Water for life: Lessons for climate change adaptation from better management of rivers for people and nature 01 1. Global summary 08 2. Introduction 11 3. Case studies 12 3.1 Danube: Lower Danube 15 3.2 Tanzania: Great Ruaha River 18 3.3 India: Tanks in Andhra Pradesh 21 3.4 China: Lakes in the central Yangtze River basin 24 3.5 Mexico: Rio Conchos 27 3.6 Brazil: Rio São João 30 4. Conclusions 31 Annexe: Analytical framework 1. Global summary

The case studies This report presents six cases where the work of WWF and its partners has resulted in adaptations in water management that are reducing vulnerability to expected climate change impacts, and are also improving the livelihoods of local people and enhancing the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. The six cases are:

1. Lower Danube in eastern Europe; 2. Great Ruaha River in Tanzania; 3. Maner River, a tributary of the Godavari River in India; 4. Lakes in the central Yangtze River basin of China; 5. Rio Conchos in Mexico; 6. Rio São João in Brazil.

1 The adaptations undertaken

These six cases of adaptation were not explicitly 7. Increasing the incomes derived from natural designed to address the full impacts of climate change commodities, like fish, to reward producers on these basins. High confidence climate change adopting more sustainable practices and increase scenarios are not available for these river basins that the resilience of these households; would enable managers to adopt specific counter 8. Establishing and strengthening local institutions measures. Yet in each case there was knowledge of to facilitate adaptive management and self- historical extremes that enabled “auto-adaptation” to determination, including establishing and enforcing manage in increasing uncertainty the impacts of floods more sustainable behavioural norms for uses of and droughts, water scarcity and pollution. natural resources like water; The work of these projects involved social and 9. Facilitating basin-scale multi-stakeholder institutional changes as much or more than biophysical institutions to: establish partnerships; develop and technological interventions to reduce vulnerability common visions; lead adaptive management; and to the likely impacts of climate change. The adaptation connect the local to global measures needed for tools and measures deployed included: more effective adaption and sustainability; 1. Decommissioning or changing the operations 10. Advocating for laws and government programs of under-performing infrastructure, like flood that facilitate subsidiarity, by providing basin and “protection” dykes and sluice gates; local institutions with the mandate and access to 2. Restoring the ability of the natural environment to resources for adaptive management; provide ecosystem services, such as floodwater 11. Improving connectivity in freshwater ecosystems retention, storing water in aquifers, water by applying environmental flows, ensuring wildlife purification and fisheries; passage through or over water infrastructure, and 3. Adopting locally available and small-scale restoring riparian habitats; technologies, such as village water tanks; 12. Restoring habitats to increase the resilience of 4. Changing agricultural and aquacultural practices these ecosystems to climatic impacts and their to more sustainable methods that: produce fewer capacities to support greater populations of flora pollutants; reuse water, such as for fish production and fauna species, especially those that are then irrigation; are more water efficient; require threatened or of economic value. less inputs; and secure higher returns for more Table 1 summarizes the main adaptation, livelihood valued produce; and conservation benefits by project. 5. Providing better waste management systems, especially for sewerage; 6. Diversifying local livelihoods into less water dependant enterprises;

02 The adaptation outcomes

The freshwater adaptation outcomes can be categorized as enhanced: 1. Flood retention – increased capacity to safely retain higher peak flood flows; 2. Water security – more reliable access to water in areas prone to scarcity; 3. Pollution reduction – cuts to pollution levels and the risk that pollution impacts like eutrophication will be exacerbated by higher temperatures; 4. Livelihoods – diversified income generation strategies and increased incomes of many participants that may increase resilience of communities to climatic events; 5. Institutional capacity – established and strengthened local institutions, increasing their adaptive management capacities; 6. Connectivity – re-linked habitats and populations of species, enabling greater mobility and capacity to colonize new habitats that may be required to survive in a warmer world; 7. Populations and habitats – restored populations of species and areas of habitat that may better resist and survive impacts of severe climatic events.

03 The lessons learnt

These cases are historical examples from which we 6. Linking local to national to global. The most have derived higher-level lessons on how to help effective adaptations draw strength and link societies adapt to the commonly expected impacts of action at different geo-political scales. Sub- climate change on rivers and water resources. From national governments were enthusiastic partners the six cases presented in this report, the lessons in these adaptation efforts, apparently motivated derived are: by vulnerability reduction and sustainable development opportunities. National laws and 1. Multiple benefits. Many freshwater adaptations resource provision that support basin and sub- to climate change impacts are practical now, can basin scale institutions appear vital for adaptive be scaled up, and may have benefits for peoples’ management of freshwaters. Basin and multi- livelihoods and for nature conservation – they are lateral treaties are a catalyst for better river “no regrets” measures; management in transboundary situations; 2. Communicating adaptation. Better 7. Post disaster reform. There is great impetus communication is required to inform and for adaptation following major natural disasters encourage local communities and governments, or severe environmental degradation that should to overcome the perception of adaptation as be seized; a complicated process requiring new expertise to succeed; 8. Funding adaptation. The social, institutional and environmental-focussed adaptations studied had 3. Local ownership. Participation of local a modest cost and were cheaper than identified stakeholders in the design, implementation, impacts or alternative adaptations (such as large and management of adaptation creates new infrastructure projects). Upfront investment was societal norms that ensures the sustainability required for necessary infrastructure, seed capital and effectiveness of the measures; or loans, and to pay transition costs. The initial 4. Immediate benefits. Local stakeholder support adaptation funding came from non-government depends on receipt of immediate benefits, organizations, development banks and other aid which may then engender support for more donors. National governments often contributed challenging measures; funding only after the adaptations had shown the potential to succeed. 5. Adaptive management. Adaptation is an iterative process requiring mainstream institutions to engage relevant stakeholders to work on and revise key measures over many years. River basin management organizations are key adaptation institutions in most societies;

04 Discussion of key issues

The freshwater projects studied here are from sites If climate change impacts become more severe where aquatic environments had been extensively there is a risk that the adaptations to manage water degraded through desiccation, pollution and land scarcity and quality documented in these projects use change. Consequent restoration of these sites could be insufficient to meet the needs of people suggests that practical and affordable adaptations of and the environment. Yet these resilience building freshwater management can reduce vulnerabilities to measures have engaged and built the capacities of climate change, and in many instances, also provide local institutions in adaptive management process benefits for peoples’ livelihoods and conservation that may provide the social and institutional resources of freshwater habitats. Two questions arise from needed to address greater climate impacts. These these examples of generic adaptations: a) could adaptations have bought time to consider whether more targeted and sophisticated programs achieve more radical measures are required. By contrast, the more, and b) could the resilience building adaptations increase in flood water retention capacity achieved implemented in these projects be overwhelmed as in these projects will always be valuable. All of these climate change impacts exceed key thresholds? adaptations have two prized qualities: they are “no regrets” measures, and they can be scaled up There is little doubt that more climate informed considerably to substantially increase resilience at and target driven projects could achieve more a basin or greater scales. effective adaptation, for example by better defining the freshwater biodiversity conservation objectives While WWF and local institutions did not conceive and the thresholds for the quantity and quality of these projects for comprehensive climate change water required to achieve them. In the Ruaha and adaptation, this varied from those explicitly addressing Rio Conchos projects, the generic adaptations floods as a climate impact, to projects that had not implemented on water scarcity are buying time thought of adaptation until it was raised by this study. and stakeholder ownership for the development of The staff of WWF and their local institutional partners, scientifically-based, quantitative environmental flows. that include people highly educated in relevant fields, This suggests that starting action to adapt to the most had not focused on climate change adaptation. If obvious problems should not wait for more precise these sorts of local thought leaders had not fully information. By contrast, in the Yangtze and Danube, engaged in adaptation, why not? What would mobilize the floodwater retention capacities achieved by the more regional societies to mainstream adaptation? restoration of floodplain sites are known and appear part of larger governmental decisions on the levels of acceptable flood risk.

05 A common response of the local project staff when This research shows that adaptation is best approached to participate in this research was considered as a pathway that starts by implementing that insufficient climate change impact data was the “no regrets” measures to address obvious available for their river basin to enable development vulnerabilities that most societies can undertake of targeted adaptation responses. This suggests that with locally available knowledge and technologies, awareness of climate change adaptation methods often with a little external help. The small-scale but was low. Climate change adaptation proponents increasingly widespread local measures outlined in need to consider whether a mystique surrounding this report add up to substantial adaptation and buy the data, methods and expertise required for time to consider and gather the resources needed effective adaptation is a barrier to implementation. if progressively harder adaptations are required. In the Danube and Rio Conchos, however, some A number of these case studies exhibit a virtuous consideration of climate change was evident. Staff in cycle where initial, successful interventions have all the projects were focused on reversing the severe generated stakeholder support and built capacities for environmental degradation evident in these basins. progressively more sophisticated measures that will In number of the projects, as a result of participating further enhance adaptation to climate change. in this research, the project staff have responded This report shows that practical adaptations to climate with renewed confidence that the adaptations they change impacts on freshwaters may have immediate are implementing can be enhanced and become benefits for peoples’ livelihoods and to conserve better climate-informed. This suggests that there are ecosystems, and should be priorities for governments many local institutions that if directly engaged will and aid donors. consider climate change adaptation. It is also clear that many local people and institutions implemented these measures more for the short term livelihood and development benefits than reduction of long term risks. Proponents need to link adaptations to outcomes of value to local communities.

06 Table 1. Summary of key adaptation, livelihood and conservation benefits.

Project Likely major climate Key adaptation Key livelihood Key ecosystem change impacts benefits benefits benefits Lower Danube, Flooding increased. Flood storage increased Livelihoods diversified. Restored 4,430 ha of eastern Europe Pollution exacerbated. through restoration of Better access to clean habitats and reconnected Biodiversity impacted. floodplains. Plan to water. Ecological services a 68 km2 lake to the river. restore 2,250 km2. of €500/ha from restored Fish and bird populations 14.4% has been or floodplains. restored. Protected areas is being restored. expanded by 5,757 km2 Pollution reduced. in Romania.

Great Ruaha River, Greater water scarcity. Reduced vulnerability Established 20 Flows restored in some Tanzania Biodiversity impacted. to drought. Water Community Banks. places. Water sources Users’ Associations and Diversified into livelihoods and riparian vegetation other basin institutions with reduced reliance on restored. Tree felling for strengthened. water. charcoal production reduced.

Godavari tanks, Greater water scarcity. Greater surface and Increased agricultural Enhanced habitats for India Impacts of alternative ground water access production, employment birds in the tanks. adaptation options. from restored tanks. and incomes. Reduced Alternative to Tank management agricultural inputs. environmental damage systems established. Cultural benefits. from proposed new Program adopted by dam demonstrated. the state government. Alternative to proposed US$4 billion dam demonstrated.

