Integrated Drainage Basin Management (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Integrated Drainage Basin Management
According to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Global Water Partnership Technical Advisory Committee 2000
“Integrated river basin management (IRBM) is the process of coordinating conservation, management and development of water, land and related resources across sectors within a given river basin, to maximise the economic and social benefits derived from water resources in an equitable manner while preserving and, where necessary, restoring freshwater ecosystems.”
Components of integrated drainage basin management (IDBM) include:
Water quality
Water supply
Flood control
River channels
Successful drainage basin management works with the river compared to working against the river
There are seven key elements to successful IDBM:
Integration
Timing
Participation
Scale
Knowledge
Capacity
According to the WWF, there is a need for IDBM due to:
The freshwater crisis the world is facing
The melting of glaciers in Pakistan and India
This is increasing discharge in rivers
An increase Glacial outburst floods, caused by failures of dams containing a glacial lake
Increased land use due to urban development
The increasing use of water for agriculture
Approximately 12% of all animals live in freshwater and will be affected by reduced or polluted water
Costs and benefits of IDBM
Costs | Benefits |
---|---|
Difficulties in involving all the stakeholders who have differing priorities and views Projects are costly Accurate data is difficult to obtain Transboundary issues can be difficult to resolve | Helps to preserve biodiversity and maintain the ecosystem Ensures sustainable water use Minimises the risks and impacts of flooding Provides a reliable water supply |
Case Study: Amur Drainage Basin
The Amur basin
WWF recently launched a project which targets the Amur River in China
Over 93% of the population in the Amur basin lives on 43% of the land in northeastern China
Increasingly, the river has been used for hydroelectric power, with dams being built along the river
In 2019, there were over 100 dams in the Amur Basin
The basin is home to diverse ecosystems, such as the snow sheep and Siberian tiger
Environmental threats exist because of rapid population and economic growth due to more people needing to use river basins for water supplies and for governments to use the river basin to support the people
Most rivers of the basin are usually frozen from October to April
There are alternating dry and wet periods in the basin, which can last up to 40 years, which means that the basin is either more affected by possible flooding or droughts
The problems of the water basin expand into Japan because the ecosystems supply nutrients to the Sea of Japan
Floods in the Amur Basin
A catastrophic flood took place in the basin in 2013
The flood led to:
Eighty-five deaths
Over 100 missing people
More than 860,000 people were displaced from their homes
Property damage totalled $2.6 billion
More than 120,000 people, including 10,000 soldiers, helped with relief and rescue efforts in the Chinese section of the river basin
More than 30,000 volunteers helped distribute 53 tons of food and supplies to flood victims in the Russian section of the basin
Integrated Drainage Basin Management
Long-term goals for the river basin:
Reduce logging in the area to reduce flooding
Try to limit overfishing of sturgeon
Improve existing international agreements between Russia and China
Sharing of data across international boundaries about the river basin
Existing areas of protected networks to be regularly assessed
Increase wetlands in the area
Prevent future dams from being built
Improve military security issues in the area
Integrated Management of the Amur Drainage Basin
Management factors | Examples in the Amur Drainage Basin |
---|---|
International Cooperation | Countries like Russia, China, and Mongolia have engaged in the "Trilateral Meetings" since 1991, promoting dialogue and cooperation |
Treaties and Agreements | The 2008 "Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Water and Aquatic Ecosystems" outlines principles for equitable resource use, preventing disputes |
Scientific Collaboration | The "Amur-Heilong River Basin Information Network" supports data exchange, joint research and informed decision-making |
Environmental Considerations | Shared initiatives like the "Amur-Heilong River Basin Wetlands Conservation Project" show a commitment to environmental preservation |
Conflict Resolution Mechanisms | The "Amur-Heilong River Basin Mechanism for Cooperation and Communication" establishes ways of addressing disputes and maintaining open communication channels |
Conflicts caused by Integrated Drainage Basin Management Plans
Integrated Drainage Basin Management Plans (IDBMPs) can cause conflicts between different groups of people:
Reports suggest that indigenous communities were not consulted in the dam production at Evenkiiskaya
This led to the construction of the dam being stalled
There is conflict when local people believe their land is being taken away from them in the form of ‘land grabbing’ for dam building, such as at Evenkiiskaya
The flow regimes of the Zeya and Bureya rivers have changed significantly
This change resulted in the alteration of the natural floodplain ecosystems of both rivers
There have been suggestions that governments do not listen to Non-governmental organisations such as WWF-Russia
The WWF-Russia has carried out impact assessments on the Amur River Basin
Both China and Russia have different legislation about how to manage the Amur River Basin
This is not a constructive way of utilising IDBMPs
There might be unclear responsibilities of interested government agencies
Departments that measure water quality might clash with urban and rural planners
IDBMPs are not usually legally binding which means companies and governments can disregard the plans
Governments may disregard the IDBMPs because of the need to use the rivers for economic growth
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