The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands ACSAD ACSAD

Use of rainwater harvesting for alleviating poverty in rural areas

ACSAD Experience in the Arab RegionACSAD Experience in the Arab Region

UNESCO GUNESCO G--Wadi Meeting on Water Wadi Meeting on Water HarvestingHarvestingHarvestingHarvesting

Aleppo Aleppo ––SyriaSyria20 20 --22 November 200622 November 2006

Outline of the Presentation:Outline of the Presentation:Outline of the Presentation:Outline of the Presentation:

•• Natural features of the Arab region.Natural features of the Arab region.•• ACSAD activities for supporting rural ACSAD activities for supporting rural

water sector.water sector.–– Improving livelihood of poor rural Improving livelihood of poor rural

it i t iit i t icommunity in mountainous area.community in mountainous area.•• Case studies Case studies –– SyriaSyria•• Case studyCase study –– YemenYemen•• Case study Case study YemenYemen

-- Watershed management in mountainous Watershed management in mountainous terrainsterrains

Rainfall Distribution in The Arab Region

Groundwater resourcesGroundwater resources

Renewable ground water resources Non-renewable groundwater Non ground water resources

Frequent drought events occur in the regionFrequent drought events occur in the regionPrecipitation of Cyprus over the past century Precipitation of Cyprus over the past century

( R b 2005)( R b 2005)( Ragab 2005).( Ragab 2005).Precipitation of Cyprus over the past centuryPrecipitation of Cyprus over the past century( Ragab 05)( Ragab 05)( g )( g )

19981998//9999 drought in Jordandrought in Jordan19981998//99 99 drought in Jordandrought in Jordan•• Precipitation was, in most areas, Precipitation was, in most areas, reduced by up to 70 reduced by up to 70 p , ,p , , y py p

percentpercent. The reduced rainfall was also accompanied by . The reduced rainfall was also accompanied by increases in minimum ambient temperatures which increases in minimum ambient temperatures which increased evapoincreased evapo transpirationtranspirationincreased evapoincreased evapo--transpiration. transpiration.

Rainfall from October 1998 to April 1999 compared to AverageRainfall from October 1998 to April 1999 compared to AverageRainfall from October 1998 to April 1999 compared to AverageRainfall from October 1998 to April 1999 compared to Average

State of water in the Arab regionState of water in the Arab region

ACSAD activities for supporting ACSAD activities for supporting pp gpp gRural Water SectorRural Water Sector

II-- Improving livelihood of poor rural Improving livelihood of poor rural community in Mountainous Areacommunity in Mountainous Areacommunity in Mountainous Area community in Mountainous Area

11--Case study from SyriaCase study from Syria

•• The mountainous coastal area in The mountainous coastal area in Syria is characterized by high rainfallSyria is characterized by high rainfallSyria is characterized by high rainfall Syria is characterized by high rainfall in winter time( average is 1000 mm), in winter time( average is 1000 mm), but due to geological condition thebut due to geological condition thebut due to geological condition the but due to geological condition the region is suffering from acute region is suffering from acute shortage of water during summer shortage of water during summer season , mainly in agriculture sector season , mainly in agriculture sector which is the main source of income which is the main source of income f th l itif th l itifor the rural communities .for the rural communities .

Major characteristics of the Major characteristics of the jjareaarea

•• Degradation of the vegetation cover Degradation of the vegetation cover due to over cutting and overgrazing.due to over cutting and overgrazing.

•• Inappropriate agricultural practices, Inappropriate agricultural practices, •• water shortage during summer water shortage during summer

season.season.•• Main cultivated crops are wheat and Main cultivated crops are wheat and

tobaccotobacco•• PPovertyoverty

Btamosh Case study from SyriaBtamosh Case study from SyriaBtamosh Case study from SyriaBtamosh Case study from Syria

•• The mountainous The mountainous coastal area in Syria is coastal area in Syria is characterized by high characterized by high

i f ll i i t tii f ll i i t tirainfall in winter time rainfall in winter time (average is (average is 10001000mm), mm), but due to geological but due to geological condition the region iscondition the region iscondition the region is condition the region is suffering from acute suffering from acute shortage of water shortage of water during summer during summer ggseason, mainly in season, mainly in agriculture sector agriculture sector which is the main which is the main

f i ff i fsource of income for source of income for the rural communities.the rural communities.

