FutureWater

Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme

Arthur — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:18:45 +0000

Within the framework of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) coordinated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), FutureWater has started an assessment of future water availability scenarios for the upstream Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganges basins.

The HICAP programme focuses on seven components:

1. Climate change scenarios
2. Water availability and demand scenarios
3. Ecosystem services
4. Food security
5. Vulnerability and adaptation
6. Women in adaptation
7. Communications and outreach

FutureWater is involved in component 2 (water availability and demand scenarios) and develops hydrological models for the mountainous upstream basins to assess water availability up to 2050 including several climate change scenarios based on the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report.

The objectives for this study are to:
• Assess climate change scenarios and develop water availability scenarios corresponding to base and future climate scenarios at sub-basin and catchment scales in the three basins;
• Improve our understanding of the partitioning of runoff contribution from different natural sources (snow, glacier, rainfall and base flow);
• Detailed analysis of uncertainty of water availability scenarios and assessment of hydropower potential for five pilot catchments.

FutureWater closely collaborates with ICIMOD and three international partners representing the countries in the downstream basins (IWMI Pakistan, IIT Delhi, IWM Bangladesh), who will do the climate change impact assessment for the downstream parts of the three river basins. The start-up meeting for component 2 (Water availability and demand scenarios) took place on 8 February 2012 at ICIMOD in Kathmandu.

The HICAP Programme is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Norway.

Green Water Credits Proof of Concepts workshop in Fèz, Morocco

wilco — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:06:35 +0000

During 12-16 December 2011, FutureWater was in Fèz for a workshop to finalize the Proof-of-Concepts phase of the Green Water Credits (GWC) project in the Sebou River basin, Morocco. Green Water Credits is a mechanism for payments to land users in return for specified soil and water management activities that determine the water supply to stakeholders in the basin. Green Water Credits can be seen as an investment mechanism for upstream farmers to practice soil and water management activities that generate benefits for downstream water users, which are currently unrecognized and unrewarded. This initiative is driven by economic, environmental and social benefits. The implementation of GWC has the potential of enhancing overall water management by reducing damaging runoff, increase groundwater recharge, simulate a more reliable flow regime, and reduce harmful sedimentation of reservoirs.The first three days were used for an intensive training course in SWAT modelling. The course was given at the Agence Du Bassin Hydraulique Du Sebou (ABHS).

During the workshop the results of the Proof-of-Concepts phase were discussed with the stakeholders. FutureWater presented the results of the biophysical analysis and cost-benefit analysis. The three GWC options analyzed, being “Stone lines”, “Bench terraces”, and “Contour tillage”, showed a significant decrease in sediment inflow into the reservoirs, a decrease in surface runoff, and increase in groundwater recharge. A final presentation was given by Mr. H. Benadderrazik, who focused on the institutional and financial aspects for the implementation of GWC measures in the Sebou basin.

Friday was used for a morning discussion on the funding and consecutive steps to be taken for phase II.

FutureWater cambia de dirección en Holanda y tendrá pronto una oficina en España

Johannes — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:29:06 +0000

Desde el 9 de diciembre de 2011, la oficina de FutureWater se ha mudado a una nueva ubicación. Nuestra nueva oficina tiene una sala de reuniones más grande y ofrece más espacio de trabajo. La dirección de nuestra nueva oficina es:

FutureWater
Costerweg 1V
6702 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)317 460050

También se está acercando cada vez más la fecha del lanzamiento de la oficina en España. Pronto habrá más noticias.

