Ecosystem-based Adaptation Approaches for Improved Food Security and Climate Resilience

-A learning experience with traditional cascade tank system,

Kapiriggama (Anuradhapura district)

Sarath Ekanayake (Plant Ecologist & team member of the project)

About the project

Project aim: Ecosystem based restoration of Traditional Cascading Tank Systems for Enhanced Rural Livelihoods and Environmental Services under changing climate.

Project location: Kapriggama in the Rambewa DS Division of the Anuradhapura District (Dry Zone)

Project duration: 2013 – 2015

Financial and logistic support: IUCN, Department of Agrarian Development (DAD)

Project location

Traditional village tank cascade system

Source.P.B.Darmasena

Tank cascade systems

• An ancient irrigation systems in Sri Lanka, since 4th century B.C. or before

• It has hydrologically connected series of tanks within the micro (or meso) catchments of the dry zone landscape

• Purpose is to store, convey and use/reuse water from non perennial streams

• There are 1166 cascade tank systems in Sri Lanka• Many are now abandoned due to various reasons• Meaningful restoration calls for system thinking – Tank cascade

systems (Vs. individual small tanks)• Project aims to demonstrate the restoration and sustainable

management of small tank cascade system as the fundamental unit

General view of tank cascade ecosystem

Socio economic background of Kapirikkgama cascade area

• 11 villages of 3 Grama Niladhari Divisions• 594 families • 26 small tanks and anicuts in the cascade• Total area cultivable under small irrigation

schemes is 522 ha • Predominantly rice-based agriculture• Cultivate only 50%of the available command

area during yala season due to lack of water

Objectives• To demonstrate ecological restoration and

sustainable management of Kapiriggama cascade tank system for enhanced rural livelihoods and environmental services under changing climate.

• To influence policy to consider cascade tank systems as the basic planning unit for restoration of small irrigation tanks in the dry zone of Sri Lanka (ecosystem based climate change adaptation).

• Themes of key activities– Restoration of tank ecosystem– Physical restoration of tanks– Livelihood development, increase productivity– Strengthening communities & institutions

mechanism – Developing knowledge base, sharing lessons

learnt

Activities and their relevance to climate change adaptation and/or food security

• Rehabilitation of tank system - Partial desiltation, tank deepening, changing the geometry of the tank, headworks, canal and drainage repairs: Increase storage, reduce evaporation, minimize water losses, flood attenuation, disaster risk reduction

• Ecosystem and watershed restoration: Increase Carbon sequestration, increase availability and variety of food, promote groundwater recharge, increase water yield, create favorable micro climate, support IPM, provide raw materials for livelihoods

• Promoting traditional rice/crop varieties Require less inputs, varieties tolerant to extreme weather conditions, high nutritional value, minimum soil and water pollution

Activities and their relevance to climate change adaptation and/or

food security (Contd..)• Study of catchment water balance: Decision making with real-time data, more accurate predictions, promote equitable resource sharing •Home garden improvement: Income generation, increase availability and variety of food, create resilience for financial and food crisis, livable micro climate, •Promoting sustainable agriculture and crop diversification: Resilience to extreme weather event and pest and diseases, less inputs, environmentally friendly agriculture, more nutritious food, less pollution of soil and water

Activities and their relevance to climate change adaptation and/or

food security (Contd..)-Promoting ecosystem based livelihood development: Environmental conservation, sustainable use of ecosystems, resilience to economic pressure -Promoting livestock and fisheriesBetter nutrition. Income under crop failure. -Control of invasive species: Better pasture lands, improved tank capacity and availability of useful native species.

Components of cascade landscape mosaic components

Village tankSwamp forestsPasture lands …….

Components of cascade landscape mosaic …

Home gardensPaddy landsChena lands…

Salient features of the project

• Promote multi sector & multi stakeholder involvement with adaptive management

• Consider cascade as the basic management unit with a natural boundary

• Focus on multiple benefits – ecological, social, economic, equity, gender etc.

• Use available science as well as traditional knowledge

• Promote ecosystem as well as social resilience

END

• THANK YOU