Yangtze lakes, Flooding increased. Restored 450 km2 lakes. Improved access to Restored 450 km2 lake China Pollution exacerbated. Can retain 285 Mm3 of drinking water. habitats, new 60 km2 Biodiversity impacted. flood waters. Reduced Fish resources increased. reserve. Populations of pollution. Government Diversification of fish, birds and Yangtze adopted restoration livelihoods and increased Porpoise increased. policies. Yangtze Forum incomes. established for adaptive management.

Rio Conchos, Greater water scarcity. Vulnerability to drought More secure access Conservation of endemic Mexico Biodiversity impacted. reduced. Established to water. Increased fish. Developing payment institution for adaptive economic efficiency for ecological services basin management. in agriculture. and environmental flows. Environment recognised Enhanced livelihoods as a user in the water law. of communities in the headwaters.

Rio São João, Pollution exacerbated. Pollution cut by 75%. Restored 244 km2 coastal Restored riparian, Brazil Biodiversity impacted. Establishment of multi- lagoons rejuvenating floodplain and lagoon stakeholder, adaptive, tourism and fishing habitats. Riparian river basin management industries Training and corridors link remnant institutions. Management economic diversification. habitat of the threatened approach adopted Improved water supply. Golden Lion Tamarin. nationally. River connectivity restoration planned.

07 2. Introduction

Status of freshwater ecosystems Climate change impacts and freshwater Freshwater habitats cover little of the earth’s surface The Earth’s changing climate is impacting directly on – by some accounts 0.8% – and support high the distribution of water. The 2008 “Technical paper on biodiversity per unit area, with ~6% of the world’s climate change and water” from the Intergovernmental species being described from these ecosystems. Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) summarises the The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) expected bio-physical impacts: summarizes extensive losses of wetlands globally and • Precipitation and runoff is expected to increase describes freshwater ecosystems as being over-used, in high latitudes, and decrease in mid and under represented in protected areas, and having the sub-tropical regions, exacerbated by greater highest portion of species threatened with extinction. evapotranspiration; Primary direct drivers of degradation and loss include infrastructure development, land conversion, water • Increased precipitation intensity and variability is withdrawal, eutrophication and pollution, over- projected to increase risks from floods and droughts; harvesting and overexploitation, the introduction of • Melting glaciers may temporarily boost rivers flowing invasive alien species, and global climate change. from major mountain ranges but reduced perennial Yet even without climate change, human pressures base flows are anticipated in the long term; on freshwater ecosystems are growing rapidly, with • Increased temperatures and more intense increasing demands on limited water supplies for food rainfall are expected to aggravate pollution and production and low-carbon sources of energy. The sedimentation of water bodies; United Nations 2015 Millennium Development Goals seek to halve poverty by, in part, extending water • Changes in water quantity and quality are likely to supplies and energy to the poor, and by expanding affect food and availability, requiring demand and agricultural production. If poorly implemented, these supply-side adaptations; agreements would further exacerbate the decline in • The functions and operations of existing water wetland ecosystems. infrastructure will be affected. Freshwater dependant flora and fauna, which require specific volumes and quality of water at the right times to thrive, are being severely impacted. Ecosystems and species that require specific water flows face either contracting ranges or the need to move to new habitats. Migratory species that rely on particular water flow and temperate triggers for key stages of their life cycles could be particularly impacted. Species that require specific water temperatures to live and breed either need move to suitable refuges or face extinction.

8 The fragmentation of so many river systems by dams Adaptation and other infrastructure creates barriers to adaptation The IPCC defines adaptation as “initiatives and for freshwater biota. There are two main adaptation measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and measures that can be deployed for freshwater human systems against actual or expected climate biodiversity conservation: a) maintain and enhance change effects”. Resilience is “the ability of a social resilience of species populations and habitats in situ, or ecological system to absorb disturbances while such as by conserving riparian zones and providing retaining the same basic structure and ways of environmental flows, or b) restoring connectivity of functioning, the capacity for self organization, and freshwater ecosystems, in part to facilitate migration the capacity to adapt to stress and change” and is a by enhancing wildlife passage or removing redundant subset of adaptation that represents less change from dams and dykes. the status quo compared to other adaptation options. Clearly, far-reaching adaptations are required if people The climate change debate until recently was and nature are to weather the impacts of climate characterized by political debates over the existence change on freshwater systems. and severity of human-induced climate change, and Many of the responses governments and societies the ongoing negotiations on how to limit greenhouse make to climate change are also impacting on gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Only recently, freshwater ecosystems and resources, and could be as climate change impacts have manifest, have considered maladaptations. Policies to generate low societies and governments focused on adaptation. carbon energy, for instance, can result in diversion This study looks at existing cases of adaptation in river of water for biofuel crop production, and with hydro- and water management to identify lessons that will help electric dams, fragmentation of rivers and changes to societies and governments adapt better to the impacts water flows. Greater storage and diversion of water of climate change on freshwater systems to benefit is likely with increasing water scarcity and variability both people and biodiversity conservation. The IPCC’s in runoff, further impacting on the ecological health of Technical Paper on Water and Climate (2008) described freshwater habitats. There is an urgent need to identify such interventions as “autonomous adaptations climate change responses that maximise the benefits … that do not constitute a conscious response to for society while minimizing environmental impacts. climate stimuli, but result from changes to meet altered Hence this research seeks to derive some relevant demands, objectives and expectations which, whilst not lessons on mutually beneficial adaptations from WWF deliberately designed to cope with climate change, may field projects. lessen the consequences of that change.”

9 2. Introduction continued

Adaptation and freshwater 1. Improved water management, including for flood retention, water security and pollution reduction; The six WWF freshwater conservation projects examined were not explicitly designed to address the 2. Strengthened societies, through enhanced impacts of climate change. The case studies were livelihoods and increased institutional capacities; selected because all water management is adaptation. 3. Enhanced environmental resilience, from restoring The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report states connectivity, species’ populations and habitats. that “Adaptation to changing conditions in water availability and demand has always been at the core These adaptations apply existing tools, including of water management.” Historically human societies social, institutional, environmental and small scale have continually implemented measures to reduce technological adaptations. They are compared in vulnerability to floods and droughts, and to improve some case studies to large scale infrastructure access water of a usable quality. These hydrological adaptations represented by the status quo (such as events and problems are the types of impacts flood protection dykes) or a proposed new dam in expected with greater severity from climate change. India. The alternative infrastructure adaptations often By assessing major new adaptations undertaken in have two drawbacks: they are predicated on a largely the WWF projects, lessons are derived as to what stationary climate and hydrological regime and may factors motivated societies and governments to become redundant with further climate change, and change their water management, how adaptation can they usually have long term and often irreversible be made more effective, and what barriers need to be negative impacts on people and ecosystems. It is overcome for better adaptation. also possible that in future the impacts of severe climate change may exceed thresholds at which the High resolution climate change scenarios are not adaptation measures researched in this report can available for these river basins that would enable sustain the needs of people and biodiversity. This managers to adopt specific counter measures. It question is considered further in the global summary. is questionable whether climate change scenarios will have fine enough resolution in the foreseeable future to do so. Yet in each of these cases there was knowledge of historical extremes that enabled informed action to be taken to reduce the expected impacts from more frequent floods and droughts, and from water scarcity and pollution. Three types of autonomous adaptations are studied in these projects:

10 3. Case studies

This report describes six cases where the work of WWF The analytical framework adopted for this study is and its partners has resulted in major adaptations to detailed in the Annex. water management that are reducing vulnerability to This section introduces and then evaluates the climate change, and are also improving the livelihoods six case studies by examining improvements in of local people and enhancing the conservation of resilience to climate change, livelihood changes, and freshwater biodiversity. The six cases are: conservation of biodiversity. Key questions asked are: 1. Lower Danube in eastern Europe; • What motivated these societies to change? 2. Great Ruaha River in Tanzania; • Whether these adaptations sustainable? 3. Maner River, a tributary of the Godavari River • Who paid and how will the adaptations in India; be maintained? 4. Lakes in the central Yangtze River basin of China; • What barriers were encountered and lessons learnt? 5. Rio São João in Brazil; • How could these adaptations be scaled up? 6. Rio Conchos in Mexico.

Danube, Europe

Rio Conchos, Mexico Yangtze, China

Maner and Godavari, India

São João, Brazil

Ruaha, Tanzania

11 3.1 Danube: Lower Danube

Background Adaptation outcomes Falling within the territories of 19 European states, If the 2000 Lower Danube Green Corridor agreement the 801,000 km2 Danube River is home to 81 million to restore a floodplain area of 2,236 km2 were fully people. The 2,800 km long river is one of the largest implemented, this would significantly reduce damage sources of nutrients into the Black Sea, which suffers from floods. As at 2008, 469 km2 of floodplain, 14.4% from a hypoxic “dead zone”. Conversion of floodplains of the area pledged, has been or is undergoing for farming and other development has seen 95% restoration. The restored 21 km2 Babina Island polder of the upper Danube, 75% of the lower Danube and holds 35 Mm3 in floodwaters at high tide. These pilot 28% of the delta’s floodplains cut off by dykes. This restoration sites are in the Danube delta where the has exacerbated flood peaks. In 2005 a flood killed 34 flood safety benefits are less than sites located further people, displaced 2,000 people, inundated 690 km2 upstream. An extra 2.1 Bm3 in flood retention capacity and caused US$625 million (€396 M) in damages in through the restoration of floodplains and former side Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova. A year later channels would lower Danube flood peaks by 40 cm. a flood displaced 17,000 people, inundated 1,450 Further, identification by WWF of potential floodplain km2 and cost US$8.6 million (€5.5 M) in Romania. restoration sites that coincide with biodiversity Climate change is expected to increase the frequency conservation priorities is aiding governments to better of floods and exacerbate pollution. target their flood control interventions. WWF’s interventions Livelihood outcomes WWF commenced work in the Danube in 1992 and Reduced vulnerability to floods is a major benefit for promoted the establishment of the Convention for the peoples’ livelihoods from the floodplain restoration Protection of the Danube River in 1994 and European work. Most of the polders targeted for conversion Union (EU) Water Framework Directive in 2000. In were used for cropping and forestry, activities that 2000 WWF secured agreement from the heads of were not very profitable since the change from state of Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine centralized economies in the 1990s and due to land to restore 2,236 km2 of floodplain to form a 9,000 degradation. Restoration of the pilot polders has km2 “Lower Danube Green Corridor.” This Corridor seen a diversification in livelihood strategies to fishing, is intended to attenuate floods, restore biodiversity, tourism, reed harvesting and livestock grazing on improve water quality, and enhance local livelihoods. seasonal pastures, activities that earn an average Pilot projects to demonstrate floodplain restoration €40 per hectare per year. Each hectare of restored assessed in this case study are the 1993-1996 wetland is calculated to produce 34 kg of commercial removal of the 36.8 km2 Babina and Cernovca polders sized fish per year, and at the 36.8 km2 Babina and in Romania, and in Ukraine in 2005-2008 the relinking Cernovca polders, the restored fisheries provide jobs of the 68 km2 Katlabuh Lake to the river and removal for 20-25 people. At Katlabuh Lake, improved water of the 7.5 km2 Tataru polder. quality will enhance access of 10,000 local residents to drinking and irrigation water. Provision of ecosystem services like restored floodplain for fisheries, forestry, animal feed, nutrient retention and recreation is valued as €500/ha/yr, or around €85.6 million per year for the pledged 2,236 km2 restoration area.