FutureWater verhuisd naar nieuwe locatie

wilco — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:30:44 +0000

FutureWater is sinds 9 december 2011 verhuisd naar een nieuw adres. Ons nieuwe adres biedt meer mogelijkheden met betrekking tot vergader ruimten en werkplekken. Het nieuwe adres is:

FutureWater
Costerweg 1V
6702 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)317 460050

FutureWater moves to new address

wilco — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:27:48 +0000

Since 9 December 2011, the office of FutureWater has moved to a new location. Our new office has a larger meeting room and offers more work space. The address of our new location is:

FutureWater
Costerweg 1V
6702 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)317 460050

FutureWater presents the DMIAT for Vietnam during the Water & Climate Services workshop

walter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:02:07 +0000

In November, NL EVD International commissioned a call to write a proposal for an ‘Early Deliverable’ to be presented in Vietnam. The call to write a proposal was send to the partners of the ‘Convenant Informatieketen voor Water en Klimaat’ (CIWK). FutureWater, among Neelen & Schuurmans and HKV, were selected to present an ‘Early Deliverable’ in Ho Chin Minh City during the Water & Climate Services workshop on the 24th of November. The goal of this ‘Early Deliverable’ was to demonstrate to the people in Vietnam what the Dutch water sector can offer to Vietnam, with respect to Water & Climate related services. This project was performed in collaboration with the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and the Netherlands Water Platform (NWP).

During the Water & Climate Services workshop in Ho Chin Minh City, Wilco Terink from FutureWater presented the Drought Monitoring and Impact Assessment Toolbox (DMIAT) as ‘Early Deliverable’ for Vietnam. The DMIAT was developed by FutureWater over the last couple of years, and it can be seen as a combination of tools, models, remote sensing and decision trees. The DMIAT is a framework to assess the four consecutive stages of a drought: meteorological drought, agricultural drought, hydrological drought, and socio-economic impact assessment. Last year the DMIAT was developed for the Mekong River Basin Commission (MRC).

The presentation during the workshop was closed with a discussion between Vice-Minister Lai, dr. Nguyen Xuan Lam, Prof. Cees Veerman, the Dutch experts, and the Vietnamese stakeholders.

Two workshops finalize Design Phase of Green Water Credits – Kenya

wilco — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:52:05 +0000

A pre-concluding workshop for Green Water Credits Kenya, Phase II, was held from 6-7 September 2011 in Nairobi, focused on decision makers. Presentations and documents can be viewed here on the GWC website. Peter Droogers of FutureWater assisted this meeting and presented the key findings and conclusions of the biophysicial and cost-benefit analysis.

The meeting has been followed by a concluding workshop targeted at all the stakeholders in GWC Kenya, which took place in Nyeri from 20-22 September 2011. Presentations and documents can be viewed here. Johannes Hunink of FutureWater presented the potential benefits for upstream farmers and downstream stakeholders.

More info at http://greenwatercredits.org/

Final meeting of erosion and reservoir sedimentation study in Kenya

wilco — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:47:54 +0000

A meeting was organized to present the final report of the Physiographical Baseline Survey for the Upper Tana Catchment Area in Kenya, carried out by a team of nearly twenty local and international experts during one year. The event was organized in the Tana headquarters of the national water authority (WRMA), in Embu, the 9th of August.

Feedback by participants during the meeting

All key stakeholders acting in the basin were invited and a large group of people attended and participated actively in the discussions on the results and following-up actions. The speakers were Panos Antonaropoulos from Z&A (Greece) and Johannes Hunink from FutureWater. The meeting was hosted by the regional manager of WRMA Boniface Mwaniki.

Johannes Hunink presents the results of the modeling assessment and the scenario analysis

The survey included bathymetric surveys of the key reservoirs in the basin, an extensive monitoring program with point measurements of suspended sediment loads, evaluation of the current monitoring networks (streamflow gauges and weather stations), and a basin-scale erosion assessment through hydrological modeling. FutureWater was responsible for the modeling assessment, using the data measured during the monitoring campaign, and carried out the scenario analysis.

Discussion with the stakeholders on the results

Special attention was paid in the scenario analysis and during the presentation on the involvement of the local water resources user associations. These currently established in about half of the cropped land. The measurements and model confirmed that erosion from cultivated areas contributes significantly to reservoir sedimentation. Especially poorly managed or abandoned coffee areas and subsistence crops are a major source of sediments, so changing farmers’ practices is relatively effective. The effectiveness in reducing reservoir sedimentation depends on the level of adoption of the enhanced farmers´ practices. This relation was assessed in the erosion model and presented. The results were positively received and discussed by the client and the stakeholders during the meeting.

