Annex 4: Examples of Good Practices in DRR in Land use Plan
Which key
area/questions
the example
contributes to
HFA2, Area 5, Reducing Exposure and Underlying Risk Factors
Knowledge-based land use planning and implementation
Effectiveness of flood hazard reduction policies:
A case study of evidence-based land use planning and implementation in Swat
valley, Eastern Hindu Kush
Pakistan: Institute of Geography, Urban & Regional Planning, University of
Peshawar and
Japan: IEDM, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University
Abstract
This study attempts to explore the effectiveness of flood hazard reduction
policies with special reference to land use planning and its implementation in
Swat valley, Eastern Hindu Kush, North Pakistan. In Swat valley, flooding is a
recurrent phenomenon. In the upper reaches flash flood characteristics
dominates, while down-stream Madyan river flooding dominates the scene.
Downstream Madyan, River Swat enters into wide basin and braided into
numerous channels. The meandering river frequently changing its course. In
Swat valley, almost every year in summer, the peak discharge overflows the
natural levees and in effect incurs losses to scarce agricultural land, housing and
other sectors. While in certain areas, deep riverbank erosion is very active and
engulfing the farmland and built-up areas. Primarily, the active floodplain of
river Swat was left uncultivated or used as a grazing ground but with passage of
time the increasing population has used it for cultivation and other
developments. Due to land ownership system and absence of land use
regulation, the flood problem has been gradually intensified. Taking the cursory
example of our good practice, in the initial stage (2000-2001), the floodplain
encroachment was identified and addressed to the concerned authorities and
shared with the community. In the second stage (pre flood 2006), it was found
that there is lack of land use planning and regulation. Hence, a transect walk of
technical experts and skill community was arranged on the right bank of river
Swat and flood hazard map was prepared. This was a successful practice until
super-flood of 2010, which is considered as the century worst flood and it was
beyond the community experience. Looking into the previous good practice of
land use planning, this time we are applying fluvial morphology and GIS/
Remote Sensing for execution of Rainfall-Runoff Model. This will provide
empirical information for flood risk mapping and subsequent spatial planning
and its implementation. For wide publicity, this successful experience will be
shared with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial
Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), District Disaster Management Units,
Community, NGO’s for replication in rest of the flood prone areas of Pakistan.
Context
In Swat valley, flooding is a frequently occurring phenomenon. It causes
enormous damages to physical, social and economic sectors. There is lack of
land use planning and codes to regulate the effective utilization of active
floodplain. As the local populations are frequently encroaching onto the active
floodplain, which in effect reduces the channel carrying capacity and multiplying
the cost of flood damages.
Swat valley roughly follow the district boundary. The total area of the district is
≈5,337 sq.km. In 2013, the estimated population of district Swat was 2.3 million
and it is growing at a rapid pace of 3% per annum. According to population
census 1998, the literacy ratio was 29% with 14% female and 43% male. The
winter is extreme cold in the head water region with considerable snowfall.
Precipitation is received both in summer (monsoon) and winter (western
depression).
How the
problem was
addressed?
The flood problem with special reference to land use planning and
implementation was analyzed in two phases, whereas work on the third phase is
in progress. In phase one (2000-2001), it was found that human encroachments
towards the active flood channel is a regular feature. This problem was shared
with the community and concerned line departments. In addition to this, it was
addressed in the form of research paper published in a reputed international
journal ‘Natural Hazard’. In phase two (pre flood 2006), it was found that there
is absence of land use planning and regulation for floodplain zoning and
restriction of activities in the flood prone areas. Keeping in view this scenario, a
transect walk of skill community members and outsiders (technical experts) was
arranged on the right bank of river Swat for flood hazard mapping. These maps
were then shared with all the stakeholders. This good practice has enhanced the
community awareness about the safer and resilient community. As a result, this
practice has reduced flood damages to a greater extent. This was a successful
practice until super-flood 2010. Looking to the past successful practice, this time
we have started work on modeling flood risk assessment for spatial land use
planning and its implementation. This will be a scientific approach for effective
land use management and the results will be shared with national and local
level disaster management authorities, NGO’s and especially with the floodplain
dwellers in the form of workshops/exhibitions.
