Author: Michal KravcikCSc

The New Water Paradigm: Global Climate and Ecosystem Restoration

Bernd Walter Müller edited by: Helena Laughton

Jan Lambert’s Quick Take:

Very understandable reading about the importance of the New Water Paradigm.

Abstract:

Most global water-related crises, such as water scarcity, drought, desertification, flooding, rising sea levels and climate change, are symptoms of long-term mismanagement of rainwater and vegetation. This results in global disruptions to Natural Water Cycles. Responding to these problems with industrial methods of control and mitigation is not a viable solution. These unsustainable methods can be superseded by the New Water Paradigm, which underpins the Global Action Plan (GAP). This global plan proposes a holistic response which will simultaneously address all of these problems.

New Water Paradigm write up – Bernd Mueller

After Us, the Desert and the Deluge?

Jan’s Quick Take:

This is a large and lavishly illustrated volume detailing the Slovakian “Landscape Revitalisation and Integrated River Basin Management Programme.”  The book is presented in Slovakian and English languages (in side-by-side panels).  This work is a unique reflection and photo-documentary, of sorts, of the insights and results from the Slovakian Program, while simultaneously delving into the science and conceptualizations behind the Blue Alternative / New Water Paradigm from a noticeably holistic and philosophical approach.

By Ing. Michal Kravčík,CSc. / Juraj Kohutiar / Michal Gažovič / Ing. Martin Kováč / Miroslav Hríb / Pavol Šuty / Dana Kravčíková

Download: After Us, The Desert and the Deluge

Excerpt from INTRODUCTION (p14)

Upsetting the balance of the hydrological cycle in the landscape caused by deforestation, and misunderstanding agricultural practices and urbanisation are even more serious than erosion.

Plato continues to describe the situation after deforestation: “Moreover, the land reaped the benefit of the annual rainfall, not as now losing the water which lows of the bare earth into the sea, but, having an abundant supply in all places, and receiving it into herself and treasuring it up in the close clay soil, it let of into the hollows the streams which it absorbed from the heights, providing everywhere abundant fountains and rivers…”(10)

The negative consequences of increased drainage of rainwater is a shortage of moisture in soil, reduction of the organic content of soil (and thus, reduction of its capability to retain water and fertility), desertification, on one hand, and floods on the other hand, a drop in underground water level, etc. Last but not least, the increased drainage of rainwater does not let enough water evaporate in the landscape and cool it down. Water deficit and overheated landscape result in the phenomena that the Russian researchers discussed: break- up of the water cycle over the landscape and increase of climate extremes. The optimalisation of the water cycle (but also the carbon and different other cycles) over the landscape is according to the mentioned scientists beyond the current knowledge and technical possibilities of humans. The idea to at least roughly o set the water deficit by saturating the small water cycle over the landscape by retaining rainwater by making it infiltrate the ground and evaporate as well as by increasing water supplies in the land, was one of the objectives of the Landscape Revitalisation and Integrated River Basin Management Programme for the Slovak Republic for 2010-2011.(11)

A healthy forest works to a large extent like a sponge – it is able to soak moisture during rainfall and then slowly release it, which results in moderating any differences between the periods of water excess and shortage. The Programme was directly triggered by exceptionally severe floods in 2010 and the municipalities prone to flash floods were preferentially involved in the Programme. Not only in our country politicians and experts are typically mobilised reactively take measures only  after  devastating  flood  events strike. That was also the case of the European Union after the floods in 2002. A group consisting of water management experts from the member states came up with an initiative that resulted in the brochure “Best practices on flood prevention, protection and mitigation”(12). It was used as one of the inspiration sources for the Slovak Landscape Revitalisation Programme. This document states  that  although  there  have  always  been  floods,  and  they will be, any human intervention in the natural processes, such as changes in water drainage as a result of urbanisation, agricultural practices and deforestation, dramatically changes the situation in whole catchment areas and poses higher risks to flood-prone areas that are becoming more vulnerable. The fundamental principles of sustainable flood prevention, protection and mitigation start with stopping any human intervention in the natural processes as much as possible, its compensation and stopping any human intervention in the future.

The appropriate strategy on flood protection according to the above-mentioned document consists of the three-step approach: retaining, storing and draining rainwater. That means to make every effort to retain rainfall at the spot and also to store it there as long as possible. The final step is to let water drain to watercourses and it only concerns the water that is not able to be stored at the locality. Every cubic meter of water retained and not drained away immediately to growing watercourses takes away some of the burden in floods and contributes to the hydrological health of the locality. Whereas the typical water management practices in the last decades preferred the final step the Landscape Revitalisation Programme for the first time over a longer period focused on retention, particularly, in the area of upper river sections. The initial feedback on check dam cascades above frequently flooded municipalities is extraordinarily positive and raises hopes that after acquiring know-how the municipalities will implement similar measures even without any state funds. Despite that it should be emphasized that the objective of the Programme has never been to fully replace step one and step three by such retention measures.

A Global Action Plan for the Restoration of Natural Water Cycles and Climate

Ing. Michal Kravčík,CSc. / Jan Lambert

https://bio4climate.org/downloads/Kravcik_Global_Action_Plan.pdf

Jan’s Quick-Take:

This is a document intended to guide people from individuals to the national level, on addressing climate change through the restoration of short, or small water cycles, thus increasing the production potential and biodiversity of all continents through the introduction of various measures of rainwater retention.

