Water securityby Hnin Phyu Sin | 21-03-2019 01:21 |
|---|
 Water security is the goal of water resources management. For a rapidly growing and urbanizing global population, against a backdrop of increasing climatic and non-climatic uncertainties, it is not possible to 'predict and plan' a single path to water security. To strengthen water security we need to build capacity, adaptability, and resilience for the future planning and management of water resources. Also one way to speed up our efforts is to proactively include the role of women in the conservation efforts. Men and women access, use and manage the resources are different. The main economic operation in Myanmar is Agriculture and according to the IWMI analysis; agricultural sector provides 22% GDP, employs 60% of the labor force. Finding a balance between use and environmental sustainability is critical for Myanmar¡¯s future. Three areas are particularly urgent: ¡¤ Myanmar¡¯s water bodies are facing increasing pollution from agricultural chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers), industry, mining, urban development and inappropriate disposal of sewage. This is particularly serious in situations where water treatment facilities do not exist and people rely on water from rivers and streams for drinking and domestic use. ¡¤ Deforestation and agricultural expansion, particularly in the uplands, affects runoff, erosion and downstream sediment, resulting in reduced navigability and decreasing storage in dams. Clearing of mangroves in coastal and delta areas adversely impacts fisheries, can lead to increased coastal erosion and may undermine the protection of villages and towns to storm surges and cyclones. ¡¤ Damming of rivers for irrigation and hydropower, well as abstractions for irrigation, fundamentally changes downstream flow patterns and dependent ecosystems, often with serious consequences for fisheries, riverside gardens and other benefits. Good governance and sound management system for tackling the water issue is the necessary for Myanmar¡¯s water security. Moreover, the educated human resources and technical competency, innovation are the significant requirement for managing the water sector in an efficient way. Coordination between government agencies, NGOs, and Communities are also compulsory thing. Reference: www.iwmi.cigar.org / key water issue
|
