Hydro-Climatic Disasters in Water Resources Management

30 Nov - 02 Dec 2009, Georgetown, Guyuna

No single definitionDisaster event may be classified as;

At least 10 people are killed and/or 100 or more are affected and/or An appeal for international assistance

or A state of emergency is declared

Q: What defines disaster in Guyana

Susman (1990)- Interface between an extreme physical environment and a vulnerable human population

Anderson (1992) - Temporary event triggered by natural hazards that overwhelm local response capacity and seriously affect social and economic development of the region

A disaster a serious disruption of the functioning of a society or community

Causes widespread human, material or environmental loss which exceeds the capacity of the affected society to cope without external intervention

What are the important sources in Guyana?

Discussion question

1. Hydro-meteorological: Droughts/famine, Floods, Wind storms, Avalanches, landslides, extreme temperatures, heat waves, hurricanes, forest fires, insect infestations and storm surges

2. Geophysical disasters:Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami etc.

Global incidence of natural disasters (1991- 2000): most are climate-related

Priority 1. Make disaster risk reduction a priority at the national level

Priority 2. Improve risk information and early warning

Priority 3. Build understanding and awareness

Priority 4. Reduce disaster risks in key sectors

Priority 5. Strengthen preparedness and response (Community resilience)

Two main function of water resources management Manage for beneficial use Control extreme occurrences

Two main function of water resources management Manage for beneficial use Control extreme occurrences

Process that promotes coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources

Aim at maximizing equitable economic and social welfare and sustainability of vital ecosystems

IWRM is a systematic process Sustainable development/management

of water resources Equitable allocations Water efficiency - monitoring WR uses

in context text of social-economic / environmental objectives

IWRM must be understood as a process than method

Limited freshwater sources Growth in population and resultant

pressures on WR Increased economic activities – demand and

pollution Improved standard of living - higher

consumption, hence competition and conflicts

Over-exploit of land resources – damaging effects on water resources and disasters

Climate change and variability impacts A globally accepted concept that makes good

sense

Principle 1. Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource

Principle 2. Water development and management should be

based on a participatory approach,

Principle 3. Women play a central part in the provision,

management and safeguarding of water

Principle 4. Water has an economic value

Main uses: Water for people Water for production Water for ecosystem

Each water use has its problems and constraints

Cultivate willingness and capacity to address them jointly (water governance)

Recognising the inter-related nature and impact of uses and sources an important step in IWRM

IWRM and water efficiency strategies are designed to meet development goals Increase production/food security Protect ecosystem Poverty / vulnerability reduction

Tackle specific water challenges Flooding Mitigating drought effects Increase access to water and sanitation Address competition for water

Water Uses

Land and water managementQuality and quantitySurface and groundwaterCross-sectoral and upstream –

downstream dialogueFreshwater and coastal zone

management (as a special up-down stream case)

Integration

IWRM process implies change (reforms)

IWRM Process

Management Instruments

Enabling Environment

Institutional Framework

Sets out the “GAME RULES”

The “players’ COMPETENCIES and SKILLS”(needed to play the game)

CHANGES CAN BE MADE INTO

Define:Who the “PLAYERS” Are what they should do

IWRM CHANGE AREAS

DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

HYDRO-CLIMATIC DISASTERS

DISASTER RESPONSE

WATER DISASTER RISKS

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

IWRM APPROACH

Failure in Agricultural Production Failure in hydro-power based industries Destruction of infrastructure Loss of life & property Disease outbreak & epidemicsEconomic stagnationStress and disaffection

Assess to information on hydro-climatic disasters

Increase budgets for water related disasters Promote linkages between IWRM and water

related disasters Raising awareness Promoting disaster knowledge

What is the relationship between water and disaster management?

Discussion Question

• Hydro-Climatic disasters will continue to live with us and hence we need to adapt methods to manage them so as to reduce their negative impacts to the society

• Good management of these disasters would call for maximum utilization of positive impacts minimization of community vulnerability though;

1) Awareness creation 2) Disaster proofing3) Improving on environmental protection4) Development of disaster Early Warning (DEW)5) Implementation of IWRM process at catchment

level REMEMBER:

Preparing for disasters is far more cost-effective than to recovering from them after they have occurred