Water Management Challenges in Himalayan Watersheds

Abstract

The Middle Mountains in the Himalayas contain some of the most intensively used watersheds in mountain regions of the world. As shown in this case study increased climatic variability is leading to widespread shortages of drinking and irrigation water and land stability, accelerated erosion, sediment transport and flooding are the main issues during storm events. Conservation farming to prevent soil erosion is a major challenge particularly on sloping agriculture. Degraded areas are the main source of sediments and rehabilitation efforts that focus on using nitrogen-fixing fodder trees, planted in hedgerows on sloping terrain, are proving to be an effective adaptation technique. Water harvesting and storage in ponds and cisterns during the monsoon season is another effective adaptation technique that enables the production of food via low-cost drip irrigation during the dry season. Reducing the land use intensification and population pressure on the marginal lands in the headwaters of these watersheds is likely to be the most effective coping methods in view of increased climatic variability.