environmental flows in water resources policies, plans and projects: g lobal lessons dr. rafik hirji...
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Environmental flows in water Environmental flows in water Resources policies, plans and Resources policies, plans and
projects: projects: gglobal lessonslobal lessons
Dr. Rafik HirjiDr. Rafik HirjiWorld BankWorld Bank
BackgroundBackground
Fundamental Water IssueFundamental Water Issue
On the one hand, On the one hand, infrastructure for:infrastructure for:
Reliable, adequate, safe water Reliable, adequate, safe water supplysupply
Provision of water for Provision of water for developmentdevelopment
But also protection of But also protection of environmentenvironment
Provision of ecosystem servicesProvision of ecosystem services Meeting international obligationsMeeting international obligations
IWRM and EnvironmentIWRM and Environment IWRM is being introduced in policy but not in IWRM is being introduced in policy but not in
practicepractice At best, individual elements of IWRM are At best, individual elements of IWRM are
introduced opportunistically introduced opportunistically Recognition and provision of water for the Recognition and provision of water for the
environment is one of the least implemented environment is one of the least implemented aspects of IWRM practiceaspects of IWRM practice
This Presentation will…..This Presentation will…..
Summarize some global successes of Summarize some global successes of environmental flows environmental flows
Describe a recent World Bank study of e-flows at Describe a recent World Bank study of e-flows at policy, plan and project levels policy, plan and project levels
Present lessons learned Present lessons learned Implications for India and Ganges basinImplications for India and Ganges basin
Environmental Flows and Environmental Flows and Decision MakingDecision Making
Originally e-flows for new infrastructure; now Originally e-flows for new infrastructure; now rehabilitation and catchment/basin planningrehabilitation and catchment/basin planning
Deciding on e-flows is a social choice, not a Deciding on e-flows is a social choice, not a technical decision – science and social input technical decision – science and social input is essentialis essential
Throws focus on ecosystem services – esp. Throws focus on ecosystem services – esp. for downstream communitiesfor downstream communities
E-flows provided through releases of e-E-flows provided through releases of e-reserves, and through restrictions on reserves, and through restrictions on abstractions (or improved water use)abstractions (or improved water use)
The Record Shows…..The Record Shows…..
Infrastructure development has Infrastructure development has not always been planned, not always been planned, designed or operated to share designed or operated to share benefits equitably or to protect benefits equitably or to protect the environment and the the environment and the people dependent on people dependent on environmental services, environmental services, especially those downstream especially those downstream of dams of dams
Expanding Awareness in Dam Expanding Awareness in Dam DevelopmentDevelopment
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Engineers
+ Economists
+ Sociologists
+ Environment
+ Displaced People
+ Downstream Impacts
Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together
Time to develop comprehensive approach, Time to develop comprehensive approach, from policy to project, for ensuring e-from policy to project, for ensuring e-
flows in development assistanceflows in development assistance
Study ObjectiveStudy Objective
Help advance the understanding and Help advance the understanding and integration in operational terms of integration in operational terms of
environmental water allocation into environmental water allocation into integrated water resources managementintegrated water resources management
Policy
Legislation Strategy
Programs
Plans
Project
Linking policy to laws, strategy, plans, Linking policy to laws, strategy, plans, programs to projectsprograms to projects
Entry Points for E-FlowsEntry Points for E-Flows
Water and environmental policy reformWater and environmental policy reform Basin/catchment planning Basin/catchment planning New infrastructure New infrastructure Rehabilitation and re-operation Rehabilitation and re-operation
Policy
Legislation Strategy
Programs
Plans
Project
E-Flow Case Study AnalysisE-Flow Case Study Analysis
Geographic DiversityGeographic Diversity
Plans – Kruger, Mekong, Pangani, Pioneer
Policy – Australia, EU, South Africa, Tanzania, Florida
Projects – Aral Sea, Berg River, Bridge River, Chilika, Lesotho, Kihansi, Senegal River, Tarim
Example – New InfrastructureExample – New InfrastructureKihansi Gorge, TanzaniaKihansi Gorge, Tanzania
Limited downstream EALimited downstream EA Rare spray dependent Rare spray dependent
ecosystem discoveredecosystem discovered Bank supported remedial Bank supported remedial
measuresmeasures Final water rightFinal water right LessonsLessons
– Lack of policy guidanceLack of policy guidance– Lack of assessment capacityLack of assessment capacity– Early thorough EA would have Early thorough EA would have
prevented problemprevented problem
Example – RehabilitationExample – RehabilitationAral Sea, Central AsiaAral Sea, Central Asia
Excessive upstream water Excessive upstream water extractionextraction
Desiccation → loss of Desiccation → loss of livelihoods and healthlivelihoods and health
Total restoration too costlyTotal restoration too costly Dyke & irrigation rehabilitation Dyke & irrigation rehabilitation
restore Northern Aral Searestore Northern Aral Sea LessonsLessons
– Ignoring downstream can be costlyIgnoring downstream can be costly– Transboundary coordination Transboundary coordination
essentialessential– Engineering part of solutionEngineering part of solution
Example – RehabilitationExample – RehabilitationTarim Basin, ChinaTarim Basin, China