12 A R C T I C O C E A N

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IRELAND I AUSTRIA T N Pr Man Leed SEA DENMARK T LIECHTENSTEIN Budapest ut SEA OF E Bay of L SWITZERLAND Graz H AZOV Dublin IRISH SEA S LITHUANIA Danube Basin s Copenhage A HUNGARY I Bordeaux B A Odessa Biscay n Lyon Nemunas Rivers Mancheste Garonne Vilnius N Cor MASSIF Dnepr S UNITEDr KINGDOM SLOVENIA Se RUSSIA Milan DANUBE k Ljubljana ve Bilba CENTRALGdans Zagreb R O M A N I A Birmingha Mins DELTA Sevastopol’ WALES rn m o P k Rhône k Cardiff Hambur Po CROATIA Don ENGLANDPort Y Toulouse Bucharest Amsterda R ITALY BELARUS o g EElbe Nice Bologna BOSNIA- Londo Duero Belgrade BLA C K S E A PORTUGALThe Haguem N Vistula SAN- MARINO Thamesn Andorra la Vella Poznan MONACO A HERZEGOVINA E Marseilles Pripyat SERBIA Danube Berlin A D R I A Desna NETHERLANDS Ebro E ANDORRA P Sarajevo Meuse Bug S P BELGIUM Rhine Dortmun Warsaw BULGARIA ENGLISH CHANNEL Tajo Madrid Corsica T I C S E A Brussels Tiber Lisbo d Odr P O L A N D Elba E MONTENEGRO Sofiya BarLeipzigcelona Khar’ko n Le Havre GERMANY a Ajacci N Kiyev v Seine Guadiana o SPAIN Frankfurt Rome N Skopje Paris LUXEMBOURG Prague Vistula Istanbul Valencia BALEARIC IS. I Tirane DneprMACEDONIA Minorca Krakow L’vov Palma CZECH N Guadalquivir Sardinia St. Nazaire Seville MajorREPUBLICca TYRRHENIAN Naples ALBANIA Ankara Nantes Strasbour Ibiza Dnestr I TarantoU K R A I N E Thessaloniki mak Loire g Murcia SLOVAK SEA Golf Rostov-na-Don Donau C Kizil Ir Str Munich Vienna Ta o di A E G E A N S E A ait of Gibr Gibraltar Malaga REPUBLIC Cagliari A ranto FRANCEaltar Cartagena Bratislava R M E D P GREECE T U R K E Y Tangier Cuet I A MOLDOVA Zurich AUSTRIA T a LIECHTENSTEIN E Budapest T Prut SEA OF Bay of Graz R H AZOV Gediz SWITZERLAND Algiers Palermo Messina Danube Basin Melilla I IONIAN Izmir S HUNGARY R A Odessa Biscay Bordeaux Lyon Oran Rivers O Garonne ’Annab A N Athens R Raba SEA Antalya T O Adana MASSIF SLOVENIA Bizerte S S a N Sicily Casablanca t A Milan DANUBE Bilba CENTRAL L Ljubljana Zagreb R O ME A N I A Siracusa Kalamai T Tunis DELTA Sevastopol’ o A Rhône A P M O R O C C O Po CROATIA Rhode SYRIA Port Y Toulouse N N R E Bucharest Nicosia O Y ITALY Bologna s o Duero E M Nice E N BOSNIA- Belgrade Khania N A R I BLA C K S E A PORTUGAL Andorra la Vella A HA SAN- MARINO HERZEGOVINA TUNISIA MALTA Iráklion CYPRUS E MONACO S Limassol Marseilles S A D R I A SERBIA Danube Ebro E ANDORRA L A P A L G E R I A Sarajevo T Crete LEBANON S A P BULGARIA Beirut Tajo Madrid Corsica T I C S E A Tiber Lisbo E MONTENEGRO Barcelona Elba Sofiya n Ajacci N Guadiana o SPAIN N Skopje Rome Istanbul Valencia BALEARIC IS. I Tirane MACEDONIA Palma Minorca N Guadalquivir Sardinia 13 Seville Majorca TYRRHENIAN Naples ALBANIA Ankara Ibiza I Taranto Thessaloniki mak

Murcia SEA Golf Kizil Ir Str Ta o di A E G E A N S E A ait of Gibr Gibraltar Malaga Cagliari ranto altar Cartagena M E GREECE Tangier D T U R K E Y Cuet I T a E R Gediz Algiers Palermo Messina Melilla R IONIAN Izmir S Oran O R ’Annab A SEA Athens O Adana Raba Bizerte Antalya T S a N Sicily Casablanca t A L E Siracusa Kalamai T Tunis A M O R O C C O A N Rhode SYRIA E N Nicosia O Y s M I E N Khania H A R MALTA Iráklion CYPRUS S A TUNISIA S Limassol L A A L G E R I A T Crete LEBANON A Beirut 3.1 Danube: Lower Danube

Environmental outcomes Making use of post-disaster policy windows is a key lesson. The policy of floodplain restoration is viewed The restoration of the 9,000 km2 Lower Danube much more favourably following the 2005 and 2006 Green Corridor is enhancing biodiversity conservation floods, for instance, Romania is currently completing and resilience to some impacts of climate change, a national floodplain restoration strategy. Persistent including from extreme events and changes in water work over more than ten years has been required to quality. For instance, following restoration of the 21 achieve the outcomes to date. Linking and drawing km2 Babina Island polder, the number of resident bird strength from simultaneous work at the pilot site, species increased from 34 to 72, and over a quarter of national, basin and European scales has been critical the waterbird species commenced breeding. After the to achieving reforms. Lower Danube Green Corridor pledge and as a result of its EU accession, Romania designated an additional Potential to scale up 5,757 km2 as Natura 2000 protected areas. Based on the Romanian pilot projects, WWF Motivations for change estimates that dyke removal costs €50 – 200,000 per kilometre, depending on the nature of the dyke wall, Local communities and national governments plus compensation for changes in land use. From undertook floodplain restoration to: reduce vulnerability this work WWF has calculated that restoration of to flooding, improve water quality, and more increase four polders covering 1,000 km2 in Romania, which local incomes. National governments are seeking to fulfil flooded in 2006, would cost around€ 20 million and their obligations under regional agreements of the EU, hold 1.6 Bm3 and generate ecological services worth and Danube River Protection Convention, to adopt new €50 million per year. Further, restoration of the 37 sites and more sustainable river management practices. The that make up the Lower Danube Green Corridor is expansion of the EU into eastern Europe has been one estimated to cost €183 million, compared to damages driver for reform of river basin management. of €396 million from the 2005 flood and likely earnings of €85.6 million per year. Clearly floodplain restoration Sustainability and funding is a cost effective adaptation that can be increased in Reversion is unlikely because: the cost of re-building the Danube basin. flood “protection” dykes is very high; in most cases the restored floodplains are designated as protected Conclusions from the Danube areas; local peoples’ livelihoods have improved; and The large-scale adaptation in the Danube shows the threat from flooding remains. Management costs the value of restoring the natural resilience of the of the restored floodplains are low. environment to climate events by decommissioning under-performing water infrastructure, in this case Barriers and lessons by more safely retaining and releasing peak floods. It Government implementation of restoration of the lower also highlights how replacing vulnerable monocultures Danube floodplain has been slow: it has taken too with more diverse livelihoods based on natural long to appoint officials and agencies to lead the work; ecosystems (in this case tourism, fishing, grazing and to develop national implementation plans; and allocate fibre production) can strengthen local economies. funds. Most of the funding for floodplain restoration International agreements for better water and river has come from the EU, NGOs and other donor management have been a powerful driver of change in organizations. In some instances local people have not the Danube. consented to restoration, and changes in land laws have hindered progress. 14 3.2 Tanzania: Great Ruaha River

Background WWF’s intervention Tanzania’s Great Ruaha River is a major tributary of the WWF’s program to restore flows in the Great Ruaha Rufiji River, and is nearly 600 km long. The 84,000 km2 River commenced in 2003, working with communities basin is home to 6 million people. The 280 MW Mtera in eight of 16 districts in the basin, focussed on better and Kidatu hydroelectric project on the river represents catchment management and poverty reduction. Local 48.5% of Tanzania’s installed electricity generation Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) were established capacity. The river basin contains two major wetlands: to restore catchments and better manage water by: Utengule (upstream) and Ihefu (downstream), the restoring the source catchments; agreements with Usangu Game Reserve, and Ruaha National Park, major agricultural users to better schedule their water which encompasses the Ihefu wetlands and part of diversions; and enforcement of water laws to shut the river downstream from it. In the river headwaters, down illegal diversions. Headwaters and riparian zones 46% of the 1.5 million residents live in poverty. The were restored by: reducing vinyungu (valley-bottom) average income is US$0.80 per day and it is a largely farming, removing thirsty, exotic trees; restoring agriculture-based economy. Between 1970 and indigenous vegetation, including by reducing felling 2002, the area devoted to irrigation increased from for charcoal production; protecting riparian zones 10,000 ha to 45,000 ha. A range of crops are grown, from grazing; and relocating houses from river banks predominantly rice under irrigation in the semi-arid and (80 of 150 have been relocated so far). Agreements sub-humid portions of the catchment. with irrigators have reduced transmission losses through coordinated water deliveries, and reduced dry The Great Ruaha was a perennial river. From 1957 season water use. A 49,000 m3 dam was constructed rainfall in the lowland portion of the catchment to secure a water supply for livestock. Each sub- declined, a trend many fear will be exacerbated catchment WUA required a month of training and cost by climate change. Increasing degradation of the US$13-27,000 to establish. Community Conservation catchment was also evident. From 1993 in the dry Banks were also established for savings and micro- season (July – November) there were zero flows in credit. Each of the 20 banks started with a loan of long stretches of the Great Ruaha River downstream US$4,000 (since repaid) and 30 members, or ~150 from the Ihefu wetland. This had major impacts on beneficiaries counting family members. the livelihoods of local people and on the riparian environment, and raising concerns for tourism and Adaptation outcomes hydropower generation. In March 2001, Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye announced “that the Government Year round river flows into the Ihefu wetlands restarted of Tanzania is committing its support for a program to in 2004. Restored flows and stronger local institutions ensure that the Great Ruaha River has a year round have reduced the vulnerability of local people to water flow by 2010.” scarcity. The WUAs are represented in river basin governance processes for the implementation of the Tanzanian Government’s new water policies.

