Bhutan

Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Punakha-Wangdi and Chamkhar Valleys

The most significant climate change impact in Bhutan is the formation of supra-glacial lakes due to the accelerated retreat of glaciers with increasing temperatures. The risk of potential costly economic damages on key development sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, and forestry by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) is mounting. Climate change is attributed as the primary reason that water levels in glacial lakes approach dangerous thresholds. This poses a new dimension to the existing range of threats to lives, livelihoods, and development.

The objective of this project is the reduction of climate change-induced Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding (GLOF) risk in the Punakha-Wangdi and Chamkhar Valleys in Bhutan. The project will integrate climate risk projections into existing disaster risk management practices and implement corresponding capacity development measures. It will demonstrate practical measures to reduce climate change-induced GLOF risks from the potentially dangerous Thorthormi glacier lake, and facilitate replication of the respective lessons learned in other high-risk GLOF areas, both within and outside Bhutan. Complementary to this risk reduction effort, the project will ensure that early warning mechanisms for the Punakha-Wangdi Valley, which is currently not equipped to handle the full extent of potential GLOF risks, is expanded to incorporate coverage of this growing threat. Lessons learned from this initiative will enable up-scaling of early warning systems in other disaster-prone areas downstream of potentially hazardous glacier lakes.

The project objective will be acheived through the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Improved national, regional and local capacities to prevent climate change induced GLOF disasters in the Punakha-Wangdue and Chamkar valleys 
• Outcome 2: Reduced risks of GLOF from Thorthormi lake through an artificial lake level management system
• Outcome 3: Reduced human and material losses in vulnerable communities in the Punakha-wangdue valley through GLOF early warning systems (EWS)
• Outcome 4: enhanced learning, evaluation and adaptive management

UNDAF Outcome	5: By 2012, national capacity for environmental sustainability and disaster management strengthened.
CT Outcome	5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3
CT Output	5.2: National capacity for disaster and risk management strengthened.
Project Location	Central and Western Region
Project Duration	April 2008 - June 2013
Budget Outlay	US$ 4,245,050
MDG Goal	Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Link to Workplan	Click on the icon to download