population
a communal basis, have strengthened coping capacities
pressures villagers could be facing a changed situation.
of local communities. The irrigation infrastructure built
When different cultural/ethnic groups are found in the
in past decades in Yunnan has provided the basis for
same location and must suddenly deal with sharing
current local water security.
dwindling or eroding resources, tension or conflicts can
arise because relationships have not been established to
In Assam and Bihar, poor governance of embankments
deal with these issues. Strong networks within different
has led to the acknowledgement that embankments are
groups can similarly create conflict if they prevent
not a panacea for flood protection as they have both
outsiders from aligning themselves with the customs and
contributed to waterlogging and been a causal factor
norms.
for catastrophic floods resulting from sudden breaching.
Message 3 – Cultural norms affect people’s
In Nepal, people have responded to water stress by
adaptive behaviour; despite being deeply rooted,
digging trenches in riverbeds to access groundwater.
they can shift over time in response to the needs
These trenches allow for access to limited amounts
Responses to water stress and hazards are often
of water for irrigation, but may give rise to conflicts
influenced heavily by cultural norms and traditions.
between those who have resources to hire machinery,
Consequently, different groups in the same community
labour, and pumps to transfer the groundwater to the
respond differently. This includes behaviour and
fields, and those who do not. As a result, trenches and
attitudes related to cultural taboos and superstitions that
wells must be guarded from theft. Most of the larger
are associated with ethnic identity, as well as gender
infrastructures in the study areas lack a governance
differences.
system allowing for the participation of local, affected,
or benefiting populations. Facilitating the inclusion of the
In the state of Assam in India, for example, non-Mishing
local level would contribute towards good governance,
people are unwilling to use the flood-tolerant housing
and a more sustainable maintenance of the structures.
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