15 3.2 Tanzania: Great Ruaha River

Livelihood outcomes government’s intention to foster this type of river basin management through a new water law, and allocation Livelihood strategies have diversified from agriculture, of central funds and fees from water users to local brewing and charcoal production into activities management institutions, is yet to be realized. Further, requiring less water, notably retailing, manufacturing the Tanzanian Government has a policy of expanding clothing, and bee-keeping. Secure water supplies irrigation, which if implemented poorly in the Great have supported livestock production, and fish farming Ruaha River basin, may impact further on river flows. in water storages has proved particularly profitable. Training in better production practices of 48 rice Barriers and lessons farmers has seen some double their yields. Work with government agencies locally was hampered Environmental outcomes as newly trained officers took up better employment offers elsewhere. Lessons for successful adaptation The conservation of riparian zones and restoration from the program are that: seed funding is essential for of springs and river flows is of benefit to biodiversity. the transition; improvements in livelihoods motivates Flows have recommenced into the Ihefu wetlands, change; establishing and strengthening local and the number of zero flows downstream into the institutions, and links to basin and national institutions, National Park has been reduced to less than a month make this change sustainable. Reduced poverty, per year. A flow assessment is now underway to better livelihoods and stronger local institutions are rigorously determine the water required to conserve resulting in more sustainable catchment management. particular environmental attributes. Potential to scale up Motivations for change This approach to adaptive catchment management Local communities were keen to implement these could be scaled up given its modest cost and the adaptations due to their vulnerability to water scarcity national and donor funds available in Tanzania and and pollution, and need to improve their livelihoods to other countries. reduce poverty. For the Tanzanian Government, the project has attracted resources to implement its water Conclusions from Tanzania policies in the basin. The inexpensive, grass roots adaptation measures Sustainability and funding applied in the Great Ruaha demonstrate how incremental action to restore ecosystem functions The sustainability of these adaptations, such as and better manage natural resources can increase enforcement of water rules, depends on ownership resilience to water scarcity. It highlights the importance and implementation by the local community, which of strengthening the capacities of local people and is likely given the strengthened local institutions and organisations to improve governance, diversify the livelihood benefits derived thus far. Funding has so local economy and institute adaptive management far come from WWF and the EU. There are US$951 practices. This case also emphasises the need for million in national and donor funds held by the governments to support local organisations with Tanzanian Government for use to 2011 to support this appropriate mandates and financial independence to type of water sector development nationally. The undertake ongoing adaptive management.

16 TANZANIA

Mtera Reservoir

Kidatu Rufiji Basin Hydroelectric Project Great Ruaha River Catchment Chunya Usangu area Mountains Ruaha National Park Usangu Game Reserve Wetlands Poroto Irrigation Mountains Rivers

Kipengere Mountains

TANZANIA

Mtera Reservoir

Kidatu Rufiji Basin Hydroelectric Project Great Ruaha River Catchment Chunya Usangu area Mountains Ruaha National Park Usangu Game Reserve Wetlands Poroto Irrigation Mountains Rivers

Kipengere Mountains

17 3.3 India: Tanks in Andhra Pradesh

Background WWF’s intervention The 1,465 km long Godavari River drains a 313,000 WWF began a pilot project in 2004 with a local NGO, km2 basin in central India, and is home to around 63 Modern Architects for Rural India and local villages, million people. Nearly all rain falls in the monsoon from to assess the costs and benefits from restoration of June to October, usually in only 100 hours, making tanks. The Maner River, a tributary of the Godavari storage essential for year round water access. The low draining a 13,000 km2 basin was chosen for this confidence climate change scenarios for peninsula project. The basin is home to 3.8 million people. The India suggest that slightly more precipitation is average income is US$1.34 per day: under– and un- possible. employment is at 50%. Remote sensing was used to map the distribution and area of tanks. In 2005 and Beginning around 1,200 year ago, villages constructed 2006, in the 88,000 ha Sali Vagu sub-catchment, “water tanks”, earth dams that range in area from less 12 tanks with an area of 11 hectares and serving than one to more than 100 hectares, with most being 42,000 people were restored through de-silting. The one to ten hectares in size. The tanks were managed US$103,000 intervention was undertaken with funding in a way that benefited the elites in society. From the of $28,000 from WWF and $75,000 from farmers in late 1940s tank maintenance largely ceased as state cash and labour. governments purported to take over their management. Subsequently the population has increased six-fold, the Adaptation outcomes capacity of tanks decreased, and most natural surface waters are fully diverted in the dry season. Loss of To capture and store more monsoon runoff, 73,000 surface waters has driven over-exploitation of ground tons of silt was removed from the tanks. The waters, further threatening security of supply. Poverty, increased water supply and groundwater recharge limited water supplies, drought, costs of seed and resulted in less groundwater pumping. Water tables farm chemicals, and iniquitous financing by suppliers rose, reactivating some wells that had dried up, wells jeopardizes the lives of many farmers, resulting in a worth an average US$2,330 each. An additional 900 wave of farmer suicides. ha was irrigated. The silt comprised 60-70% clay rich in carbon and nutrients, and was spread over 602 ha. The growth in India’s population and its economy is Village committees were established to maintain the dramatically increasing demand for water, with water tanks and manage water use. Following the success use expected to increase by 53 to 85% from 2000 to of this project, the state government has started a 2050. The governments have plans for massive new tank de-silting program. water infrastructure projects, such as the US$135 billion national “Interlinking of Rivers” scheme. The Andhra Pradesh Government’s proposed US$4 billion Polavaram Dam on the lower Godavari River, for instance, would displace 250,000 people, inundate key habitats – including 60,000 hectares of forest – to supply irrigation water.

18 UZBEKISTAN UZBEKISTAN

KAZAKHS TA N KAZAKHS TA N MONGOLIA MONGOLIA D z u n g a r i a D z u n g a r i a TURKMENISTAN TURKMENISTAN Almaty Bishkek Almaty Bishkek Ürümqi GOBI Beijing Beijing Ürümqi GOBI Dalian Dalian Bukhara Bukhara Oz. Issyk Kul‘ Oz. Issyk TKashkentul‘ Tashkent Baotou N A N Baotou Tianjin H A H Hami Tianjin Samarkand KYRGYZSS TA N S Hami B o H a i B o H a i Samarkand KYRGYZS TA N N N E E I I T T Turfan Depression Turfan Depression Aksu Aksu Mashhad ORDOS Mashhad ORDOS Shijiazhuang Dushanbe Shijiazhuang Dushanbe Qingdao Qingdao TAJIKIS TA N TAJIKIS TA N Yinchuan Yinchuan Taiyuan Taiyuan Yumen Yumen T A R I M P E N D I YELLO W YELLO W Sheberghan Sheberghan T A R I M P E N D I SEA Q I L SEA Q INL I I A N N H A A N S Herat H H A N S S H A Herat S H K U S N S A LT U H A N U K U N D U A LT U N I N D H I H o H o Qinghai Hu Qinghai Hu H g g a n Zhengzhou Hotan a n Zhengzhou w Hotan w H AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN H Luoyang Luoyang N Lanzhou Shanghai A N H A Lanzhou Shanghai S H S Farah Kabul Farah Kabul N A N Khyber Pass K A L Khyber Pass K A N L U N A R U K Xi’an R A K Xi’an A K K O O R Hangzhou R A Hangzhou A Srinagar H Srinagar M M H u ua an n g A N g H HeH A N U A S H Islamabad e H U A S H Islamabad Qandahar Qandahar BA BA A N E A N H O H X I L S H Y E H O H X I L S H G Y AN HAR SHAN G AN HAR SHAN DABA SHAN N T DABA SHAN N A T A ong R ong Wuhan R Wuhan t CHINA N Q I N G Z A N G t ianCHINA N Q I N G Z A N G ian A A H g Poyang Hu Zahedan M H e n g J i a n Poyang Hu Zahedan M Quetta J e i a g J Lahore J n Quetta Lahore A n g a A a h L h C L C U T U T A N S I n d u s A N G S G G I n d u s G U Nanchang Multan U L L A Nanchang Multan A S S H A Dongting Hu H A N Chengdu Dongting Hu N Chengdu

P AKISTAN G P AKISTAN S u t l e j G Changsha S u t l e j A Qamdo Changsha A N Qamdo N Fuzhou KIR G RED Chongqing Fuzhou KIR G Chongqing Bahawalpur Bahawalpur D RED D I I S Sukkur S E Sukkur E BASIN THARRA. S BASIN THARRA. S H H A A H Hengyang s H N Hengyang s u N Lhasa u Gwadar Lhasa Gwadar d d n Xigaze n I I Xigaze I I New Delhi H New Delhi H E Annapurna E N N Annapurna M G M G Hyderabad D Hyderabad D U A Mt Everest U Mt Everest A A L O U S H A N A Y A A L O U S H A N Y NE PA L N Guiyang Jodhpur NE PA La m L Thimphu N Guiyang D Jodhpur a m Thimphu D Jaipur L S Jaipur A S A Y H Y A H Karachi u A Katmandu A Karachi u Katmandun Lucknow A Shantou n Lucknow a G h a g a r N Shantou a G h a g a r N Ajmer BHU TA N Ajmer BHU TA N Kanpur Kanpur t r a t r a p u a p u a S a a S m L Guangzhou m L B r a h L Kunming Guangzhou Varanasi a h L I B r I Gauhati Kunming Varanasi Allahabad Gauhati H Liuzhou H Liuzhou Allahabad A A G Udaipur G Hong Kong Udaipur A Hong Kong A Patna N G s Patna g e s N Gu ulf G g e G a n Macau lf of a n Macau of Ka Kac chch Nanning hch Nanning BANGLADESH BANGLADESH Dongsha Ahmadabad Ahmadabad Dongsha Imphal S o n S o n Imphal Jamnagar Jamnagar Qundao Qundao INDIA INDIA Dhaka Dhaka Vadodara Vadodara Zhanjiang Bhavnagar Bhavnagar Zhanjiang a m a d a N a r m a d N a r Jamshedpur Jamshedpur Hanoi Hanoi Surat Surat BURMA Chittagong BURMAChittagong Haiphong Haiphong Haikou Haikou Calcutta Calcutta t Mandalay t a Mandalay a h h b b m G u l f o f m ARABIAN h a G u l f o f ARABIAN h a K y y es U G E P K f nganga r A d U G E P g o i Raipur es n f nganga r Raipur Wa Nagpur g A d a o l f i an the G d Hainan u Wa Nagpur G d s of R Hainan l f G r f the Mouth a Louang Prabang u c Wa Mouths o R a G r Rive Louang Prabang Wa h To n g k i n c A w h Rive a To n g k i n a M A w R a

