myanmar healthy rivers initiative (mhri) 2015-2017 rivers for life and livelihoods: classification...
TRANSCRIPT
Myanmar Healthy Rivers Initiative (MHRI)
2015-2017Rivers for life and livelihoods:
classification of river health in the Ayeyarwady and Thanlwin River Basin
Rivers are open ecosystems connecting the mountains to the sea
Water Energy Sediments Nutrients
Rivers are the life blood of Myanmar communities• The Ayeyarwady and Thanlwin have
supported a diverse array of communities in Myanmar for centuries.
• Myanmar people derive their livelihood from the natural resources and ecosystem services of the rivers
• The rivers are also central to cultural and spiritual traditions of many ethnicities
Myanmar’s rivers are also catalyzing economic growth
Transport
Mining
Energy
Agriculture & Irrigation
Forestry
Industry & manufact.
Tourism
Rivers require careful management
• Without careful management and planning, development can disrupt the balance– Degrading the ecosystems
and natural resource base– Widening the economic
gap between rich and poor
Murray-Darling River mouth
MHRI: Ecosystems are the foundation of all river use
Culture Livelihoods Economy
• Project objective: to develop and test a River Health Framework for Myanmar which allows government and communities to monitor the status of the ecosystem services they value and provides evidence for informed, integrated water resource planning.
River health frameworks• A River Health Framework is a
resource kit. It includes :– Characterisation of the main users,
uses and values of river systems – A set of simple environmental
indicators specifically designed to monitor changes and trends in these uses.
– Guidelines on how to implement and analyse river health monitoring and reporting,
– A set of assessment tools and approaches.• What ecosystem services are valued by
communities and sectors?• How is the health of these ecosystem
services changing over time?http://healthywaterways.org/
River Health Frameworks in Myanmarfrom Space to the riverbank
Remote sensing
Conventional monitoring
Community monitoring
From space:
Land use changeFlooding & droughtSediment transportErosion++
From the riverbank:
Oral historiesBiodiversityFish catchHabitat conditionsPollution ++
Main project outputs1. Healthy River vision statement for
different stakeholders in each basin
2. River Health Knowledge Base (data, maps & monitoring reports)
3. Healthy Rivers Report Card
4. River Health Framework (RHF) Resource Kit
5. Project proposal for upscaling
Building evidence for integrated, sustainable watershed management
Myanmar Water
Framework Directive
Basin development
planning
Livelihood support
programs
RIVER HEALTH FRAMEWORK
HR visions & values
HR knowledge
baseHR report
card
Project outcomes1. The River Health Framework (RHF), its indicators and participatory
monitoring is used to integrate ecosystem services into the Myanmar Water Framework Directive.
2. The National Water Resource Committee (NWRC) Water Expert Group and Myanmar research communities use the results of the RHF as evidence to inform river basin planning.
3. Civil society/communities (including women) better understand river health and can make use of this knowledge to better express their needs and concerns in the debate on river development and planning.
• Thank you for attention
Project partners
Robyn JohnstonTeam leader [email protected]
Tarek KetelsenTeam leader [email protected]