Technologies

Water Source Protection [Bhutan]

Chhu Ka Soongchop (ཆུ་བརྐ་སྲུང་སྐྱོབ།)

technologies_6842 - Bhutan

Completeness: 90%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Dorji Sangay

Yakpugang Community

Bhutan

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Strengthening national-level institutional and professional capacities of country Parties towards enhanced UNCCD monitoring and reporting – GEF 7 EA Umbrella II (GEF 7 UNCCD Enabling Activities_Umbrella II)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
National Soil Services Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (NSSC) - Bhutan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Water source protection involves protecting lakes, rivers, springs, or man-made reservoirs to avoid water pollution and damage by livestock and wild animals. In the past, the emphasis was on fencing and improving vegetation cover at the discharge point itself, but a recent focus is on groundwater recharge areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Water source protection involves protecting lakes, rivers, springs or man-made reservoirs to avoid water pollution and damage by livestock and wild animals. In the past this included fencing and enhancing vegetation cover at the discharge point – that is, where the water starts flowing. However, today, water source protection also focuses on improving groundwater recharge areas. The water source protection technology has many benefits. In addition to providing a clean and regular supply of drinking and irrigation water, it also enhances the vegetation cover of the catchment area.
Strategies target maintaining adequate water levels in underground water reservoirs to ensure a continuous flow of streams and springs. In Yakpugang Community Forest, the technology has been applied specifically in the southern mountainous part of the village. An area of 638 acres (255 hectares) has been established as the recharge zone, and three springs have been identified for source protection. Native tree species have been planted annually in the degraded watershed to improve forest conditions. The main purpose is to protect the quality and quantity of the water for both drinking and irrigation purposes. The technology is supported by an approach that involves collective efforts of the community who realize that if their drinking and irrigation water supply is to be sustainable, they must work together.
The main purpose is to ensure a continuous supply of water for drinking and irrigation to the community. This is achieved through managing the catchment areas where rainwater soaks through the ground to reach a groundwater reservoir, and one of the key interventions is protecting the water sources from wild animals and livestock.
The water source protection technology involves 1) meeting different stakeholders, 2) signing agreements between the stakeholders, 3) site selection and survey, 4) planting of native tree species, and 5) conducting annual monitoring and evaluation. Inputs like fencing materials, planting materials, and human resources are required for the implementation and maintenance of the technology.
The technology is liked because it helps provide a continuous supply of both clean drinking and irrigation water. Furthermore, protecting water sources by the community is rewarded in monetary form by the nearby town as part of the Payment for Environmental Services (PES). This incentive helps the community to generate income which is ploughed back into the improvement and maintenance of water sources. What is disliked is the reduction in grazing land since the land users are not allowed to graze their cattle inside the water source areas.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Bhutan

Region/ State/ Province:

Mongar Dzongkhag (District)

Further specification of location:

Yakpugang village

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

Nee

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2007

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
  • less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

The project was conducted with technical assistance from SNV Bhutan and and funded through Blue Moon Funding with Watershed Management Division of the Department of Forests and Park Services. Later Mongar Regional Referral Hospital was also involved as one of the major water users.

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • conserve ecosystem
  • protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
  • reduce risk of disasters
  • adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
  • create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Nee


Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Tree and shrub cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • vegetables - leafy vegetables (salads, cabbage, spinach, other)
  • vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, onions, beet, other)
  • Chillies
Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:
  • pome fruits (apples, pears, quinces, etc.)
  • stone fruits (peach, apricot, cherry, plum, etc)
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Specify:

Vegetables are cultivated in one growing season, however, fruit trees are perennial.

Is intercropping practiced?

Nee

Is crop rotation practiced?

Ja

If yes, specify:

The cole crops are rotated with root vegetables and legumes.

Waterways, waterbodies, wetlands

Waterways, waterbodies, wetlands

  • Drainage lines, waterways
Main products/ services:

Irrigation channels for farming and drinking water pipes

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?
  • No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • mixed rainfed-irrigated
Comments:

The community was benefited greatly from the technology, and thus farming is mostly irrigated and rainfed is done, when rain falls in the area.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • improved ground/ vegetation cover
  • irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
  • surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
  • V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
  • Hs: change in quantity of surface water
  • Hp: decline of surface water quality

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • reduce land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

GIS map of the recharge zone of the Yakpugang spings
Yakpugang village, Mongar Gewog (Block), Mongar Dzongkhag (District), Bhutan

Author:

Ugyen Norten

Date:

07/10/2023

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology unit
Specify unit:

Recharge zone of 638 acres (255 hectares)

Specify dimensions of unit (if relevant):

638 acres (255 hectares)

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

82.08

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

1000

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Community meeting Conducted several times
2. Survey of the recharge zone and site selection The survey took around 2 to 3 weeks
3. Agreement between the stakeholders Agreement done thrice
4. Native tree species plantation around the watershed Based on a specified date and each individuals from household came
Comments:

The establishment activities were done with the technical assistance from SNV Bhutan and the Department of Forests and Park Services since the water source falls under the community forest.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

258500.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The project was funded through Blue Moon in collaboration with Watershed Management Division of the Department of Forests and Park Services and Global Environment Facility (GEF) was also involved.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Clearing of the water source Thrice annually

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Community Forest members person/day. 102.0
Comments:

Since the water source is a community asset, an individual from each household goes to the water source area for annual maintenance. This happens three times a year, and no cost goes into it except labour contribution from each household during which they bring their own tools and food.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

None.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

The data was used from the nearest weather station of the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM).

