Back to news
29 Jul 2015 | News

Springshed development in the Himalayas discussed

1 min Read

70% Complete

With the aim to raise the importance of springshed management and bring visibility and outreach on spring and ground water management, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Springs Initiative India held meetings in New Delhi on 10 July 2015.

The meeting was attended by officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), and Department of Land Resource (DoLR), Government of India.

The two ministries recognized spring protection using the spring hydrogeology concepts, and its importance in forest management and watershed management programmes. As a follow up and way forward, MoEFCC suggested to look into the National Working Plan code and look into the possibilities of dovetailing springs hydrogeology under working plan Chapter 1 (Part 1) dealing with geology, rocks, and soil as well as in the water resource management prescription (Chapter 2).

Springs Initiative and ICIMOD were asked to develop a strategy to engage front line staff to understand hydrogeology and recharge areas and ways to implement springshed approaches at the field level. Similarly, MoRD suggested to share a list of areas and districts where applied research on spring hydrogeology has been tested involving local communities. Learning from these pilot sites could help DoLR to consider integration of hydrogeological parameters in watershed management.

The MoRD Joint Secretary also expressed interest to visit the pilot sites in Uttarakhand and observe springshed conservation work in the field. Since there is a data gap on springs in the Himalayan context, ICIMOD and Springs Initiative have agreed to work with partners in the region. This should give an opportunity to promote awareness on importance of springs, and build capacities to protect and develop springsheds across the Himalayas.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Contents

Continue exploring this topic

3 Aug 2015 News
Putting resilient livelihoods at the center

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal, launched the ‘Strategic Framework ...

27 Oct 2016 News
Joint Field Expedition to Thana Glacier in Bhutan

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Cryosphere Initiative and Department of Hydro Met Services (DHMS) in ...

ICIMOD DDG Eklabya Sharma speaks at the 19th Popular Lecture Series hosted by GB Pant Institute in India

GBPNIHESD initiated the Himalayan Popular Lecture series to understand and get views and opinions on complex mountain socio-ecological systems from ...

10 Jun 2016 KSL
Mapping Kailash Kora for Conservation and Promotion of Responsible Heritage Tourism

Researchers from Sichuan University, China visited the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal 18-22 April 2016 to ...

19 Dec 2019 HI-LIFE
Promoting local food systems and food-based value chain in the Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape

The workshop involved 30 participants (including 10 women) from government bodies, academia, I/NGOs, the private sector, and communities ...

24 Jun 2015 News
Nepal deploys information platform for recovery and reconstruction

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Government of Nepal, in close collaboration with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and technical ...

7 Feb 2019 RMS
Myanmar delegation visits Nepal to learn about community forestry practices

Myanmar has developed Community Forestry Strategic Action Plan 2018–2030 to address forest degradation and improve the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities ...

6 Jan 2017 News
Use of Picture Series Gaining Momentum in KSL

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative’s (KSLCDI) efforts to encourage the use of pictures as an adult education ...