Reunión final del estudio de erosión y sedimentación de embalses en Kenia

Johannes — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:24:17 +0000

Se organizó una reunión para presentar el informe final de estudio que se realizó en la cuenca Tana en Kenia sobre la erosión y sedimentación de los embalses. El estudio se llevó a cabo por un equipo de casi una veintena de expertos locales e internacionales, durante un año. El evento fue organizado en la sede de la Dirección General de Agua (WRMA), en Embu, el 09 de agosto.

Feedback by participants during the meeting

Todas las partes interesadas que actúan en la cuenca fueron invitados y un numeroso grupo de personas asistió y participó activamente en los debates sobre los resultados y las siguentes acciones. Los oradores fueron Panos Antonaropoulos de Z & A (Grecia) y Johannes Hunink de FutureWater. La reunión fue organizada por el gerente regional de WRMA Bonifacio Mwaniki.

Johannes Hunink presents the results of the modeling assessment and the scenario analysis

El estudio incluyó levantamientos batimétricos de los embalses principales de la cuenca, un extenso programa de seguimiento con mediciones puntuales de las cargas de sedimentos en suspensión, la evaluación de las redes de control (medidores de caudal y las estaciones meteorológicas), y una evaluación de la erosión a escala de cuenca a través de modelos hidrológicos. FutureWater hizo los cálculos con un modelo hidrológico y de erosión, utilizando los datos medidos durante la campaña de seguimiento, y llevó a cabo el análisis de escenarios.

Discussion with the stakeholders on the results

Se prestó especial atención en el análisis de escenarios y en la participación de las asociaciones existentes que reunen los agricultores de sub-cuencas y que manejan los recursos hídricos a nivel local. Las mediciones y el modelo confirmaron que la erosión de las zonas cultivadas contribuye significativamente a la sedimentación de los embalses. Especialmente las áreas mal gestionadas o abandonadas donde se cultiva café y cultivos de subsistencia son una fuente importante de sedimentos, por lo que cambiar prácticas de manejo de suelo por los agricultores en precisamente estas zonas es relativamente eficaz. La eficacia en la reducción de sedimentación de los embalses depende del nivel de adopción de prácticas mejoradas de los agricultores. Esta relación se evaluó con el modelo de la erosión. Los resultados fueron recibidos positivamente y discutidos por el cliente y los participantes durante la reunión.

Potencial para agricultura de regadío en países del Nilo ecuatorial

Johannes — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:06:50 +0000

Los países que pertenecen al Nilo Ecuatorial se enfrentan a una creciente presión sobre los recursos terrestres y hídricos, junto con un rápido crecimiento demográfico. Como resultado, la producción agrícola es una de las principales preocupaciones y prioridades de los políticos en la región. El regadío y una mejor gestión de los recursos hídricos tienen el potencial de aumentar la productividad agrícola en la zona, actualmente casi totalmente de secano. Los rendimientos de los cultivos de regadío son mucho más altos que los rendimientos de secano, lo cual significa que existe un alto potencial para aumentar la producción de alimentos en la zona.

El proyecto denominado Regional Agricultural Trade & Productivity (RATP) ha anunciado una convocatoria de propuestas que se pueden clasificar como preparación para un programa de desarrollo. La RATP es administrado por una Unidad de Gestión de Proyectos con sede en Bujumbura, Burundi y administrativamente vinculados al NBI (Nile Basin Initiative) , que tiene una unidad de coordinación (NELSAP-CU) con base en Kigali.

FutureWater, en colaboración con WaterWatch fueron asignados por la RATP para desarollar este proyecto. El objetivo general del estudio es evaluar el potencial para la agricultura de regadío en los siete países del Nilo Ecuatorial (Burundi, República Democrática del Congo oriental, Kenia, Ruanda, Sudán del Sur, Tanzania y Uganda) para tener una visión completa del uso de agua actual por la agricultura en la zona y el potencial de asignar y desarollar nuevas zonas de regadío. El proyecto se llevará a cabo dentro del marco del proyecto RATP, con el apoyo del NBI y las Direcciónes Generales de Agua y Riego en los siete países.