Springs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region are essential for water security, agriculture, economic activities, ecosystem services, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. They sustain nearly 240 million people, including 50 million in India who depend directly on these springs for their water needs. However, almost half of the perennial springs in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) have either dried up or become seasonal, causing severe water shortages in thousands of villages. If left unaddressed, the depletion of these springs will continue to have devastating impacts on local ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods.
To this end, FutureWater, in collaboration with unique land use GmbH and the Central Himalayan Rural Action Group, is conducting a training program on Springshed Management in four states, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh India. The program aims to equip the local stakeholders with practical tools and best practices for managing springshed and springs in the region. The key beneficiaries of these trainings are the forest departments of these four states under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Funded by GIZ India, these trainings will covers key topics, including:
- Concepts of springs and springshed management protocols and best practices
- Hydro-geological data collection during a field expedition
- Springshed mapping
- Connecting forest ecosystem services to water resources
For the first round of training the consortium will start training with the Uttarakhand Forest Department (UKFD) in Dehradun, India. This initiative aims to strengthen sustainable water management practices and safeguard these critical water sources for future generations.
