The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
This report reviews the current status of payments for watershed services in developing countries. It highlights the main trends in the evolution of these schemes, synthesising the available evidence on their environmental and social impacts, and drawing lessons for the design of future initiatives.
The most important water resources are wetlands like lakes and reservoirs. Apart from being sources of water, lakes are highly productive ecosystems. Coastal lakes like Chilika lake and inland lake like Ansupa lake, Orissa are very important water resources. Ansupa lake is the largest very old fresh water lake of …
This study was driven by two objectives: to develop a framework and methodology for assessing the outcomes of conservation-poverty reduction initiatives and to apply it to such initiatives in wetlands to understand conditions and methods that can support the integration or balancing of ecosystem conservation with poverty reduction. The study …
The availability and quality of clean water in many regions of the world is increasingly threatened by overuse, misuse and pollution. In this context, the relationship between forests and water is a critical issue that must be accorded high priority. This thematic study on forests and water was developed in …
Groundwater recharge and base flow using different investigated methods are simulated in the 15-ha Bukmoongol small-forested watershed located at the southern part of Korea. The WHAT system, PART, RORA, PULSE, BFI, and RAP software are used to estimate groundwater recharge or base flow and base flow index from the measured …
This paper identifies inadequate effort to use market-based approaches, among others, as a reason for limited progress in arresting continuing environmental degradation in the Asia and Pacific region. Quoting examples, the paper asserts that markets can be created for ecosystem protection and provision of ecosystem services under innovative regulatory mechanisms; …
Focus on empowerment: C. Ramasamy (second left), Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, releasing a souvenir in Coimbatore on Monday. Jayanthi Murali (right), Head of Division (Land Use), State Planning Commission, Chennai, receiving the first copy. Coimbatore: The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) generate positive impact on the rural economy through empowering …
This policy is intended to help in rejuvenating the agriculture sector of Orissa and bringing lasting improvement in the economic condition of the farmers. An integrated implementation of the intentions of the Government would definitely achieve the targeted annual growth rate of 4 per cent during the Eleventh Five Year …
Shivalik foothills in Himachal Pradesh are marked by frequent crop failures due to erratic rainfall, lack of irrigation facilities, serious soil erosion problem, unemployment and poverty. During the earlier days the villages of the region had their own ponds, which served the society. Over the period of time bond of …
This book brings together current knowledge and cutting edge interdisciplinary perspectives from renowned scholars on the histories, politics, ecologies and cultures of water in South Asia. It explores the complexities of the issues and challenges thrown up by contemporary water management practices in the South Asian region. It also attempts …
M.J. PRABU The water conservation project at Kothapally is a model to be replicated Permanent solution: The watershed project is named Adarsha. The monsoon came late over the semi-arid regions of central India this year. While several farming villages suffered from drought, Kothapally village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra …
The monsoons came late over the semi-arid regions of central India this year. While several farming villages suffered from drought, Kothapally village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh had water in their wells for drinking and irrigating crops. Empowering people The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics …
This article examines the performance of the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme since its launch in mid-2005. It first provides a summary of progress in certain areas and then highlights specific weaknesses. Finally, it describes the challenges that lie ahead and suggests how these can be overcome.
India has history of programmes for conservation of soil and water resources by adopting in situ moisture conservation and increased irrigation through tank and aquifer based water harvesting. This article gives an indication of the potential of the watershed programme.
The rainfed areas play an important role in providing livelihood to a large segment of population. An insight into the rainfed areas of the country presents a grim picture of water scarcity, fragile ecosystems and land degradation due to soil erosion by water and wind. Since, the irrigated areas are …
Planning and development of small watersheds calls for rigorous understanding about the occurrence and movement of water in the surface and sub-surface systems along with soil and nutrient losses in a small watershed. Realizing the importance of the problem and gaps in understanding small watershed hydrology in Indian catchments due …
The technological and economic advances has only widened the urban-rural divide leaving the majority of the population of the country languishing in preindependence conditions. Over the years, several government agencies and a large number of voluntary organisations were involved in developing technologies that cater to the development of rural India. …