Irrigation diversions dried lower Tarim Irrigation diversions dried lower Tarim River; desert encroachment; lakes dried River; desert encroachment; lakes dried outout
Rehabilitation led to improved operating Rehabilitation led to improved operating practices, relined canals, improved practices, relined canals, improved croppingcropping
Greenbelt restored; irrigation efficiency Greenbelt restored; irrigation efficiency improvedimproved
LessonsLessons– Not regarded as e-flowNot regarded as e-flow– Sometimes win-winSometimes win-win– Engineering and improved mgmt both Engineering and improved mgmt both
neededneeded
Lessons - PolicyLessons - PolicyPolicy backing very importantPolicy backing very important
Gives legitimacy to e-flows in plans and projectsGives legitimacy to e-flows in plans and projects Establish priority for e-flowsEstablish priority for e-flows Provides participation requirementsProvides participation requirements
Include whole water cycle in policy, esp. Include whole water cycle in policy, esp. groundwatergroundwater
Value-laden terms Value-laden terms mustmust be operationally be operationally defineddefined
Independent oversight authority valuableIndependent oversight authority valuable
Challenges - PolicyChallenges - Policy
BUTBUT ≠ Needs political support to implement policyNeeds political support to implement policy
≠ Alignment with other sectoral policies is Alignment with other sectoral policies is difficultdifficult
≠ Need to establish clear public benefits from Need to establish clear public benefits from e-watere-water
Lessons - PlansLessons - Plans
Environmental benefits must be Environmental benefits must be demonstrabledemonstrable
E-flow terminology can be misleadingE-flow terminology can be misleading Whole water cycle in plans e.g. interceptionWhole water cycle in plans e.g. interception Participation important, but tailor to capacityParticipation important, but tailor to capacity Range of EFA methods requiredRange of EFA methods required Monitor environmental outcomesMonitor environmental outcomes Procedural drivers important for water plansProcedural drivers important for water plans
Challenges - PlansChallenges - Plans
BUTBUT≠ Little information on costs of EFA in Little information on costs of EFA in
planning – perception of delays and costsplanning – perception of delays and costs
≠ Difficult to bring sectoral agencies into Difficult to bring sectoral agencies into planning decisionsplanning decisions
≠ Be cautious in water allocation – very Be cautious in water allocation – very difficult to recover from over-allocationdifficult to recover from over-allocation
≠ Need to build expertise in developing Need to build expertise in developing countriescountries
Lessons – ProjectsLessons – Projects
Restoration projects often require both Restoration projects often require both engineering and flow managementengineering and flow management
Environmental outcomes need to be linked to Environmental outcomes need to be linked to socio-economic outcomessocio-economic outcomes
EFAs should cover all ecosystem componentsEFAs should cover all ecosystem components EFA is a small component of project costsEFA is a small component of project costs Need understandable presentation of e-flow Need understandable presentation of e-flow
outcomesoutcomes Economic studies can help the case for e-flowsEconomic studies can help the case for e-flows E-flows readily accepted when benefits obviousE-flows readily accepted when benefits obvious
Challenges - ProjectsChallenges - Projects
BUTBUT
≠ Water resources staff can be better Water resources staff can be better advocates than environmental agency staff, advocates than environmental agency staff, BUT engineers can find e-flow concepts BUT engineers can find e-flow concepts indeterminateindeterminate
≠ EFAs are yet to be mainstreamed into EAEFAs are yet to be mainstreamed into EA
Implications for IndiaImplications for India
A clear policy on E flowsA clear policy on E flows Technical guideline that defines the range and Technical guideline that defines the range and
appropriateness of different E flow methods and appropriateness of different E flow methods and approaches maybe usefulapproaches maybe useful
An operational guideline for systematically An operational guideline for systematically undertaking EFAs or for integrating it into the undertaking EFAs or for integrating it into the planning processplanning process
E flow training modules E flow training modules
Implications for the GangaImplications for the Ganga
Govt has committed to Ganga rejuvenationGovt has committed to Ganga rejuvenation Rejuvenation is a water quality (point & NPS Rejuvenation is a water quality (point & NPS
pollution) pollution) andand quantity (e flows) issue quantity (e flows) issue Ganga basin rejuvenation is basin wide challengeGanga basin rejuvenation is basin wide challenge E flows not only a hydropower issue but also a E flows not only a hydropower issue but also a
domestic, industry and agriculture water use domestic, industry and agriculture water use issue, and IWRM issueissue, and IWRM issue
Strategic basin planning maybe a useful tool to Strategic basin planning maybe a useful tool to address this challenge address this challenge
The World Bank and E-FlowsThe World Bank and E-Flows
Bank both informed by and contributes to Bank both informed by and contributes to evolving e-flow knowledge and practice evolving e-flow knowledge and practice
The Bank contribution mainly throughThe Bank contribution mainly through– Lesotho Highland Water Project, Lesotho Highland Water Project, – Restoration of the Tarim River, Restoration of the Tarim River, – Restoration of the Northern Aral Sea Restoration of the Northern Aral Sea – Infrastructure in Lower Kihansi RiverInfrastructure in Lower Kihansi River– Infrastructure in the Senegal River basinInfrastructure in the Senegal River basin– Technical documentsTechnical documents
