Integrated River Basin Management: Lessons Learned from the Nepal Himalaya

Abstract

Water and watershed resources have been degraded due to population growth combined with unplanned urbanization, industrial growth, and inappropriate farming systems worldwide. An effective, efficient, and holistic management system is crucial for reversing the degradation. In the Himalayan landscape, integrated river basin management (IRBM) could play an important role, especially due to the topographical challenges and governmental structures, and inconsistencies between hydro-physical boundaries and administrative boundaries. In Nepal, since early 2005 several studies have been carried out on basin-level management. However, the Government of Nepal adopted a basin-level management approach for implementing IRBM only after 2017, a few years after federal restructuring. This paper aims to review the progress made in the political, legislative, and institutional arenas for the implementation of IRBM in Nepal. The study is based on policy analysis and a literature review. It highlights that Nepal is in the preparatory phase of establishing a legal-institutional framework for IRBM and lacks proper institutional mechanisms for translating the principles of IRBM to actions on the ground. The chapter identifies the strengths and gaps in existing institutional arrangements and sheds light on the practical aspects of IRBM implementation, which would be useful learning for the countries aiming to implement IRBM in similar landscapes globally. Based on the study, it is concluded that an integrated approach based on collaboration among the different tiers and sectors of government is essential for implementing IRBM and ensuring the sustainability of water resources.