The main wadi and terraces rehabilitated by The main wadi and terraces rehabilitated by the local community for cultivationthe local community for cultivationthe local community for cultivationthe local community for cultivation

Outcropping of fissured limestoneOutcropping of fissured limestone

overgrazing over cuttingover cuttingovergrazing over cuttingover cutting

Poverty

ACSAD interventionsACSAD interventionsACSAD interventions ACSAD interventions

•• Provide water resources for Provide water resources for supplementary irrigation and supplementary irrigation and d tid tidomestic use domestic use

•• Introducing new variety of wheat Introducing new variety of wheat (f t i t l t i(f t i t l t i(frost resistance , early maturing, (frost resistance , early maturing, and high production)and high production)

•• I t d i (f it tI t d i (f it t•• Introducing new crop (fruit trees, Introducing new crop (fruit trees, medical plants )medical plants )

حدود الحوض الساكب والمسيالت المائية في موقع الدراسةحدود الحوض الساكب والمسيالت المائية في موقع الدراسة

موقع السد

Rainfall data Rainfall data Kadmous stationKadmous stationKadmous stationKadmous station

PeriodPrecipitationin mmin mm

2004-20057882002-200312882001-20021488.52000-20019961999-200011031998-199910011997-19981256.51996-199710441995-199610781156.9المتوسط

Location of the lake siteLocation of the lake site

The lake site

The hill reservoir was constructed with participation

of local people

Building a hill reservoirBuilding a hill reservoirgg

•• A hill reservoir were A hill reservoir were constructed withconstructed withstorage capacity of storage capacity of gg7000 m3. 1000 7000 m3. 1000 micron LDPE sheets micron LDPE sheets were used for lining .were used for lining .gg

•• the water from the the water from the reservoir will be used reservoir will be used for supplementaryfor supplementaryfor supplementary for supplementary irrigation and irrigation and domestic use domestic use

The Hill reservoirThe Hill reservoir

Water was pumped through 1100 m long l th l i li t th ill i tpolyethylene pipeline to the villager cisterns

Water is mainly used to irrigate tobacco cropWater is mainly used to irrigate tobacco cropit is expected that the yield will be doubled due to it is expected that the yield will be doubled due to

l t i i til t i i tisupplementary irrigationsupplementary irrigation

IrrigatedRainfeed

Introducing new varietiesIntroducing new varieties of of ggwheatwheat

•• six varieties ofsix varieties ofsix varieties of six varieties of wheat were wheat were evaluated in evaluated in e a uatede a uatedthe project the project areaareaa eaa ea

Major advantage of ACSAD varieties Major advantage of ACSAD varieties j gj gis early maturing is early maturing

Local varieties ACSAD veritiesLocal varieties ACSAD verities

VarietyVariety ProductionProductionVarietyVariety ProductionProductionton/haton/ha

ACSAD 1105ACSAD 1105 44

ACSAD 1129ACSAD 1129 3.93.9

ACSAD 1229, ACSAD ACSAD 1229, ACSAD 1107, ACSAD 11031107, ACSAD 1103

3.253.25

LOCALLOCAL 22

22--New rainwater harvesting project in the New rainwater harvesting project in the coastal area of Syria, Al Shiha village.coastal area of Syria, Al Shiha village.

•• AlAl-- Shihah village is located in a Shihah village is located in a mountainous area approximately 45 KM west mountainous area approximately 45 KM west

f th it f Hf th it f H S i t l ti fS i t l ti fof the city of Hama of the city of Hama --Syria at elevation of Syria at elevation of 1030 m above mean sea level. Average 1030 m above mean sea level. Average annual rainfall in the area is 1157 mm .Threeannual rainfall in the area is 1157 mm .Threeannual rainfall in the area is 1157 mm .Three annual rainfall in the area is 1157 mm .Three locations were selected to construct locations were selected to construct excavated ponds in Alexcavated ponds in Al-- Shihah village. The Shihah village. The locations were selected that pond will collectlocations were selected that pond will collectlocations were selected that pond will collect locations were selected that pond will collect water from hillside and that farmers can water from hillside and that farmers can irrigate their tobacco fields by gravity with irrigate their tobacco fields by gravity with g y g yg y g yminimum piping . Each pond will be 50 minimum piping . Each pond will be 50 ××50 50 ××3m with side slope of 2:1 and store volume 3m with side slope of 2:1 and store volume of 7000 mof 7000 m33 After exaction the soil will beAfter exaction the soil will beof 7000 mof 7000 m33. After exaction the soil will be . After exaction the soil will be lined with stones to protect soil from erosion. lined with stones to protect soil from erosion.

