The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with theAdvanced Centre on Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), Pune, India, organized a customized training on spring hydrogeology for enhancing knowledge and skills of partners and key local resource persons from Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) sites in India and Nepal.

The training touched on the importance of groundwater in the Himalayan region; understanding rocks, aquifers, and mountain springs; application of hydrogeology for understanding spring systems and their management and integrating social and hydrogeological aspects for sustainable spring management. It emphasized the importance of a ‘valley-to-valley approach’ in springshed development.

The training modules were presented by the three resource persons from ACWADAM. There were interactive presentations, group works, videos, and case studies. Some practical lessons during the field visit to Chirag’s (an NGO working in Uttarakhand on springshed approach) spring programme site on the second day deepened participants’ skills on recognizing rock types, measuring rock direction and slope using clinometers or Brunton compass, assessing water quality, and identifying spring recharge areas.

Apart from the introduction to the technical aspects of groundwater recharge using structures like earthen ponds and pits, the participants also learnt about the importance of social mobilization for sustainable spring development.

At the end of the training, the participants could identify spring types and understand interrelationships between geology and spring hydrology. All the participants representing Khar VDC, Api Nampa Conservation Area (ANCA), and Tribhuvan University in Nepal; Central Himalayan Environmental Association (CHEA), GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), and Himalayan Gram Vikas Samiti (HGVS) in India; and ICIMOD prepared action plans indicating how they intend to make use of the learnings from this training in their future works.

The training took place from 29 June to 2 July 2015 at Bhimtal, India. It was supported by the ICIMOD-coordinated KSL Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) funded by GTZ and DFID–UK Aid.

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