M Cuttack i a r

R v Cuttack a K e r

SEA iv r K r

a I SEA e h r r A

Mumbai h a I Mumbai Pe a n A Pe ng n a d Akyab N Vinh ng a d i Akyab N Vinh

GODAVA R I B A S I N r a i

GODAVA R I B A S I N r a G ng ANEN R. G ng o ANEN R. Y T LAOS d a Y LAOS od a av T av a R O R ri i O a er R ve Y Chiang Mai ri i Pune ve Y Pune er R iv ive r Chiang Mai M iv ive R r Indriavati River M R r r W Indriavati River er W a Riv A M O a River ut avari A Vientiane A M O ut avari God A Prome Vientiane God M Prome M E r

E r Pranhaia Rive M Pranhaia Rive ive M.LampangM e S ive M.Lampang e k S k o ri R o Hue Solapurri R MANER D n T r D n Hue Solapur MANER Rive A g T iver be Sileru be ru R a A W g Sile SUB BASIN SUB BASIN a S W E Kolhapur S S N E Kolhapur S T N A Da Nang T A Da Nang R A Vishakhapatnam R R A Vishakhapatnam H Proposed R A H Proposed Hyderabad A N Hyderabad N G N Henzada N G Polavaram Dam Henzada G PolavaramK r i Dam G K r i s h E s h n N E n N a a G R Vijayawada Moulmein THAILAND G R Vijayawada BA Y O F Moulmein Bassein THAILAND E BA Y O F Bassein E H Hubli-Dharwar Yangon H T Hubli-Dharwar T Yangon

A S S Kurnool A Kurnool VIETNAM A Nakhon Ratchasima VIETNAM T A BENGAL Nakhon Ratchasima T E BENGAL E S S f Qui Nhon f M n Qui Nhon n o o M o uth a ou s th a of t f s of f he l b the l b Ir u a EK I u a raw t K G RA rra t ad G RAE DAN wad G dy r DANG ANOM Godavari Basin dy r a ANOM PH Nellore Godavari Basin a PH Nellore Maner Sub Basin M Chu Yang Sin Maner Sub Basin M Chu Yang Sin CAMBODIA B Bangkok River Network B CAMBODIA River Network Bangkok I I Tavoy L L Tavoy A A U Nha Trang Mangalore U Nha Trang Mangalore K K Bangalore T T Bangalore A A Battambang Battambang U Kampong Cham Madras U Kampong Cham Madras . N . N G G Mysore Mysore R R . . Phnom Penh PhnomMergui Penh LACCADIVE IS. LACCADIVE IS. Mergui Kozhikode Kozhikode Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Coimbatore Coimbatore Can Tho Can Tho SOUTH SOUTH External boundaries of India as depicted A n d a m a n A n d a m a n Tiruchchirappalli A M A N I S Tiruchchirappalli are neither correct nor authenticated. A M A N I S Mouths of Mouths of G u l f o f 19 MERGUI G u lMERGUI f o f the Mekong CHINAthe Mekong CHINA S e a S e a ARCHIP. ARCHIP. T h a i l a n d AND T h a i l a n d

Madurai AND Madurai SEA Jaffna Jaffna SEA

Ten Degree Channel Ten Degree Channel Mui Bai Bung Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram Mui Bai Bung Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat Trincomalee N C I O B A R Trincomalee N C I O B A R I C. Comorin C. Comorin r r a a n n n Phuket n a Phuket a M SRI LANKA SI M SRI LANKA f f o S Songkhla Songkhla o l f l f G u G u Kandy Kandy Colombo Colombo

Gt. Nicobar Gt. Nicobar Kota Baharu Kota Baharu Galle . Galle .

Bunguran Bunguran INDIAN OCEAN Dondra Head Dondra Head INDIAN OCEAN Georgetown Georgetown 3.3 India: Tanks in Andhra Pradesh

Livelihood outcomes the dam may be refilled during the year if there are adequate inflows. Never the less, the tank restoration The fields that received the silt were owned by 884 is clearly a viable alternative to the maladaptation of farmers, 96% of whom held less than two hectares dam construction. and 78% of whom were from disadvantaged classes. Crop yields increased significantly, by +1.1 t/ha for Local motivation for change maize and +0.4 t/ha for tumeric, increasing total The local villagers were motivated to participate in the production by Rs 5.8 million (US$69,600) per annum. tank restoration as it would reduce their vulnerability to The additional lands irrigated produced crops worth water scarcity by increasing storage. Rs 1 million (US$24,000) per annum. Wages paid for de-silting the tanks were Rs 0.5 million (US$12,000). Sustainability and funding Farmers reported increased fodder for milk production, a lower incidence of pests due to healthier The increased incomes and other livelihood benefits plants, decreased application of farm chemicals, and ensured that the tanks will now be maintained. less electricity use for pumping. In addition, use of 5 x Management will be undertaken by village 2 m deep ponds covering 2,000 m2 for fish production committees. Wide-scale tank restoration requires initial in the tanks provided a net profit of Rs 160,000 investment in de-silting, that was provided by WWF (US$3,700). Other livelihood benefits reported and matched in-kind by the villagers in this case. included: enhanced self-determination of the villages; improved supplies of water for domestic, livestock Barriers and lessons and washerman use; reduced urban migration; less This decentralized adaptation succeeded because conflict over water; greater participation of women in work with the villages was demand-led, respected decision making; and enhanced value of the tanks for their needs, utilized locally available technologies, and spiritual, religious and ceremonial purposes. provided immediate benefits. Environmental outcomes Potential to scale up The tank restoration improved artificial habitat There is huge potential for tank restoration to for migratory and water birds, including with the contribute to adaptation and sustainable development establishment of 16 island refuges. Of greater as there are 208,000 village tanks across India. environmental significance is the potential for tank restoration to meet India’s soaring water demands, Conclusions from India: where feasible, in place of proposals for large scale The Maner River project shows how building water infrastructure developments. In the Maner River community capacities, applying technologies that basin there are 6,234 water tanks covering 588 km2 are locally available, and undertaking small-scale that could be de-silted by 3 m at an estimated cost of measures could add up to effective and inexpensive Rs 25.5 billion (US$635 million) to store an extra 1,961 large-scale and pro-poor adaptation. This contrasts Mm3 (compared to estimated water use in the basin sharply with the negative consequences of the today of 2,000 Mm3 pa) at a cost of US$0.32/m3. inflexible, large infrastructure alternative, namely: Further, this water would be stored widely across the cost; constraints on scaling up implementation; basin where more people can access it. By contrast, displacement of people; limited capacity for village the government’s proposed US$4 billion Polavaram self-determination; fewer benefits for the poor; and Dam would store 2,130 Mm3 irrigation water at a cost substantial environmental impact. of US$1.88/m3. The tanks are filled once whereas

20 3.4 China: Lakes in the central Yangtze River basin

Background Adaptation outcomes The 6,300 km long Yangtze River drains a 1,800,000 From 2004-2005 in Hubei Province the sluice gates km2 basin and is home to around 400 million people. at lakes Zhengdu, Hong and Tien’e zhou have been Along the central Yangtze, extensive lakes and seasonally re-opened and illegal and uneconomic floodplains of great environmental importance as aquaculture facilities and other infrastructure removed well as forming retention areas that attenuated the or modified. The success of these adaptations was large summer floods. In the last 50 years in Hubei replicated by the Anhui Government at Baidang Lake Province, of 1,066 lakes, 757 covering 2,150 km2 (40 km2) from 2006. Now these 448 km2 wetlands were converted to polders reducing wetlands area by can store up to 285 Mm3 of floodwaters, reducing 80% and flood retention capacity by 2.8 Bm3 or 75%. vulnerability to flooding in the central Yangtze region, Damage from four major floods between 1991 and although this has not yet been tested in practice. 1998 resulted in up to thousands of deaths and billion Cessation of unsustainable aquaculture, better of dollars in damages. agricultural practices, and reconnection to the Yangtze River has reduced pollution levels in these lakes. The low resolution climate change scenarios for the Pollution fell at Lake Hong from national pollution Yangtze basin are compounded by other hydrological level IV (fit for agricultural use only) to II (drinkable) developments. Never the less a greater frequency of on China’s five point scale. Subsequently, the Anhui extreme floods and droughts is anticipated, even if Government has reconnected a further eight lakes at average precipitation may not change greatly. Lakes Anqing covering 350 km2. were polluted, including by application of fertilizer to aquaculture pens. The loss of connection to the These successes on the ground have informed parallel Yangtze River prevented diluting flows and migration of efforts to strengthen institutions. The biennial Yangtze fish. Recently, drought has increased water pollution, Forum was established in 2005, bringing together and higher temperatures with climate change are the different tiers of Chinese governments and other expected to exacerbate eutrophication. stakeholders to share perspectives, integrate data, and develop a vision for harmonious management of WWF’s interventions the river basin. In 2002 WWF commenced a program to reconnect lakes in Hubei Province to the Yangtze River through Livelihood outcomes opening the sluice gates, and facilitate sustainable Of immediate benefit was the increase in wild fisheries lake management. The program focused on three species diversity and populations. Within six months lakes: Zhangdu (40 km2), Hong (348 km2) and Tian’e of reconnection of Zhangdu lake the catch increased Zhou (20 km2). Alternative and more sustainable by 17.33% and nine fish species returned to the lake. livelihoods for local residents was a priority, in an area Similarly the catch increased by 15% in Baidang Lake. where the average income is just US$1.34 per day. In Development of certified eco-fish farming by 412 conjunction with this work, WWF formed partnerships households increased income of fishers by 20-30% with government agencies and others to explore on average. Similarly, the income from fisheries at options for more sustainable river basin management. the Yangcai Hu area of Hong lake increased by 25% after restoration. Bamboo farming has commenced, especially to stabilize steeper lands near the lakes. Access to cleaner water supplies is another benefit.