Excerpt from: 1. WHY IS A GLOBAL ACTION PLAN (GAP) NEEDED?

A global plan of climate restoration of the small water cycle of regional landscapes, with a goal of decreasing floods, drought, natural disasters, and other undesirable climate changes, and increasing the biodiversity and production potential of all continents, through the introduction of various measures of rainwater retention suitable for all areas of human habitation and usage.

Conclusion and Action Needed (p 4)

For climate change due to anthropogenic drainage and vegetation depletion, the major necessary intervention is to restore water in dry, damaged ecosystems, a measure which can be achieved with rainwater retention and soil erosion control. Consistent and widespread restoration of native vegetation and soil fertility will bring about restoration of the natural water cycle. It will also achieve increases in food production, fresh water supplies, and biodiversity, while mitigating the occurrence of severe weather, and decreasing the volumes of storm water flowing down rivers, thus ultimately decreasing sea levels. This can be accomplished; it is only necessary to mobilize stakeholders, from local and regional to national, international, and global levels.

Despite the above-described realities of the deterioration of water cycles, and that water as a resource is extremely critical to many public investments, current efforts are insufficiently responsive to the nature and dynamics of the ecological processes taking place. Hydrological cycles have been negatively affected in many types of forested, agricultural, and urban landscapes, as well as in the transportation and industrial infrastructure and other developed areas. These intensive human-caused effects accelerated in the twentieth century, especially in recent decades.

Unfortunately, a large proportion of urban infrastructure (such as impervious surfaces and storm sewer systems) is encouraging the continued drying of the landscape ecology, which not only compromises the balance of water, but also causes an increase in urban heat islands; subsequent changes in rainfall distribution indicate an altered local and regional climate. The loss of water into rivers also contributes to rising sea levels. By not taking these effects into consideration, high level decision makers and global stakeholders are operating under the inaccurate concept that all climate change can be mitigated solely through the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Forecasts suggest that stable hydrological regimes in landscape ecosystems are the key determining factor of economic, social, and cultural welfare of all human communities, from local to global scale. Such landscapes are far more equipped to absorb rainwater and withstand extreme weather such as intense rains and drought. Such a desirable state can be achieved only by ecosystem improvements that strengthen biodiversity and soil production potential through improved hydrological regimes.

Current knowledge of hydrology in ecosystems worldwide, indicates that without a fundamental change in land and rainwater management, especially in urban areas, the risk of extreme floods and droughts will rise in coming years. Problems of overheating and drying will increase exponentially if we do not stop the perennial surface drainage of landscapes. The solution is to restore degraded landscapes by means of natural regeneration of soil moisture to benefit small water cycles. This will create favorable conditions for prevention of floods, droughts, and other natural disasters.

Massive rainwater retention is necessary to achieve a state of sustainable life on our planet; it is time to mobilize politicians together with citizens. The challenge is to make urgently needed decisions to achieve an integrated, holistic system of rainwater management. By doing so, in addition to preventing floods and droughts, we will also strengthen biodiversity, increase soil fertility and productivity, and restore a more healthful climate.

Water for the Recovery of the Climate: A New Water Paradigm

Ing. Michal Kravčík,CSc. / RNDr. Jan Pokorný, CSc. / Ing. Juraj Kohutiar/           Ing. Martin Kovác / RNDr. Eugen Tóth

http://www.waterparadigm.org/download/Water_for_the_Recovery_of_the_Climate_A_New_Water_Paradigm.pdf

Jan Lambert’s Quick-Take:

The New Water Paradigm presents a very useful way to view drought and other climate change, a way that shows how humankind can influence climate for the better simply by restoring natural water cycles that help to regulate climate. Reading this book will greatly enrich your understanding of the Global Action Plan. Learn the critical importance of the short, or small water cycle that relies on transpiration, the natural cooling effect of trees and other plants through evaporation of rainwater through their leaves.

Excerpt from: 1 THE REASON FOR THE FORMULATION AND THE MISSION OF THE NEW WATER PARADIGM

Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler. ~ Albert Einstein

Possibilities for individuals (pp 9-10)

At present, the individual is placed in the position of consumer of water and for the most part is neither aware of his own share of responsibility for the protection of water nor of the possibilities or threats which water (or the lack of it) may bring. And yet each roof and each yard of a family home is a microwatershed on which the annual sum of precipitation represents a surprisingly large volume of water. Water is an asset which the individual citizen can use to improve his own life in a variety of ways. He can also, however, without any profit and for a fee, flush it into rivers and into the sea and thus slowly contribute to the desertification of his own environment and microclimate and, in time, to macroclimatic changes. The new water paradigm makes this choice a conscious one.

The common good (p 10)

The publication of the paradigm is, in the opinion of its authors, a step towards a responsible approach and greater critical thinking with no intention of offending anyone associated with the “old paradigm” or hurting anyone associated with the changes that could result from the change in paradigm. The new paradigm should be accepted in the spirit that it is offered. The authors provide an independent view on the global scenario of the circulation of water with its effects on a continental, national, regional or town level, so that this knowledge will contribute to the common good. The acceptance of the paradigm, besides other suggested activities, ultimately means the acceptance of a new higher culture in relation to water and thus also a total overhaul of the cultural character of our civilization. In the end result, it’s about much more than just water.