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| Titel |
Glacier-fed Irrigation Systems in upper Hunza: Evolution and Limitations of
socio-hydrological Interactions in the Karakoram, northern Pakistan |
| VerfasserIn |
Sitara Parveen, Matthias Winiger, Susanne Schmidt, Marcus Nüsser |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2016
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
en
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 18 (2016) |
| Datensatznummer |
250136903
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2016-18047.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Unlike other Himalayan regions, where glacier retreat dominates, glaciers in the upper Indus
catchment are characterised by an overall increase of total snow and ice volumes with
significant regional differences. However, there are many cases where glacier termini are in
retreat and where ablation reduces glacier surfaces, often resulting in the desiccation of
irrigation channels across lateral moraines. The question of how glacial dynamics affect the
livelihoods of mountain communities living in close proximity to these ice bodies has been
largely neglected. Local irrigation systems in high mountain regions are unique
examples of socio-hydrological interactions, which are characterised by an interplay of
site-specific glacio-hydrological conditions, socio-economic development, institutional
arrangements and external development interventions. Reliable crop production
requires constant and sufficient melt-water supply from glaciers and snowfields.
Based on three case studies, this study describes and analyzes the structure and
dynamics of irrigation systems in upper Hunza, located in the western Karakoram,
Pakistan. In these deeply incised and arid valleys, glacier and snow melt-water
are the primary water sources for agricultural production. The study shows how
glacio-fluvial dynamics impact upon irrigation systems and land-use practices, and how in
turn, local communities adapt to these changing conditions: framed here as coupled
socio-hydrological interactions. A combined methodological approach, including
field observations, interviews, mapping and remote sensing analysis, was used to
trace historical and recent changes of irrigation networks and land-use patterns. |
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