21 3.4 China: Lakes in the central Yangtze River basin

Environmental outcomes Barriers and lessons The habitat restoration has increased wildlife diversity Altering flood control measures is controversial in and populations. Twelve migratory fish species any society, and in this case it took the greater threat returned to the lakes. Hong Lake supported only 100 of floods plus the prospect of enhanced livelihood herons and egrets when polluted, but after restoration to gain support to reconnect the floodplain lakes. 45,000 wintering water birds, 20,000 breeding Demonstrating that adaptations can work “in the field” birds and the endangered Oriental White Stork was vital to learn by doing and to secure external returned. Tian’e zhou lake is the site of the managed support for wider application at provincial and national populations of the threatened Pere David’s Deer and scales. Adaptation to the needs of governments and Finless Porpoise, whose population has increased other stakeholders was essential for gaining support from 24 to 40. At Zhangdu Lake, 60 km2 of lake and and ownership. marshland was designated as a nature reserve by the Wuhan Municipal Government. To strengthen the Potential to scale up effectiveness of wetland conservation efforts in the There are many hundreds of sluice gates along the Yangtze River basin, a Nature Reserve Network was Yangtze River that cut off lakes, so there is considerable established to link 17 nature reserves (12 recently potential to scale up this approach. Further, this 2 designated) covering 4,500 km . As a result of these floodplain restoration strategy offers an alternative to benefits, in 2006 the Hubei Provincial Government the maladaptation of cutting more wetlands off from the adopted a wetlands conservation master plan and river, as is proposed at Poyang Lake. allocated resources to protect 4,500 km2 by 2010. Conclusions from China Motivations for change This case shows the value of restoring the natural Local communities and governments were motivated by resilience of the environment to climate events, in this better access to clear water, diversification of the local case by restoring connectivity between the river and economies, and increased incomes. The governments lakes by improving operations of under-performing sought to implement their policy of harmonious water infrastructure. Assisting the local community development between people and nature, and central to adapt their aquaculture and agriculture to more agencies are concerned to reduce flood risk. sustainable practices has enhanced their livelihoods and the environment. Working in partnership with Sustainability and funding government agencies has ensured that these changed Government agencies have adopted the new lake practices are now mainstreamed in daily operations, management regimes into their standard operating and has seen these measures adopted at other lakes. procedures and allocating funding for ongoing implementation. Nationally, there is the capacity to fund more lake reconnection should the central government support expansion of the program.

22 Ob’ Angara Y enise

y Ishim Tomsk Bratsk Khabarovsk Petropavlovsk Am Blagoveshchensk X Lena Omsk I ur A O Krasnoyarsk Novosibirsk H I N l G a G k A

y G N RUSSIA Irkutsk a B Ir . Chita N Ob’ tysh Barnaul z I Angara O L Qiqihar Y enise Ulan-Ude N

A Kyzyl Oz. G Khanka y G Harbin Kyakhta N Ishim Tomsk Yenisey KhabarI ovsk BratskKaraganda H Petropavlovsk Semipalatinsk Blagoveshchensk Mudanjiang Am Tamsagbulag A Hovsgol X UU Lena Nuur D Vladivostok Omsk Ulaarigom I ur AN NUR Choybalsan KAZAKHSTAN A HENTIY O Kokpekty Krasnoyarsk UlaanbaatarH Changchun Jilin Novosibirsk I Balkash N Oz. l G Ch’ongjin Zaysan a G k Hovd A Tonghua

y NORTH G N RUSSIA Irkutsk a MONGOLIA B KOREA Oz. N Ir . Fuhai Chita ShenyangFushun tysh Balkash Oz. I Barnaul Alakol z O L SEA OF Qiqihar Anshan Hamhung JAPAN Karamay N Ulan-Ude Jinzhou Wonsan Ebinur A Chifeng Kyzyl Hu Oz. P’yongyang G Kapchagayskaye Kuytun Khanka Vdkhr Dzungaria G GOBIHarbin Yining Korea Seoul Alma-Ata DalandzadgadN Bishkek Kyakhta Yenisey I A N Dalian Bay Inch’on H Beijing Karaganda Ürümqi H S SOUTH Semipalatinsk Tashkent Oz. G Mudanjiang Issyk Kul N Baotou Bo Hai Weihai KOREA Hovsgol N UU Hami Tamsagbulag A A Tianjin Andizhan KYRGYZSTAN H A L S D Vladivostok YELLOW Nuur AN NUR Choybalsan Shizuishan Yantai Ulaarigom N Turfan Depression E Bosten SEA KAZAKHSTAN I Aksu HENTIYHu Kwangju T ORDOS Kokpekty Shijiazhuang Zibo Qingdao TAJIKISTAN Ulaanbaatar Yumen Changchun JilinTaiyuan Jinan Taitema Yinchuan Cheju Do Hu e Balkash Murgab T ARIM PENDI Oz. Q I L H Ch’ongjin N I A N Zaysan H A g S S H n Hovd U N A a Tonghua AFGHANISTAN A L T N u NORTH Weishan Hu H EAST MONGOLIA KOREA Xuzhou Qinghai ang Ho Oz. Hotan Fushun Hw Zhengzhou Hongze Gaoyou Nantong CHINA Oz. Fuhai Hu Xining Shenyang Hu Balkash P AKISTAN Mt. K2 Hu Alakol H A Lanzhou K S N A N SEA OFNanjing Shanghai SEA L A R K U N AnshanXi’an Hamhung Tai Peshawar A H K u JAPANChao Hu Zhoushan I. Karamay O an Srinagar R g Wonsan Hu A Gyaring He Jinzhou Shaoxing Ebinur M Hu Chifeng Hu Islamabad Ngoring CHINAP’yongyang Hangzhou Hu Baidang Kapchagayskaye H O B A Kuytun H X I L S H A N Chang JiangY A Zhangdu Hu Vdkhr Dzungar ia GOBI N Wuhan Yining H A Korea Seoul Alma-Ata Lahore DalandzadgadQ I N G Z A N G R Yichang Poyang Bishkek Hong Hu Wenzhou Amritsar N T A N S Dalian ChangBay Jiang Hu A G G H Tian-e-zhouInch’on Hu Yangtze Basin Siling H U L BeijingA Nanchang Ürümqi S A N Dongting Hu SOUTH Rivers Tashkent Co S Y ANGTZE Oz. G G H N A Chengdu KOREA Issyk Kul A Baotou N B o H a i Weihai KYRGYZSTAN A N Hami N A Qamdo Tianjin Changsha Andizhan H H G L Nam BASIN Chongqing Fuzhou Taipei S D Tangra YELLOW I Shizuishan Co Leshan N S Yumco Yantai Turfan Depression E Luzhou E Bosten H I Lhasa SEA I Aksu NEPAL S E Gongga Shan Hengyang Hu H N Kwangju A TAIWAN T ORDOS G New Delhi N Zhangzhou M Xigaze ShijiazhuangD Zibo Qingdao U TAJIKISTAN Ya Yumen Annapurna Taiyuan Xiamen aiwan Strait A ALOU SHAN T m Mt. Everest D Penghu A N Guiyang Jodhpur una Yinchuan Jinan Is. Taitema Jaipur BHUTAN Sadiya Agra Katmandu G Kaohsiung Lucknow Ghagar L ChejuL I N Do Shantou Hu Thimphue Putao N Murgab T A R I M P E N D I Ajmer A A Q a Y H A S N U Kanpur I L L A N I A L Guangzhou E A N g I Liuzhou T H Brahmaputar H A S Xiaguan S VaranasiH n P L N Udaipur Allahabad A Myitkyina L T U A a Gauhati KunmingWeishan Hu G

AFGHANISTAN G A e e n A N G e s N Patna u A HONG KONG g Rangpur A EASTN a n H I G N L Xuzhou O N MACAO Imphal A Gejiu Nanning D BANGLADESH O Son Qinghai ang HoS a lZhengzhou w Hongze Hotan Hw Gaoyou Nantong CHINA Hu M Jabalpur Xining M e k Hu Ha GiangHu P AKISTAN Mt. K2 Lanzhou T H A mada Dhaka S Pingxiang Zhanjiang K S N Nar . t.) N Lashio o n g NanjingVIETNAM Shanghai SEAn S A A ina R L Ha K U N INDIA Jamshedpur Xi’an Hanoi Tai ia ( A H Calcutta Dien Bien ix Peshawar Chittagong A Haiphong u HaHaikou K u Phu Hu gzho Zhoushan I. R Chao n O an Mandalay Qio Srinagar R g s A Hu A Gyaring H ge U G E P LAOS M e an K Gulf of Shaoxing SOUTH Hu Raipur M M f the G Hainan Nagpur ouths o A BURMA Louang Prabang Hangzhou Islamabad Ngoring a CHINAIrrawaddy h N T ongkin a Cuttack Baidang CHINA B Hu n a Akyab H d Y O i Y Vinh H X I ADECCANN ChangA JiangY ZhangduXieng Hu Khouang SEA L S H A BA Y OF O A M O G o d a N v a M THAILANDWuhan r H Vientiane Lahore A R BENGAL A Yichang Q I N G Z A N G Poyang Wenzhou Amritsar TA N S Chang Jiang Hong Hu Hu G G H Tian-e-zhou Hu Yangtze Basin Siling U L A Nanchang A N Dongting Hu Rivers Co S Y ANGTZE G H A Chengdu A N N Qamdo Changsha H G Nam BASIN Chongqing Fuzhou Taipei D Tangra I Co Leshan S Yumco Luzhou E H I Lhasa NEPAL S E Gongga Shan Hengyang H N A TAIWAN New Delhi N G M Xigaze D Zhangzhou

U Ya Annapurna Xiamen aiwan Strait A A L O U S H A N T m Mt. Everest D Penghu A N Guiyang Jodhpur una Is. Jaipur BHUTAN Agra Katmandu Sadiya G Kaohsiung Lucknow Ghagar L L I N Shantou Thimphu Putao Ajmer A N A A S N U Kanpur a Y L A L Guangzhou E I Liuzhou T Brahmaputar H A Xiaguan Udaipur Allahabad Varanasi Myitkyina P L Gauhati A Kunming G

G e e n A N G e s Patna A HONG KONG g Rangpur A N a n I G N L O N MACAO 23 Imphal A Gejiu Nanning D BANGLADESH O

S o n S a l w

M Jabalpur M e k Ha Giang T mada Dhaka S Pingxiang Zhanjiang Nar . t.) Lashio o n g VIETNAM n S ina Ha INDIA Jamshedpur Hanoi a ( Calcutta Dien Bien ixi Chittagong A Haiphong u HaHaikou Phu gzho R n Mandalay Qio s A ge U G E P LAOS an K G u l f o f SOUTH Raipur M M the G Hainan Nagpur ouths of A BURMA a Irrawaddy Louang Prabang h N T o n g k i n a Cuttack CHINA n a d Akyab Y Y Vinh DECCAN i Xieng Khouang SEA BA Y OF O A M O G o d a v a M THAILAND r Vientiane BENGAL A

