REDUCING RISKS AND VULNERABILITIES FROM

GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOODS (GLOF) IN NORTHERN

PAKISTAN

WHAT IS A GLOF ?

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) can occur when a lake contained by a glacier or a terminal moraine dam fails, and massively displaces the waters in a glacial lake at its base.

GLOF TRIGGERING FACTORS..

• Avalanche

• Heavy rains

• Rising temperatures

• Rock fall or land slides

• Glacier falling into lakes

• Earthquake

• Volcanic Eruption

• Water pressures on weak moraines

GLOF POTENTIALS OF PAKISTAN..

• Over 7,000 glaciers in Pakistan

• 3044 Glacial Lakes

• 36 lakes are potentially dangerous

• Rising temperature trends

• Extreme weather events (cloud burst, lightening & heavy rains etc.)

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

1. To develop the human and technical capacity of the public institutions to understand and address immediate GLOF risks for vulnerable communities in Northern Pakistan

2. To enable vulnerable local communities in the Northern Areas of Pakistan to better understand and respond to GLOF risks and thereby adapt to growing climate change pressures.

PROJECT OUTPUTS:1. Develop Policy Recommendations and Guidelines to address

GLOF risks in Northern Pakistan.

2. Indicators and criteria for GLOF vulnerability developed and systematically applied to enable priority allocation of risk reduction efforts and investments.

3. Systematic engagement of the project with global and regional research networks and centers working on GLOF issues.

4. Risk and hazard maps for mountain valleys with the highest GLOF risk and exposure of lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.

5. Preparedness actions for vulnerable communities conducted to reduce risks from GLOF events.

6. A community based system for GLOF risk monitoring & early warning in priority communities.

PROJECT OUTPUTS:

7. Targeted GLOF risk reduction measures such as check dams, spill-ways, slope stabilization or controlled drainage established in Bagrote and Drongagh valleys.

8. Technical knowledge and project lessons documented for use in future initiatives.

9. Project experiences disseminated to policy makers and disaster management planners in Pakistan and the wider HKH region.

TIMEFRAME AND BUDGET:

Timeline: 4 years

Effective date of start: November 2011

Planned date of completion: November 2015

…………………………………………………………….

Total Allocated Resources: US$= 7.6 mil

UNDP Share: US$= 0.5 mil

Adaptation Fund: US$= 3.6 mil

Government’s in-kind Share: US$= 3.5 mil

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS..

• GLOF Early Warning System in Bagrot, Bindogol and Golain valleys established

• Glacial Lake Inventory of Pakistan updated

• GLOF Risk Assessment in all target valleys has been completed

• Risk reduction infrastructures; like protection walls, diversion spurs, path clearance and widening of streams etc. has been completed

• Safe Havens and Safe Access Routes are identified and improved in all three target valleys of the project

• GLOF Monitoring Tracks are notified and improved

• Community Based DRM Committees and Hazard Watch Groups are formed, trained and strengthened

• Community Based Disaster Response Cells are established and strengthened

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS..• Community Based DRM Funds are established

• Communities are trained, well aware, equipped and now are better prepared to respond to GLOF and other climate -induced disasters

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are developed and finalized

• Capacity of the relevant Government institutions such as DDMAs, district and tehsil administration, Forest & Environment departments and the Met Offices has been enhanced

• Documentation of the GLOF Impact and best practices has been conducted and shared with all stakeholders and international community

ACHIEVEMENTS..

• Developed Baseline Information regarding level of knowledge, understanding and practices on GLOF issues (pre-intervention surveys, socio-economic impact of GLOFs, capacity need assessments etc.)

• Developing GLOF Knowledge Repository

• Developing GLOF Awareness Raising and Communication Strategy

ACHIEVEMENTS..

• Developing IEC Material on GLOF and CC related issue

• Identification and implementation of Adaptation Interventions and Structures at Bagrot and Bindogol valleys

• Mass Awareness Campaigns on GLOFs through Print and Electronic Media

• Strengthening of Emergency Response Cells at District levels

• Developing the Project Website; www.glof.pk

PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS & PARTNERS

• UNDP

• Ministry Of Climate Change

• Pakistan Meteorological Department

• Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disaster Management Authority

• Forest & Environment Departments

• District & Tehsil Administration

• Vulnerable Communities of Chitral & Gilgit

BENEFICIARIES:

DIRECT BENEFICIARIES:

• No. of Valleys = 03 (Bagrot, Bindogol & Golain valleys)

• No. of people = 29,988

• Female = 15,863

• Male = 14,125

• No. of Households = 3215

• Beneficiary villages = 47

INDIRECT BENEFICIARIES:

• Approximately 0.3 million people of GB and Chitral

CHALLENGES:

• Short Working Season for the field interventions at remote valleys (only 4-5 months per year)

• Various Expertise Involved (Glaciology, Hydrology, Geologist, GIS & Remote Sensing Expertise, Adaptation-related Biological and Engineering Structures, EWS)

• Uncertain Security Situation and logistic issues

• Lack of Baseline Data regarding GLOF

LESSONS LEARNT:

• Community participation and ownership is essential at all levels implementation of GLOF Risk Reduction projects

• A combination of indigenous and modern technology based early warning system works well

• Sharing of knowledge and experiences from beginning of implementation of a project helps in improvement during project implementation

• Availability of the base line data on glaciers and glacial lakes is a pre-requisite in the GLOF Risk reduction initiatives

• Project’s exit strategies should be initiated from the beginning of the project

• The potential GLOF threats are a big challenge and activities should not be limited to few sites.

WAY FORWARD:

• International GLOF Conference is planned on 14-15 October 2015 in Islamabad

• Project’s exit strategy is being finalized

• To Collaborate with national and international potential partners in order to upscale the project in other valleys of GB and KP that are equally GLOF prone and hazardous sites, so that similar activities are replicated there.

THANK YOU

Any Questions??