2. Importance of Water
Importance of Water in Pakistan
Overview of Watershed
Types of Watersheds
Key Features of a Watershed
Human Impacts on Watersheds
Watershed Management
Improving Sub-Watershed
Management and Environmental
Awareness in the Ayubia National
Park
Objectives
3. Future wars may be fought over
water but that doesn`t mean they will
be without precedent
Control over this vital resource is an
age-old issue with the earliest water-
related conflicts dating back to at
least 2,500 BC
Today it is estimated that over 50
countries in five continents could
soon be in conflict if they do not
agree on a framework for sharing
rivers, aquifers and other sources of
water.
Importance of Water
4. In South Asia Pakistan is crying foul over
India`s construction of dams which have
drastically reduced flows downstream
And then there is the history of conflict
between the two countries
Add climate change and shifting weather
patterns to the mix and we are faced with
a particularly bleak scenario if mitigating
measures are not taken at the earliest
, Pakistan, India and other South Asian
countries that depend on Himalayan
waters must set aside political disputes
and at least begin discussions on joint
watershed management.
5. Reasons of nationalism and past or
current disputes must not prevail
over the future of a region already
beset by poverty
Our current profligacy coupled with
the growing pollution of
watercourses and aquifers is simply
not sustainable
The effects of acute water scarcity
are already visible across the land
and a concerted effort is required to
meet the greater challenges that lie
ahead
6. A watershed, also called a "drainage
basin“
It is an area in which all water flowing
into it goes to a common outlet, such as
the same estuary or reservoir
It is consist of all surface water and
include lakes, streams, reservoirs
and wetlands, as well as all
groundwater and aquifers
The water in a watershed originates
via precipitation that is collected on the
surface and groundwater
At the boundaries of watersheds there
are drainage divides usually in the
form of ridges or hills.
7. Three different classifications used to describe watersheds
1st Continental Divide:
Water on each side of these flows into
different oceans
2nd Drainage Divide:
It is a major type of watersheds.
In this situation, waters on each side of the boundaries do
not meet via the same river or stream, but they do reach
the same ocean
8. For example, there is a
drainage divide between the
Yellow River (Huang He)
basin and the Yangtze River in
China but both have the same
outlet.
3rd Minor Drainage Divide:
In this, waters separate at the
divide but later rejoin
An example of this situation is
shown with the Mississippi
and Missouri Rivers
9. Several key features that are important when studying
watersheds.
1st Size:
watersheds vary in size but larger watersheds have
different characteristics than smaller ones because they
drain a bigger area.
2nd Drainage Divide or Watershed Boundary:
such as a mountain range
This plays a role because it helps in determining whether
the water in the watershed is flowing toward or away from
an area
10. 3rd Topography or Terrain of the Watershed's Land:
4th Physical Landscape is its Soil Type:
If the area is steep, the water there is likely to flow
quickly and cause flooding and erosion, whereas flat
watersheds have often have slower flowing rivers
Sandy soils for example absorb water quickly, while
hard, clay soils are less permeable.
Both of these have implications for runoff, erosion and ground
water.
11. Everyday human activities impact
watersheds like pollution of
watersheds
Watershed pollution occurs in
Point Source
Non point source
In Pakistan the major problems
of the watershed areas are over-
population, over-grazing, illegal
tree cutting and cultivation of land
without considering the soil
conservation principles
12. Watershed management is the organization
and planning of human activities on a
watershed and recognizes the links between
these activities and the watershed's health
The monitoring of pollution and regulations
to reduce pollution
Watershed management is very important
in Pakistan as the country has 2 large
reservoirs (Terbela & Mangla) and several
small ones like Warsak,Rawal and Khanpur
dams etc
These dams have vast catchment areas in
north of the country that drains water into
these dams for irrigation and power
generation
13. Background
ANP is one of the most popular tourist hill
resorts in Pakistan with approximately
250,000 tourists visiting annually.
The Project will focus on the following 3
areas:
1. Sub-watershed management
2. Awareness raising and capacity building
3. Community development through
introduction of alternate sources of
energy, rainwater harvesting, crop
diversification, habitat restoration and water
Improving Sub-Watershed Management and
Environmental Awareness in the
Ayubia National Park
14. Sub-watershed management
The Project will also contribute to sustainable flow of water for a sub-
watershed area through different techniques such as plantation and loose
stone check-damming of the streams at different points. Rainwater
harvesting will be tested at the hamlet to provide the residents with a direct
supply of water. Solid waste management activities will be carried out for
segregation of the waste (for composting of organic material) and its
collection
An Environmental Education and Awareness Strategy will be developed
and implemented for the area.
WWF Pakistan will engage students, and others interested groups in
cleaning up activities at Saif ul Maluk Lake and exposure visits to ANP.
The lake is at an altitude of 3,224m above sea level in NWFP, Pakistan
15. Objectives
Contribute to sustainable water flows through watershed management in Ayubia
National Park and enhance environmental conservation through awareness raising
Solution
1. Water availability to the communities has been improved through watershed management.
2. One hamlet, Kundla, tested to reduce the dependence on ANP resources.
3. Tourists educated about nature conservation.
4. Liaison established with schools near ANP to organise environmental conservation education
programme.
5. Schools and interested groups engaged to improve cleanliness of Lake Saif ul Maluk