3.5 Mexico: Rio Conchos

Background controlling groundwater use, water security declined further. A more holistic approach was adopted: The Rio Bravo/Grande basin is shared by Mexico increasing purchase and retirement of water rights, and the USA. The countries adopted a water treaty in and adding groundwater management and water law 1944 that obliges Mexico to deliver 432 hm3 (0.432 enforcement measures. Water use has been reduced km3) water from a major tributary, the Rio Conchos. by 200 hm3 pa, significantly increasing the reliability The 750 km long Rio Conchos is located in Chihuahua of water supply and the economic efficiency of the State, and has a 67,000 km2 basin that is home to remaining right holders. Further efficiencies of up to around 1.3 million people. Irrigated agriculture is a 400 hm3 pa are possible. major industry in the largely semi-arid basin, but more water rights were issued than the river could reliably Adaptation and livelihood sustain. Perennial rivers ceased to flow year round and outcomes – institutions over-exploitation of groundwater ensued. Freshwater habitats in the basin are particularly important for WWF advocacy in 2004 led to changes national conservation of endemic fish and other species. A water law, recognizing the environment as a water long drought in 1994-2006 placed Mexico in arrears in user. Also in 2004 WWF established the Inter- its treaty obligations to deliver water, and in 1999 the institutional Working Group (GIT) to bring together Rio Bravo/Grande failed to reach the sea for the first key government and non-government stakeholders time. Severe droughts are known from the pre-historic to promote sustainable basin management. GIT record, and climate change predictions for the area provides a common platform for collaboration, by suggest a similar drying trend. contrast with the non-operational Rio Conchos Basin Commission, which is mandated by the water law with WWF’s interventions membership restricted to water right holders. In 2005 GIT was endorsed by the Chihuahua Government A program was established in 2002 with four main and now coordinates investments by state and interventions: reform of the irrigation industry, better federal governments, including US$3.2 million for 65 management of the headwaters (not discussed further activities in 2005, and US$4.4 million for 60 activities here), strengthening institutions, and environmental in 2006. Negotiations are underway for the GIT to be flow determinations. recognized as part of the Commission. Adaptation and livelihood Environmental outcomes outcomes – irrigators Environmental flows were determined to quantify how In 2002 WWF undertook a study of the Delicias much water is needed conserve particular biota and district, the basin’s largest irrigation area with allocated how best to deliver them. An index of biological health water rights of 942 hm3/yr, or 83% of the water was developed to quantify the state of riparian sites, allocated for use in the Rio Conchos. This was a set targets for improvements, and measure changes. catalyst for a North American Development Bank Flow requirements were assessed using the Building (NADB) funded program from 2003 of US$140 million Block Method for nine sites and require, in part a to reduce surface water demand, and the volume maintenance flow of 226 hm3/yr. This compares to of water required to produce each unit of the main the treaty requirement to deliver an average 432 hm3/ crops fell by 25-34%. The focus on surface water use yr downstream and the mean annual runoff of 683 efficiency proved to be a maladaptation, as the water hm3 from the Rio Conchos into the Rio Grande/Bravo. that was not used in crop production contributed to Negotiations are underway with the national water groundwater recharge, and by reducing this without agency, CONAGUA, and GIT on implementation of 24 USA Rio Bravo-Grande

USA Manuel OjinagaRio Bravo-Grande

MEXICO Manuel Ojinaga

Rio Sacramento Juan Aldama

ChihuahuaMEXICO Aldama-San Dego

Cuauhtemoc Rio Sacramento Juan Aldama

Chihuahua Aldama-SanDelicia Degos Pedro Meoqui Cuauhtemoc Rio Bacoch Rio San Pedro

Delicias

i Pedro Meoqui

Rio Bacoch Choquita Rio San Pedro Santa Rosalia de Camargo

Rio Sisoguichi Rio Florido

i Choquita Rio Conchos Santa Rosalia de Camargo

Rio Sisoguichi Rio Florido

Rio Conchos José Mariano JimUnez Rio Nonoava

Rio Parral Hidalgo Del Parral José Mariano JimUnez Rio Nonoava

Rio Parral Hidalgo Del Parral

Guachochi Rio Balleza

Guachochi Rio Balleza Rio Florido

Rio Florido

WatershedWatershed IrrigationIrrigation Rivers Rivers ReservoirsReservoirs

25 3.5 Mexico: Rio Conchos

environmental flows. The basin hydrological model Barriers and lessons developed for the environmental flows determination was adopted by CONAGUA and provided warning This case highlights the need for adaptation measures to implement dam safety measures when the 2006 to consider conjunctive and sustainable management of flood commenced. surface and ground waters and the importance of water law enforcement. In Mexico, the portion of water that is Motivations for change extracted without a permit is believed to be in the range of 40 to 60% of sustainable yield in water stressed Vulnerability to drought and security of water supplies areas. A campaign to close illegal wells and enforce was the key motivation for all basin stakeholders. The water laws commenced in the Delicias irrigation district need to meet treaty obligations influenced the national in 2008. A relatively complex method was used to government and regional institutions. determine environmental flows when WWF staff believe Sustainability and funding that it may have been politically preferable to apply a quicker, cruder, interim method in order to commence For moderate climate change, such as the WWF flows sooner. The Rio Conchos also highlights the value estimate of a 6.2% increase in evapotranspiration with of effective multi-stakeholder processes for adaptation, 3degC rise in mean annual temperature reducing Rio even when they lack a legal mandate. Conchos flows by 25 hm3/yr, the adaptations appear sustainable because of the: scale (200 hm3/yr) of Potential to scale up reduction of over allocation achieved; modest scale The adaptations undertaken have cost US$140 million of environmental flows required to sustain biodiversity, in a one-off modernization of irrigation and ~US$4 which is less than the flows required to meet treaty million per year to manage the basin more sustainably. obligations; and strengthening of institutions. However, This is a model that could be adopted more widely in these adaptations may be vulnerable to more severe Mexico. climate change impacts forecast for similar systems that are highly sensitive to changes in precipitation Conclusions from Mexico and evapotranspiration. In Australia’s Murray-Darling basin, for instance, one forecast is for a fall in inflows The essential need for conjunctive management of by 55% with a 2degC rise in mean annual temperature surface and ground waters is an important adaptation by 2060. lesson from the Rio Conchos. The project also highlights how it is possible to reduce demand for The significance of the Rio Conchos’ waters has water and vulnerability to water scarcity. Acting now to seen substantial investments by the NADB and attenuate the most obvious impacts while developing governments. Many adaptations required upfront more sophisticated and precise measures, as shown capital and require lower ongoing maintenance costs. with environmental flows, is a key feature of adaptation It is of concern that state administrative procedures in this example. The Rio Conchos also demonstrates currently block payment for environmental services the value of multi-stakeholder institutions and fees via water users’ bills, and the multi-stakeholder international agreements in facilitating and driving basin organization, GIT, does not have a mandate in adaptive management. national law.

26 3.6 Brazil: Rio São João

Background river basin management, to progressively solve major environmental problems, starting with water pollution Brazil’s south-east coast is a popular holiday and fisheries management. destination, with the biodiverse Atlantic forest remnants giving way to farm lands, lagoons that Adaptation outcomes supported an extensive fishing industry. In the The degradation of the rivers, Juturnaiba reservoir 3,825 km2 São João region, east of Rio de Janerio, (30 km2), and Araruama (220 km2) and Saquarema the resident population of 451,000 people swells (24 km2) coastal lagoons by discharge of untreated to around 2 million people in holiday periods. The waste waters threatened the tourism and fishing Juturnaiba Dam on the 120 km long São João River industries that are 70% of the region’s economy. is the main water supply. The largely uncontrolled Renegotiation of water supply company concessions tourism development resulted in the coastal lagoons saw an initial US$38.5 million investment in 2002-05 becoming polluted with untreated sewerage, causing in new sewerage treatment infrastructure that has a collapse in the fishing industry and impacting on reduced wastewater discharge by 75%. A US$19.3 tourism. Climate change forecasts for this region million second phase is due to collect all waste waters of Brazil lack high resolution, however, impacts are for collection by 2009, and a third phase from 2010- expected from more extreme events, and higher 23 is planned to separate storm water for sewerage. temperatures may exacerbating water pollution and In addition the silted up entrance to the Araruama impact on temperature-sensitive aquatic wildlife. Lagoon was dredged to restore greater exchange WWF’s interventions of water with the sea. The substantial reduction of pollution inflows has ended eutrophication of WWF was a catalyst for the establishment of a multi- lagoon waters and reduced the threat from higher stakeholder organization to promote sustainable temperatures with climate change. management of the Rio São João and smaller adjacent catchments in the São João national Livelihood outcomes hydrographic region. It successfully advocated for Improved water quality has seen restoration of river basin based management to be a key approach mangrove habitats and increases in fish, shrimp and in the 1997 national water law. In 1999 the Consorcio bird populations. The fishing industry that supports Intermunicipal Lagos São João (CILSJ or Consortium) 600 families has been restored, and the tourism was formed by the 12 local governments and now industry has recovered. Economic growth is increasing includes four stakeholder representatives from regional training and employment opportunities. the São João Basin Committee. This Committee was established in 2004 with membership from Environmental outcomes governments, academics and 58 civil society groups to engage basin residents and advise the Work is underway to conserve the water sources and Consortium. Designation of the Committee under biodiversity through linking and restoring remnant riparian the national and state water laws has enabled it to and other wetlands habitats. The Juturnaiba Dam will be levy fees on water users for basin management in retrofitted with a US$400,000 fish ladder to reconnect accordance with its work plan. Establishment of a populations of migratory species like grey mullet, sea number of sub-basin and thematic working groups bass and prawns. The bypass canal downstream of the has facilitated widespread participation in adaptive dam will be decommissioned at a cost of US$700,000 to basin management, increasing local capacities. restore the Rio São João’s natural course and adjacent These institutions were established for integrated flood plains. The canal will be converted to aquaculture