Overview on the terraces which will be irrigatedOverview on the terraces which will be irrigated

Overview on the terraces which will be irrigatedOverview on the terraces which will be irrigated

Overview general on the terraces

l hOverview general on the terraces

The location of the site for the hill reservoirThe location of the site for the hill reservoir

◌ ◌Rainfall data from Kadmos weather Rainfall data from Kadmos weather Station Station

Improving livelihood of poor Improving livelihood of poor rural community in Mountainousrural community in Mountainousrural community in Mountainous rural community in Mountainous

Area Area IIIIII C t d f YC t d f YIIIIII--Case study from YemenCase study from Yemen

The Pilot area in Yemen , For Sub The Pilot area in Yemen , For Sub ––regional Action Program in Westregional Action Program in Westregional Action Program in West regional Action Program in West Asian Countries ( SRAP ) UNCCDAsian Countries ( SRAP ) UNCCD--•• The project site is located in the AlThe project site is located in the Al--Ramaa Ramaa

area in Yemen about 80 km from Lahaj area in Yemen about 80 km from Lahaj governorate In general the project areagovernorate In general the project areagovernorate. In general the project area governorate. In general the project area suffer from the following problems: suffer from the following problems:

•• collapsing of terrace systems, collapsing of terrace systems, p g y ,p g y ,•• degradation of vegetation cover due to degradation of vegetation cover due to

over cutting of timber,over cutting of timber,•• water scarcity, and water scarcity, and •• inappropriate agricultural practices inappropriate agricultural practices

Providing drinking Providing drinking water by collectingwater by collectingwater by collecting water by collecting

rainwater in rainwater in

AlAl R iR iAlAl--Ramaa area in Ramaa area in Yemen Yemen

Water scarcityWater scarcity

Women bring water from six kilometer far distance

Water scarcityWater scarcity

•• A 115A 115--mm33 storage tank for rain storage tank for rain waterwater--harvesting from the polyclinic harvesting from the polyclinic roof were constructed . The tank was roof were constructed . The tank was constructed by participation of local constructed by participation of local communities. communities.

Participating of local people in reservoir building

Construction of a small reservoir for collecting Construction of a small reservoir for collecting rainwater from the roof rainwater from the roof

IVIV-- watershed management and watershed management and protection in mountainous terrainsprotection in mountainous terrainsprotection in mountainous terrainsprotection in mountainous terrains

•• Research Program on hill reservoirs in the Semi Research Program on hill reservoirs in the Semi Arid zone of the Mediterranean PeripheryArid zone of the Mediterranean PeripheryArid zone of the Mediterranean Periphery Arid zone of the Mediterranean Periphery (HYROMED)(HYROMED)

•• Countries concerned ;Countries concerned ;;;•• From the North ; France ( IRD), Sweden (Lund From the North ; France ( IRD), Sweden (Lund

University), Spain (IRNASUniversity), Spain (IRNAS--Sevilla), England Sevilla), England (IH)(IH)(IH)(IH)

•• From the South ; Syria ( ACSAD), Lebanon, From the South ; Syria ( ACSAD), Lebanon, Tunisia (INGREF) Morocco (IAV)Tunisia (INGREF) Morocco (IAV)Tunisia (INGREF), Morocco (IAV)Tunisia (INGREF), Morocco (IAV)

•• Objective ; Study the Sustainability of small Objective ; Study the Sustainability of small scale dam use or improvement of infrastructure scale dam use or improvement of infrastructure ppand Socioeconomic in the Mediterranean and Socioeconomic in the Mediterranean landscape. landscape.

Sindianeh dam-Syria

Monitoring of Reservoir Sedimentation

1998

Monitoring of ReservoirMonitoring of Reservoir Sedimentation

2000

Research: HYDROMEDResearch: HYDROMEDS W R ModelingS W R ModelingS.W.R. ModelingS.W.R. Modeling

HYDROMED is a HYDROMED is a hydrological programme hydrological programme aims to optimize of aims to optimize of watershed management watershed management in mountainous terrains.in mountainous terrains.in mountainous terrains.in mountainous terrains.

Main outputs Main outputs pp

•• One of the main output of the project was One of the main output of the project was O e o t e a output o t e p oject asO e o t e a output o t e p oject asthe development of a model for simulating the development of a model for simulating surface runoff related to rain events .surface runoff related to rain events .I ibl b d h d ll dI ibl b d h d ll d•• It was possible based on the data collected It was possible based on the data collected to investigate the use of antecedent soil to investigate the use of antecedent soil moisture content as an alternative to themoisture content as an alternative to the 55moisture content as an alternative to the moisture content as an alternative to the 5 5 days antecedent rainfall for curve number days antecedent rainfall for curve number adjustment .A good correlation ( radjustment .A good correlation ( r22= = 00..8080) )

f d b t b lf d b t b lwere found between curve number values were found between curve number values and the natural logarithm of antecedent soil and the natural logarithm of antecedent soil moisture content which can help inmoisture content which can help inmoisture content which can help in moisture content which can help in improving estimation of runoff volume. improving estimation of runoff volume.

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