Managing cryosphere and water risks in Bhutan

Facilitator: Sonam Lhamo, Principal Met/Hyd Officer, NCHM

Welcome remarks – Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre of Hydrology and Meteorology, Royal Government of Bhutan

Opening remarks – Shekhar Ghimire, Director, Administration, Finance and Operations, ICIMOD

Introduction to ICIMOD’s MTAP V and Strategic Group 1: Reducing Climate and Environment Risks – Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Strategic Group Lead, SG 1, ICIMOD

Introduction to Action Area A: Managing Cryosphere and Water Risks and objectives of the workshop – Neera Shrestha Pradhan, Action Area Coordinator, AA-A, ICIMOD

Remarks by the Chief Guest – Dasho Karma Thinlay, Honourable Dzongdag, Paro Dzongkhag

Introduction of the participants

Facilitator: Arun Bhakta Shrestha, ICIMOD

HI-WISE findings with focus on climate change and impact on water resources – Miriam Jackson, Senior Cryosphere Specialist, ICIMOD (10 min)

Promoting a regional approach to addressing increasing risks from a changing cryosphere – Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD (10 min)

Promoting innovative and inclusive approaches to disaster risk reduction in policies, practices, and investments – Neera Shrestha Pradhan, ICIMOD (10 min)

Promoting river basin-scale frameworks for informed and inclusive decision making – Faisal M. Qamer, Intervention Manager, ICIMOD (10 min)

Q&A

Facilitator: Chimi Seldon, Communication Officer, ICIMOD/Ugyen Tshomo, Environment Officer, National Environment Commission

Presentations:

How GESI matters in managing cryosphere and water risks? – Sonam Chuki, GESI Specialist, ICIMOD (10 min)

Communications and outreach: Communicating science to increase impact – Chimi Seldon, ICIMOD (10 min)

Group work: AA-A 1, AA-A 2, AA-A 3 (30 min)

Group one: AA-A 1

• How can we integrate GESI issues in addressing cryosphere risks and analysis?
• What are the best ways to share cryosphere related information, how do we build a thriving community of practice for cryosphere researchers and decisionmakers?

Group two: AA-A 2

• How can we integrate GESI issues in addressing disaster risks and enhancing resilience?
• What existing communication and outreach gaps hinder disaster risks reduction efforts, and how can we effectively employ communication and outreach to enhance investment in disaster risk reduction efforts in Bhutan?

Group three: AA-A 3

• How can we integrate GESI issues in addressing river basin management?
• How can we harness communication and outreach to promote basin scale management to build resilience river basins in Bhutan?

Plenary reporting – (15 min, 5 min for each group)

Facilitator: Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD/Sonam Lhamo, NCHM

Partners’ presentation and discussion:

• Status of cryosphere monitoring in Bhutan – Sonam Lhamo, NCHM (10 min)
• Hydrology and water resources in Bhutan – Jamyang Zangpo, Deputy Executive Engineer, NCHM (30 min)

Group work: Current capacity gaps and need for cryosphere research and institutional capability assessment (60 min)

Note: Format for the group work will be provided

Focused discussion:  Regional cryosphere strategy (Group discussion based on three guiding questions and plenary) (60 min)

Introduction and guiding questions – Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD (7 min)

• What are important steps in developing a regional cryosphere strategy?
• Which aspects of cryosphere (glaciers, snow, permafrost, hazards) or related topics (ecosystems, livelihoods) need to be prioritised in developing a regional cryosphere strategy?
• How can HKH CryoHub contribute to a regional strategy? Which groups would be useful?

Reporting by the groups (5 min for each group)

Venue: Metta Resort and Spa, Paro

Working tea/coffee

Promoting innovative and inclusive approaches to disaster risk reduction in policies, practices, and investments

Facilitator:

• Vijay Khadgi, Flood Preparedness and Early Warning Analyst, ICIMOD
• Thinley Norbu, Chief Programming Officer, Department of Local Governance & Disaster Management

Partner presentations and discussion:

Status of water induced disasters and hazard monitoring, impacts, preparedness, and response in Bhutan – Thinley Norbu, Department of Local Governance & Disaster Management (15 Min)

Group work:  Current capacity gaps and need for disaster risk management and institutional capability assessment (45 min)

Note: Format for the group work will be provided

Focused discussion: Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment (45 min)

Introduction and guiding questions – Vijay Khadgi, ICIMOD

• Bhutan’s National Disaster Risk Management Framework includes an action plan to prepare Disaster Preparedness Plans linked to multi-hazard EW Systems. How do we define MH in the context of Bhutan?
• Are there any occurrence of cascading disasters or compounding effects of multiple hazards that impacted communities in the past?
• What are the institutional and policy arrangements needed to address multi hazard risks in Bhutan?

Reporting by the groups (5 min for each group)

Working tea/coffee

Basin-scale frameworks for informed and inclusive decision making

Facilitator – Faisal M. Qamer, ICIMOD/Pratigya Pradhan, Manager, Druk Green Power Corporation

Partner presentation and discussions:

River basin management in Bhutan – Tenzin Khorlo, Chief Environment Officer, Department of Water, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources

Hydropower systems (Tentative title) – Wangmo, AE-I, Department of Energy

Focused discussion: Integration of climate change impacts into the hydropower planning

• What is the status of river basin cooperation – upstream/downstream and transboundary?
• How are integrated river basin management approaches are being applied in Bhutan?
• What are the climate risks to critical infrastructure?

Reporting by the groups (5 min for each group)

Facilitator:  Sonam Lhamo, NCHM

Summary of the consultation workshop – Neera Shrestha Pradhan, ICIMOD

Remarks from select participants

Closing remarks – TBD, NCHM

Closing remarks – Shekhar Ghimire, ICIMOD

Vote of thanks – Arun Bhakta Shrestha, ICIMOD