27 3.6 Brazil: Rio São João

ponds, further diversifying the local economy. A payment local institutions for adaptation. The extensive for environmental services scheme is funding previously civil society communication and engagement has unemployed residents to restore riparian forests. This made government institutions more accountable is linking remnant habitats of a threatened primate, the and responsive. The multi-stakeholder Committee Golden Lion Tamarin, whose population is increasing as and Consortium processes built partnerships and the forests are restored. A network of protected areas are consensus for change, and stopped “buck-passing” being established on private and public lands to further between governments. The basin institutions’ conserve natural habitats. Biodiversity and the fishing subsidiarity mechanisms enhanced local ownership of industry are expected to benefit further as reconnection problems, innovation and successful responses. An and restoration of habitat increases species populations, iterative and virtuous cycle of projects implementation access to habitat, ability to move to new habitats, and generated positive results that built support for new thus resilience to climate change impacts. actions. The Consortium secretariat was kept small and work was contracted out to other institutions in Motivations for change the basin, enhancing ownership, partnerships and The collapse of the coastal lagoon environments capacities for reform. and consequent impacts on the fishing and tourism industries was the initial motivation for reform. The Potential to scale up Consortium’s staff say that community awareness The national water act that provided the mandate for raising and engagement, and a virtuous and iterative the Consortium at São João, and its powers to raise cycle of successful interventions has led to public funds and administer adaptation projects could enable support for further actions. This has enabled the similar work in the ~140 similar basin institutions Consortium and Committee to broaden the scope across Brazil. of their work and raise funds locally for river basin management activities. Conclusions from Brazil The key conclusions from adaptation at São João are Sustainability and funding institutional. Establishment of effective, local multi- Institutional sustainability of these adaptations stakeholder institutions that practised subsidiarity has is assured based on the strength of the local engaged a broad spectrum of the local community organizations, mandate from the national water law, and empowered them to take action to restore their and the direct fundraising capacity of the Consortium environment. This was partly possible due to effective through a levy on basin residents. national and state water laws that gave the basin institutions mandates and access to adequate funding Barriers and lessons sources. The basin institutions have taken an iterative, Until this study commenced, the basin management adaptive management approach to addressing organization had not considered how its adaptations environmental problems, and by achieving substantial built resilience for climate change, as opposed to what early successes, have inspired community confidence they then saw as more immediate problems. The and further support for new interventions. program’s staff are now inspired to reassess how their program can now become more climate informed and effective for climate change adaptation. This case study highlights the importance of strong

28 Aldeia Velha Rio Das Ostras Três Picos Prof. Souza State Park Casemiro de Abreu Rio Dourado

Poço das Antas Biological Reserve DNOS Canal Rio São João Gaviões Barra de Rio Cap São João ivari São João Basin Silva Jardim Rio São João Rivers Lagos São João Juturnaíba Consortium and Rio Bacaxá Reservoir South Rio Ouro Committee region Atlantic Ocean

rmelho Cabo Frio Rio Ve Sao Pedro Da Aldeia Armacao Dos Buzios Boa Esperança Morro Grande

Guaba Grande Saquarema Aldeia Velha Rio Das Ostras Três Picos Prof. Souza Araruama Lagoon State Park Casemiro de Abreu Marica Rio Dourado Arraial Do Cabo

Poço das Antas Biological Reserve DNOS Canal Rio São João Gaviões Barra de Rio Cap São João ivari São João Basin Silva Jardim Rio São João Rivers Lagos São João Juturnaíba Consortium and Rio Bacaxá Reservoir South Rio Ouro Committee region Atlantic Ocean rmelho Cabo Frio Rio Ve Sao Pedro Da Aldeia Armacao Dos Buzios Boa Esperança Morro Grande

Guaba Grande Saquarema Araruama Lagoon 29 Marica Arraial Do Cabo 4. Conclusions

Freshwater resources and ecosystems are under great threat from non-climate related demands and problems, and water managers are focussed on finding sustainable solutions to these pressing challenges. The daunting and global nature of climate change appears to have further dissuaded many influential local water management institutions from engaging in climate change adaptations. A common perception that particular expertise, data and methods are needed appears to have stalled active consideration of the issue and opportunities. Yet the six projects studied in this report show that when adaptation measures are considered in the context of common problems in water management, many practical ways of building resilience to climate change through mainstream programs are evident. The adaptations studied may not have been designed to reduce specific climatic vulnerabilities to a quantifiable level, but they are “no regrets” measures that have attenuated known risks, have bought time, can be scaled up, and have strengthened and engaged local institutions to achieve more. This report shows that practical adaptations to climate change impacts on freshwaters, which have benefits for peoples’ livelihoods and for nature conservation, may have immediate benefits and should be priorities for governments and aid donors.

30 Annex: Analytical framework

The cases are the portfolio of international freshwater A. Background & overview programs funded in large part by WWF UK, in three Place/river basin instances, with sponsorship from HSBC from 2002 – 2006. Each of the projects was developed and Country implemented largely autonomously by the local WWF Why it is an example of climate change adaptation office. The projects were required to follow WWF network procedural standards for project design, Summary (of sections B-D): monitoring and reporting. – Change in climate change resilience This assessment was undertaken between February – Change in livelihoods and June 2008 and sponsored by the HSBC Climate Partnership. Each WWF project was funded to employ – Change in conservation status a local consultant reporting to the local office to Key lessons prepare a case study report responding to an analytical framework, which covers the background to the work, – What worked and the outputs and lessons in three areas: adaptation, – What did not work well livelihoods and conservation. The following questions were applied to each of the six cases. The six case Timeline of processes and WWF and studies have then been analysed by the author. partners’ interventions Quality of the data. If any of the questions below could not be answered, why not? Main actors – their roles & relationships: – Government agencies: local/provincial or state/national/multilateral – Business – Community – Multi-stakeholder What intra– and inter-governmental processes were used? What elements made interactions between these stakeholders positive or negative?

31 Annex: Analytical framework

B. Climate change adaptation 10. What should be done differently for similar projects in future? 1. What was the baseline situation? 11. Can you compare the outcomes in the project site 2. What are the natural historic climatic and compare to a similar place that was not involved in hydrologic risks in the area? the project? 3. How do local people cope with these 12. What needs to be done to ramp these adaptation risks traditionally? techniques up to the basin scale and what would 4. What increased risks are forecast with it cost? climate change? C. Socio economics 5. What are the project’s climate change adaptation 1. What was the baseline situation? outcomes? Can these be quantified? To what extent are these based on having more resilient institutions? 2. What are the project’s livelihood outcomes? 6. Were these planned or serendipitous? a. More income? 7. Were these planned to address a future forecast b. Increased well-being? threat (eg. potentially larger floods; greater water c. Reduced vulnerability? scarcity) or were they intended to incrementally improve management of an existing problem (eg. d. More sustainable use of the natural resource current flood levels; current water shortages)? base? 8. Is the improvement in climate change 3. What is the distribution of socio-economic adaptation sustainable? benefits? 9. Why has the project been successful in improving a. Gender? climate change adaptation? b. Age groups? – What activities have been carried out at the c. Income groups? macro, meso and micro scales? d. Disadvantaged groups (HIV/AIDS, unemployed, – Which formal institutions were in place that have disabled, etc)? contributed to a favourable outcome? 4. What would have happened to people’s livelihoods – Which informal institutions were in place that without the project? have contributed to a favourable outcome? 5. Is the improvement in livelihoods sustainable? – What assumptions were made before the project was implemented & were these realistic? – What was the timeframe within which benefits could be measured? – How were local people, their knowledge & needs integrated into the project? – Which partnerships with stakeholders were established in the project and what roles did these play? 32 6. Why has the project been successful in improving D. Conservation livelihoods? 1. What was the baseline situation? – What activities have been carried out at the 2. What was the conservation objective/s of WWF’s macro, meso and micro scales? intervention/s – Which formal institutions were in place that have 3. What are the project’s environmental outcomes? contributed to a favourable outcome? 4. Is the improvement in conservation sustainable? – Which informal institutions were in place that have contributed to a favourable outcome? 5. Why has the project been successful in improving conservation? – What assumptions were made before the project was implemented & were these realistic? – What activities have been carried out at the macro, meso and micro scales? – What was the timeframe within which benefits could be measured? – Which formal institutions were in place that have contributed to a favourable outcome? – How were local people, their knowledge & needs integrated into the project? – Which informal institutions were in place that have contributed to a favourable outcome? – Which partnerships with stakeholders were established in the project and what roles did – What assumptions were made before the project these play? was implemented & were these realistic? 7. What should be done differently for similar projects – What was the timeframe within which benefits in future? could be measured? 8. Can you compare the outcomes in the project site – How were local people, their knowledge & needs compare to a similar place that was not involved in integrated into the project? the project? – Which partnerships with stakeholders were 9. What would be the socio economic impacts established in the project and what roles did of business as usual and what is the benefit of these play? magnifying the project to the other relevant parts 6. What should be done differently for similar projects of the river/basin? Balance this with what it would in future? cost to implement these adaptation techniques in the above section. 7. Can you compare the outcomes in the project site compare to a similar place that was not involved in the project? 8. What would be the impact of business as usual and the conservation/ecological benefits of ramping up to the river/basin scale?

33 About WWF With a global network covering more than 100 countries and nearly 50 years of conservation work behind us, WWF is one of the most experienced environmental organisations in the world, actively contributing to delivering freshwater projects and programmes around the world.

Acknowledgements August 2008 Report compiled by Jamie Pittock, WWF Research Associate, Fenner School of A WWF project supported by the HSBC Climate Partnership Environment and Society, Australian National University. The following WWF staff and local consultants wrote and supervised the six case studies summarized in Formed in 2007, the HSBC Climate Partnership brings together this report: HSBC, The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and WWF to tackle the urgent threat Danube: Mr Andreas Beckmann, Mr David Strobel, Ms Suzanne Ebert & of climate change on people, water, forests and cities. Ms Kimberly Chan (authors). For more information visit www.hsbc.com/committochange Ruaha: Dr Japhet Kashaigili (author), Mr Petro Masolwa & Dr Kossa Rajabu. The mission of WWF is to stop the degradation of the planet’s Maner: Dr Biksham Gujja, Mr Sraban Dalai, Ms Hajara Shaik & Mr Vinod Goud natural environment and to build a future in which humans live (authors). in harmony with nature, by: · conserving the world’s biological diversity Yangtze: Assoc Prof Xiubo Yu, Assist Prof Luguang Jiang, Assist Prof Jinxin Wang · ensuring that the use of renewable resources is sustainable (authors), Dr Jiang Zhu, Mr Gang Lei, Dr Limin Wang & Dr Lifeng Li. · reducing pollution and wasteful consumption São João: Dr Luiz Firmino Martins Pereira, Mr Samuel Barreto & Dr Michael Volcker Published by: WWF-UK, Goldalming (authors). Designed by www.luminous.co.uk Conchos: Dr Venancio Trueba, Mr Eugenio Barrios, Mr Mauricio De la Maza Benignos, & Dr Alfredo Rodriguez. www.panda.org/freshwater WWF UK initiated and supervised this research, in particular: Dr Dave Tickner, Mr Philip Leonard, Dr Tom Le Quesne & Ms Mica Ruiz. Additional comments were gratefully received from Dr John Matthews, WWF, and Prof. Stephen Dovers Australian National University. This research draws on the field work of a considerable number of WWF staff, partners, and donors who cannot all be named, and whose contributions are greatly appreciated.

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