Integrated Flood Management : the way to Harmonious coexistence with floods Avinash C Tyagi World Meteorological Organisation Geneve, Switzerland A contribution to Question 53 International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage 19th Congress, September 2005, Beijing

Floods as increasing Disasters

–Ad-hoc and stand alone –Reactive rather than proactive –Emphasis on structural measures –Monodisciplinary –Lessons from past failure Shortcomings of past FM Practise

why a new approach? Increasing Flood Risks Absolute safety against floods is a myth Climate change uncertainity Growing environmental concerns IWRM approach –Population increase: Exposure Population increase: ExposurePopulation increase: Exposure –Economic Development: Vulnerability –Climate Variability: Hazard Frequency –Upstream Urbanisation: Hazard Magnitude Hazard

Flood magnitude and frequency Exposure Vulnerability RISK FLOOD RISK

High variant Medium variant Low variant Year GLOBAL POPULATION Billions Ref: UN

Rainwater infiltrates into the ground Runoff increases

–Sustainable development: balancing development needs and flood risks –Maximising benefits: ensure livelihood security and poverty alleviation thereby reducing vulnerability –Minimising loss of life –Environmental preservation Integrated Flood Management: Objectives

Mitigation and Preparedness Mitigation and Preparedness Response Response Recovery and rehabilitation Recovery and rehabilitation IFM: PRINCIPLES Risk Management

–Flood and drought management –Effective use of flood waters –Ground water and surface water interaction in flood plains IFM: PRINCIPLES Water Cycle as a whole

–Cross-sectoral integration of disaster management strategies –Disaster risk assessment –Early warning and forecasts IFM: PRINCIPLES Multi-hazard approach

IFM: PRINCIPLES River Basin approach

Stakeholders participation in decision making Stakeholders participation in decision making Coordination between institutions Coordination between institutions Building resilience in the community Building resilience in the community Addressing Gender based requirements Addressing Gender based requirements Exchange of data and information Exchange of data and information IFM: PRINCIPLES Public Participation

IFM: PRINCIPLES Public Participation –monitoring base: indicators; information systems; early warning threshold –knowledge base: technical data; social and economic data; land and water uses; risk knowledge –relational base: who’s who; contacts and coordinates; allocation of duties; –dialogue base: data exchange protocols; notification protocols; communication channels; rules and language; –conflict-resolution base: negotiation processes (location, timing, authority chosen for trade-off; compensation options, etc.) Flood Information System consisting of

–Land and Water Management –Upstream and Downstream –Structural and Non-structural –Short term and Long-term –Local and basin level measures –Top down and Bottom up decision making –Development needs and economic concerns IFM: Towards a holistic flood management holistic flood management Integration of Integration of

supported with appropriate –Legislation and regulations; –Institutional structures with appropriate linkages; –Economic instruments; –Enabling participatory processes; and –Information management and exchange mechanisms. Requirements of IFM Clear and objective policies with a multidisciplinary approach

Associated Programme for Flood Management Establish the principles of IFM Establish the principles of IFM Help assimilate principles of IFM within IWRM; Help assimilate principles of IFM within IWRM; Identify gaps in present flood management practices and IFM Identify gaps in present flood management practices and IFM Support actions at local, national, regional or river basin level Support actions at local, national, regional or river basin level Provide a platform for a common strategic vision, Provide a platform for a common strategic vision, Promote the implementation of effective policies and strategies; Promote the implementation of effective policies and strategies; Provide advice and relevant information on flood management issues; Provide advice and relevant information on flood management issues; Develop capacities in the countries to integrate flood management into sustainable development processes; and Develop capacities in the countries to integrate flood management into sustainable development processes; and