Programme 3

Disaster risk management and ecosystem restoration

Build the resilience of communities exposed to climate change and major hazards by improving water and soil conservation through the implementation of ecosystem restoration, reforestation and integrated water resources management (IWRM) initiatives.

Partners
In collaboration with Kanchan Nepal, Caritas Kaolack, Océanium Dakar

Projects
Mangrove restoration, Agroforestry, ecosystem restoration

 
 
 

Member

FEBA, Associated Programme for Flood Management (APFM)

Campaigns

#GenerationRestoration #nobluenogreen #watersecurity

 
 

Since the 2000s, 74% of all natural disasters have been water-related (UNDRR, 2020). An estimated 2 billion people live in countries with high water stress (WMO, 2018). Finally, nearly 80% of the world's wetlands have disappeared since 1950.

 

The challenges of ecosystem restoration

 
The weakening of many ecosystems such as forests, hedgerows and mangroves, which act as barriers against the risks of major hazards, increases the vulnerability of communities to the effects of climate change. The loss of soils, destruction of crops and livelihoods combined with the accelerated occurrence of these extreme weather events, impact the resilience and adaptive capacities of communities.

Rainwater management is an innovative response to the challenges of water scarcity, droughts and floods and to strengthen the resilience of communities and local ecosystems to natural disasters and climate change. Collect, Store and Use.

Rainwater management is therefore fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13.

Our strategy to improve the health, livelihoods and resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate change by ensuring access to water for all, everywhere is based on:

  • Development of an action plan for integrated water resources management at the level of the catchment area, co-developed by all the actors involved (communities, authorities, services, etc.)
  • Establishment of storage, infiltration and groundwater recharge infrastructures
  • Establishment of infrastructure for erosion control, runoff reduction, flood control and soil maintenance
  • Strengthening the technical and ecosystem management capacities (mangroves, forests) of field actors (institutions, farmers, cooperatives, etc.).

 
 
 

"Planting fruit trees will not only maintain the soil but also rejuvenate the community forest while creating value"

Reforestation initiative participant (Nepal) Credits @IRHA, 2021

 

Videos

 
 
 
 

News - Disaster risk management and ecosystem restoration

Image Launch of an Integrated Water Resource Management project in the Kaski and Chitwan watersheds (Nepal)
28 August 2023
by Marc Sylvestre

We are delighted to announce that, thanks to funding from the Fédération genevoise de coopération (FGC), and in partnership with Kanchan Nepal, ...

Image Florian's feedback - Senegal 2022
26 January 2023
by Florian Bielser

November 2022 was the occasion for IRHA to carry out a field visit to Senegal in order to follow the evolution of the activities implemented by IRH...

Image Identification of suitable sites for traditional pokhari water harvesting in mountain rural communities of the Himalaya
4 November 2022
by Giulio Castelli, Florian Bielser, Marc Sylvestre

Storing runoff during the monsoon season in Himalayan hills is crucial to have enough water to cope with the dry season, especially considering tha...

Other programmes

 

Programme 1

Rainwater for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Access to safe water and sanitation, as well as appropriate hygiene, is a human right and can prevent a significant proportion of water-related diseases.

Read More

 

Programme 2

Rainfed Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Rainfed agriculture represents more than 85% of family farming today. Ongoing climate change is impacting on the harvests and food sovereignty of farming communities.

Read More
 

Programme 4

Urban Rainwater

Storm rain, flooding, creating islands of coolness, rainwater management in the city has emerged in recent years as a nature-based solution (NbS) that cannot be ignored in managing a sustainable city.

Read More
 

Stories


"I wanted to participate in this reforestation initiative with my community to set an example! Stopping soil erosion and rejuvenating our community forests is a very good thing."


FECOFUN Secretary of Rupa Municipality, Hansapur Nepal - Credits @IRHA, 2019

 

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