Mihir Kanti Majumder - Dhaka Dialogue, August 21, 2013

Ecosystems for LifeA Bangladesh-India Initiative

Mihir Kanti Majumder PhD

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

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Geographical AreaBangladesh-India sub region (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna region)

Project Duration 2010 to 2014

SupportThe Kingdom of The Netherlands

Implementing IUCN Offices

IUCN Bangladesh IUCN India

IUCN Asia Regional Office

BASIC INFORMATION

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GBM Region: Opportunities

• Second largest hydrological region in the world.

• Huge surface water potential with tributaries and distributaries.

• Excellent geographical location in the Himalayan region.

• Suitable rainfall pattern with huge precipitation.

• Ample arable land with highest potentiality to support agriculture.

• Annual water availability is 771400 CM/sq.km. against the world

average of 269000 CM/sq.km.

• Huge hydro-electric potential: Nepal- 83000 MW ( viable 42000

MW, India- 76000 MW and Bhutan- 30000 MW).

• Sufficient waterways for navigation.INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

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GBM Region: Threats & Challenges• Covers only 1.2 % of the World’s land mass.• Per capita arable land about 1/10th per hec.(half of world average)• Home of 10% of the World’s pop. & 40% of the World’s poor.• Broken down by country and individual basin.• Drains an area larger than their actual surface area.• Knowledge gap exists relating to hydrological flow of water.• Absence of Regional climate change model for GBM Region.• Most vulnerable Region to Climate Change.• Natural & Climate induced hazards like landslide, sudden change

in river course, bank erosion, drainage congestion, increasedrainfall , decreased monsoon period etc are on the rise.

• Anthropogenic factors also contribute to develop threats.


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CONCEPT & GOAL

Promote a better understanding of the water regimes in Bangladesh and India to address food, livelihood, biodiversity and climate change concerns.

Create a body of knowledge through credible joint scientific research. Influence policy options for sustainable management of ecosystems

in the region. Improve Integrated Management of Trans-boundary Water Regimes

in South Asia Region.

Research Dialogue Advocacy “Knowledge Management”


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APPROACH

• Dialogues focused on civil society actors, researchers and government agencies – between Bangladesh and India

• Formation of civil society platform in Bangladesh and in India at actual working level (a core working group)

• Research activities focusing on present situation and generating information for future activities.

• Civil society platform is the vehicle to run dialogues—concerned government agencies are engaged when necessary

• A cross-national project committee provides advice and expertise

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Research & Dialogue:Theme Pentagon•Food security, water productivity and poverty - exploring the links between these issues for poverty alleviation

•Impacts of climate change - developing a common understanding of these impacts and adaptation methods

•Convergence of inland navigation and integrated water resources management goals

•Environmental security - developing a understanding of the links between economic development and environmental security

•Biodiversity conservation – understanding of ecosystems and habitats, leading to improved conservation of flagship species

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THREE-TIER APPROACH

Research- to build a scientific information base(identification of stakeholders, conducting researchstudies, documentation and review of research).

Dialogue- to facilitate consultation meetings, mapping ofconcerns and build a common research anddialogue network.

Knowledge Management- transformation of information toknowledge products, disseminate the same andcontribute to policy deliberations and integration.


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THREE-TRACKS OF COOPERATION

Track-I – Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission (JRC)& the mode of consultation.

Track-II – Discussions among Government Officialssupported by Civil Society Leaders to facilitatethe JRC consultations.

Track III– Research, dialogue and advocacy approach toestablish a knowledge based platform tosensitize Track-I and Track-II initiatives.


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Expected Output

• Develop a Shared vision for addressing food,livelihood and water security issues.

• Establish Multi-stakeholder knowledge Hub onfood, livelihood and water security issues.

• Enhance the capacities of Civil Societystakeholders to address food, livelihood andwater security.


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SHARED VISION: HEADWAY

• National Advisory Committee covering water resource professionals, legislators, diplomats, private sector managers, researchers and academics.

• Stakeholder mapping to develop a database of NGOs, CSOs, academia, researchers and key members.

• Multi-stakeholders consultations at different locations (Dhaka, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangkok and other places).