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

https://www.nchm.gov.bt/home/pageMenu/906

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

Warm temperate zone

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • concave situations

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • high (>3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Water quality refers to:

surface water

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quantity and quality have been greatly improved with the intervention of water source protection. These three water sources provide drinking water to Mongar town and Mongar hospital.

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • high
Habitat diversity:
  • high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • women
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • small-scale
Comments:

Total land is 1.5 acres and total cultivated and is 1 acre

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • communal (organized)
Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Ja

Specify:

The traditional legal system in our country is as per the Land Act and Land Rules and Regulations which dictate the land use in the country.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

15 baskets of maize

Quantity after SLM:

20 to 25 baskets maize

Comments/ specify:

There has been an increase in the amount of maize, which has been credited to the increase in the amount of water than in the past.

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

According to the land user, crop quality has been relatively better after the implementation of the technology than in the past.

risk of production failure

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Due to the presence of water in the community, production has decreased.

product diversity

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

maize and some other cereals and vegetables were grown

Quantity after SLM:

maize together with cole crops, tubers and fruits are grown

production area

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

1 acres

Quantity after SLM:

1.5 acres

Comments/ specify:

In the past, the lack of water would lead the land users to keeping some of the land fallow.

Water availability and quality

drinking water availability

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

Water would be scarce periodically

Quantity after SLM:

Water is now available throughout the community

Comments/ specify:

Drinking water availability has increased compared to the past. This is mainly due to the protection of water sources. In addition, now community members also go for regular clearing of irrigation channels, drinking water pipelines, and sources to keep the supply steady.

drinking water quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Quality in terms of cleanliness of drinking water was reported to have enhanced because in the past nearby streams from where they get their drinking water used to get polluted by rainwater, animals, etc.

water availability for livestock

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

Water would be taken to the nearby streams

Quantity after SLM:

Water is now provided near there house

Comments/ specify:

Since supply is continuous the water availability for livestock also increased.

water quality for livestock

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Water for livestock are also improved than in the past.

irrigation water availability

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

Focused more on growing crops requiring less water

Quantity after SLM:

Now grows variety of diverse crops

Comments/ specify:

Since the water flow is continuous, there is enough water to carry out multiple cropping.

irrigation water quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Water quality for irrigation is better than the past

Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

focuses mostly on commercialising maize

Quantity after SLM:

now commercialises diverse vegetable crops as well

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

The availability of water in the community, allowed for the land users to grow a diverse vegetable crops in large amount.

health situation

worsened
improved
Quantity before SLM:

Community members prone to water related disease

Quantity after SLM:

Water is relatively cleaner

land use/ water rights

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Agreement for water source protection is conducted after every end of the agreement year, where water use rights are also discussed.

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

water from the source would dry up most of the times

Quantity after SLM:

water in the water source is almost always filled.

water quality

decreased
increased
Quantity before SLM:

Would be dirty due to wild animals and grazing cattle

Quantity after SLM:

Since water source is protected, water is relatively cleaner

Climate and disaster risk reduction

drought impacts

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

in the past, drought would occur periodically

Quantity after SLM:

Even during the absence of rain, water is still available

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced
Quantity before SLM:

Would normally be polluted due to wild animals and grazing cattles

Quantity after SLM:

Water is now clean and also drinkable

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature increase moderately
annual rainfall increase moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm moderately
local thunderstorm very well
local hailstorm well
local windstorm well
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought well
forest fire not well
land fire not well
Hydrological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood not well
flash flood not well
landslide not well at all

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

The income earned from the project goes into community development and the community forest, and the expense for the project is already funded.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 50%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

102 households

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Continuous supply of both drinking water and irrigation water
Water is supplied to Mongar town, and income is earned from it under Payment for Environmental Services (PES) arrangement b
Has helped in community development and improvement of community forest
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Water quality is preserved, and pollution and contamination of the water sources are prevented.
The plantation of native tree species helps conserve the ecosystem.
Long-term sustainability and enhanced climate resilience of the water source

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Decreased grazing land Shift the grazing area outside the community forest or establish improved pasture land in their registered land

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

One household

  • interviews with land users

One individual

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

11/07/2023

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Norten, U. (2021). Impact of Water Management strategies- Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Bhutan. International Journal of Science and Innovative Research, 2(8), 109-144.

Available from where? Costs?

https://ijesir.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/0100072IJESIRnew.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

WWF. (2017). Valuing Ecosystem Services in Chamkharchhu Sub Basin: Mapping Sediment Using InVEST. WWF.

Available from where? Costs?

https://wwfasia.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/final_invest_report_final_draft_may_17_spread_compressed_2.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Source Water Protection

URL:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/source-water-protection

Title/ description:

Water Source Protection

URL:

https://sswm.info/arctic-wash/module-4-technology/further-resources-water-sources/water-source-protection

Title/ description:

Basic Information about Source Water Protection

URL:

https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/basic-information-about-source-water-protection

Title/ description:

Conserving water resources with PES, an example from Yakpugang

URL:

https://kuenselonline.com/conserving-water-resources-with-pes-an-example-from-yakpugang/

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