Land use planners and community were involved to dig-out indigenous
knowledge of local population about the problem of flood hazard. In transect
walk, skill community were actively involved in decision-making process and
subsequently flood zonation maps were prepared. This has brought positive
change in the psychology of local population while dealing with the flood
problem and applying techniques of land use planning. However, in land use
planning and regulation, data is collected from the Government departments
about the selected parameters including land revenue record, land use/ land
cover, structure mitigation, discharge, rainfall and temperature. The line
departments have made the data available for this approach.
-
-
In the second phase, it was found that those community member who
actively participated in transect walk, latter on played a pivotal role in
land use planning. They also mobilized the community not to use the
vulnerable areas either for agriculture or housing.
-
Absence of land use regulations have prompted the community to
encroach onto the flood prone areas.
Community participation in decision–making process played a major role
in land use planning and its implementation.
Such kind of practices for hazard mapping may be prepared for rest of
the flood prone areas in the country.
-
For effective land use planning, fluvial morphology of river Swat need to
carried out for modeling flood risk assessment.
-
If floodplain modeling is done earlier this could have reduced the impact
of flood disasters
Flood risk mapping and subsequent land use regulations may be devised
A Government organization be made responsible for strict
implementation
Those who want to use the land in the active floodplain, they should
seek permission from the local planning authority
-
Results
The community was not ready to vacate the utilized land in the active
floodplain.
In the farmland, crops were grown and similarly houses were
constructed in the active floodplain.
During transect walk the community were informed about the exposure
and flood risk.
While preparing flood hazard map the community were involved in the
map making process which is a sort of public participation in decision
making process. Through this way a sense of ownership was given to
community.
-
Land use planning and regulation is need of the hour. It should be
prepared and subsequently be strictly implemented.
-
Community based flood risk awareness has been increased
The field survey reveals that due to our intervention in the form of
transect walk, prior to encroachment the community now consider the
flood risk in mind.
The official of the revenue department understand the role of land use
regulation and its implementation as a flood risk-reduction strategy.
-
-
Community participation in decision-making
-
Measuring
success
-
Sharing of success results with the key stakeholders (community, flood
dealing organizations, NGOs and disaster experts)
The technical expertise and local skill were integrated for reduction of
-
exposure
The flood dealing line agencies were inspired from this technique
Flood risk mapping was another success
-
The impact was measured through scaling method
During flood events from 2006-2010, the extent of damages were
comparatively low and the community were more disaster resilient.
The success was measured through field survey both prior and after the
flooding period. The extent of flood damages was low when compared with
the past events. This was largely due to the community mobilization for
building resilient and safer community.
HFA 1
-
Yes, it is discussed in the HFA progress review report in the country but
strategy formulation and proper implementation need to be initiated.
Community should be given due status while assessing their exposure
and resilience.
The community needs to be mobilized for effective formulation land use
regulation and implementation.
Focus should be made on regional level analysis and the same must be
addressed in the HFA progress reviews.
So far this initiative is available in the reports and policies. No concrete steps
have been taken even to formulate the land use regulation for floodplain
management. Therefore, preparation of evidence-based land use regulations
will help in reducing exposure and resultant flood losses.
Potential for
replication
Contact
This is one of the successful initiatives in flood risk reduction for a safer
community. Such approaches require to be replicated in rest of the flood prone
areas of Pakistan. Pakistan is exposed to both flash and river flooding and this
study has large potentials for assessing land use planning and its
implementation. Therefore, it will provide guidelines for rest of flood prone part
of Pakistan.
Atta-ur-Rahman* and Rajib Shaw**
*Post-Doc Fellow, IEDM Laboratory, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University
and
Associate Professor, Institute of Geography, Urban & Regional Planning,
University of Peshawar-Pakistan E-Mail: atta_urp@yahoo.com
**Associate Professor, IEDM Laboratory, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto
University E. Mail: shaw.rajib.5u@kyoto-u.ac.jp