• Joint meeting of Authors and Researchers and develop a common research framework.

• Conduct research work using common research framework.• Presentation of findings to produce Joint Thematic Situation

Analysis report.• Dialogue and Consultations to disseminate the report.


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Joint Meeting of Authors

– Thematic group discussions– Consensus on approach and

methodology– Deadlines

(Academics, advocacy organisations, research institutions, individual experts)

8 December, 2010, Bangkok

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS

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MEDIA DIALOGUE

Around 20 Media professionals from Bangladesh and India

Panel Discussions

7 Dec 2011Bangkok

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KNOWLEDGE HUB: HEAD WAY • Collection and transformation of information to knowledge

products through consultation processes, NAC & PACdiscussions, situation analysis papers, studies, exposurevisit & research book.

• Dissemination of knowledge products through web,publication and other media.

• Dev. of Effective Communication Strategy and mediamonitoring.

• Development of Comprehensive database on trans-boundary knowledge resource.

• Creation of an informed public opinion based on studies andcontribute to policy options.

• Development of Resource Books (Brahmaputra-JamunaBook, Trans-boundary Water Governance Resource Book).


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Knowledge Products

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Capacity Building of Civil Society: Headway

• Build the capacity of young professionals, media andGovernment officials.

• Create synergies and integration of best water managementinitiatives (Southern Asia Water Initiatives, Abu-DhabiKnowledge Forum, Nile Basin Initiatives, India-NepalCommittee on Flood Forecasting, HKH Friend, SACiWaters).

• Enhance research capacities on environmental flow anddevelop a common understanding.

• Enhance research capacities on Trans-boundary WaterManagement.


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DIALOGUE on Hilsa Fisheries Management

Government officials of both the countries with scientists, representatives of fishermen associations, journalist and

civil society members

Policy Dialogue

24 July 2013Kolkata, West Bengal

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Brahmaputra-Jamuna Book

• Book in a non-technical and non-jargon language.• Myths and beliefs relating to the river.• Basic data of the river & Views of the scholars, locals.• The largest river island in the world in this river.• Biggest one horned Rhino Sanctuary on the river bank.• Home of Ganges Dolphin.• Reflection of the lives of the Char dwellers.• Reflections from river doctors of the Floating Hospitals.• Indigenous dredging techniques followed by locals. • Existence of one of the longest Bridges on the river.


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JOINT RESEARCH

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JOINT RESEARCH

Co o et odo ogy

Joint Research Report

Guidance from NAC Members

Peer Review

Co o et odo ogy

eet g

Multi-Stakeholder Consultation

Dissemination

o u at o

Publication & Dissemination Policy Options

FeedbackStakeholders/Constituency

Feed

back

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Joint Research: Community Based Floods Early Warning System(FEWS) Development in Brahmaputra

Basin

• An appropriate FEWS plays a pivotal role to reduce damage.

• Both the countries have flood forecasting system.• Have the practice of data sharing at the Govt. level. • Community based appropriate FEWS can be developed

introducing a sharing culture at the community level:* Sharing experiences and ideas to improve the system. * Enhance the use of web based hydro-metrological data.* Sharing of the water level information between riparian

countries.* Discussion of reliable flood information.

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KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES

Dialogue, joint

research and

knowledge management

Creation of a knowledge

hub

Identificationof policy options

Exposure of stakeholders

to best practices

Comprehensivecapacity

building on project themes

Knowledge products scientific reports, popular books

Policy Advocacy

Influence changes on the ground

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LESSONS LEARNED

• Importance of science in dialogue and science based research.

• Process-oriented approach by ensuring sustainability of trans-boundary collaboration and networks.

• Strategic approach to develop a vision for sustainable and workable TBWM in the region addressing all externalities.

• Contextual approach addressing the dynamics of civil society due to political, geographical and other aspects.

• Involvement of broad range of stakeholders including civil society, researchers and media.

• Various lessons from activities (regular revisits of stakeholders mapping, visible output, conceptual clarity of activities etc.)

THANK YOU

Mihir Kanti Majumder - Dhaka Dialogue, August 21, 2013

Education

Transcript of Mihir Kanti Majumder - Dhaka Dialogue, August 21, 2013