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Wetlands of Hindu Kush Himalayas Ecosystem Functions, Services and Impacts of Climate Change Wetlands of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region

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Wetlands of Hindu Kush Himalayas Ecosystem Functions, Services and Impacts of Climate Change Wetlands of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region Wetlands of Hindu Kush Himalayas Ecosystem Functions, Services and Impacts of Climate Change Wetlands of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region Diverse wetland types KYRGYZSTAN UZBEKISTAN – peatlands, glaciated TAJIKISTAN TURKMENISTAN lakes, springs, CHINA marshes, floodplains, Yellow R. manmade AFGANISTAN Brahmaputra R. PAKISTAN NEPAL Comprise 17% of the BHUTAN IRAN HKH region area BANGLADESH INDIA MYANMAR Ecosystem Services Regulation of hydrological regimes 9 largest Asian rivers Yellow have headwaters Indus in HAWs, Yangtze basins of Brahmaputra which Ganga support 29% of global population Mekong Ecosystem Services (2) Carbon sequestration Ruoergai marshes in China store 750 million tonnes of carbon – 7.5 times the annual fossil fuel emissions of transportation sector of China Ecosystem Services (3) • Hotspots of biodiversity Bar headed geese use the Rourgei marshes and HAWs of Bhutan as breeding grounds Trout River of Kashmir- High altitude wetlands are the habitats of cold water fish species Ecosystem Services (4) • Cultural linkages and support to livelihoods Rourgei marshes support more than 50,000 Tibetan herders Several high altitude wetlands as Gokyo in Nepal have religious and spiritual significance , especially for Hindus and Buddhists Causes of wetland degradation Extremely vulnerable to wide range of human and environment driven threats • Water diversions • Drainage for agriculture • Overgrazing • Climate change induced stresses Climate change in the Himalayan Region Rapid increase in Glacial melt, which contributes 4 – 45% of the river base flows Increased variability of flows , frequent droughts and floods Shifts in biodiversity – vulnerability of species with restricted habitat availability High levels of vulnerability within communities Wetlands and Climate Change Wetlands can contribute significantly to climate change adaptation • Regulation of hydrological regimes – storing peak flows, augmenting lean flows • Storing carbon – peatlands • Supporting biodiversity Wetland degradation enhances vulnerability to climate change Wetlands within Jhelum Basin Gangbal Kishensar Erin Wular Manasbal Haigam Badnambal Anchar Hokersar Tarsar Sheshnag Dal Marsar Nagin References Drainage Glaciers Open Forest Moderate Dense Forest Very Dense Forest Scrub Kaunsarnag 300 30 Wetland Verinag Kilometers Valley Developmental Activities 1911Zalwan 2007 Zalwan Kanibathi Kanibathi Gurihajan Nar Zainagir Cannal Watlab Garoor Watlab a Garoor a Mukhdomyari Mukhdomyari Hajan Sopore Ningli Shahgund Hajan Malgom Gujar Nar Gund Jahangir Sopore Bod Shahgund Malgom Gund Ningli Manasbal Jahangir Haigam Haigam Manasbal •70% of area under marshes converted for agriculture and plantation Changes in Water Flows Increasing glacial melt leading to higher flow volumes and early onset of high flows Increased vulnerability due to loss of wetlands • lower moderation of peak flows • lower lean season flows due to reduced absorption capacity 800.00 Higher flow volumes -Climate 700.00 Peaking of flows, change lower moderation 600.00 500.00 1922-40 1941-60 400.00 1961-80 Lower lean season 1981-00 300.00 flows Mean monthly flows (cumecs) flows monthly Mean 200.00 Early onset of high flows 100.00 0.00 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August September October November December Extremities – floods and droughts 35 30 25 20 High Flows Low Flows 15 10 Frequency of High and Low flow and flow years Low High of Frequency 5 0 1920-40 1941-60 1961-80 1981-00 Inventorization and Assessment Poverty and marginalization of communities 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 % Populationliving Below PovertyLine 0 Wular State Integrating Wetlands in Climate Change Adaptation Wetlands and River Basin Management Headwater wetlands provide water resource Downstream wetlands functions e.g. provide local goods and • flood protection services: e.g. • low flow support •fish • agriculture • recreation • Functioning of HAWs critical to ensure sustained provisioning of ecosystems services in the downstream reaches • Wetland conservation and wise use as alternate to structural approaches Integrating Wetlands in Climate Change Adaptation Longitudinal Dimension • Connectivity of wetlands with river Headw aters-estuary systems critical to maintenance of Sea their ecosystem services Riffle-pool Parapotamon-channel Freshwater-marine Lateral Dimension Channel-canyou Channel-ridge wall Channel-upland Channel Source Upland Vertical Dimension Aquifer Springbrook Aquifer Soil River Aquifer Aquifer-channel Hyporheic Zone Aquifer-riverbed Current status of policy integration • Sectoral approach to wetlands and water management with limited degree of integration • Role of wetlands in water management and river basin management not explicitly recognized • Water allocation strategies focused on human uses without considering ecological requirements • Focus on role of state and community institutions in management of water resources – limited role of private sector , diffused incentive mechanisms • Urgent need for action as inadequate integration enhances vulnerability of large populations and ecosystems – especially on account of climate change Himalayan Wetland Initiative • Database methodologies on Himalayan Wetlands • Mechanisms and facilities for cooperation, networking and capacity building • Improve knowledge of climate change impacts and of adaptation responses • Devise and promote best practices on Himalayan wetlands management • Develop participatory CEPA programmes • Develop policy support for implementation of wetland conservation Thank You.
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