Tank Cascade Systems as a Sustainable Measure of Watershed Management in South Asia

Bebermeier, Wiebke; Meister, Julia; Withanachchi, Chandana Rohana; Middelhaufe, Ingo; Schütt, Brigitta

doi:10.3390/w9030231

Cited by 42 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Larger tanks at the end of tank cascade will not be silted in a larger magnitude as the total system is amalgamated with the ecosystem. Analysis of sediment profiles at four tank cascade system north of Anuradhapura suggests that after the abandonment of the ancient capital Anuradhapura in the 11th century CE, which was a period characterized by socio-economic instability and increased climatic fluctuations, severe erosion did not affect the decentralize managed small tanks (Bebermeier et al, 2017).However, we could not find considerable studies on tank siltation in dry and intermediate zone in the country except the a simple study conducted by Dharmasena (1992). Therefore, we suggest a siltation study of tank cascade with geochemical analysis of silted layers.…”

Section: Kattakaduwa (Interceptor)mentioning

confidence: 80%

Will Restoration of Ecological Functions of Tank Cascade System Contribute to Reduce CKDu in Sri Lanka? A review

Abeysingha

Dassanayake

Weerarathna

2018

EMSD

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People in the dry zone of Sri Lanka where hydraulic civilization once thrived, suffer from occurrence of a chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). The etiology for CKDu is now shown to be multi factorials and but related to water. Ancient people in the dry zone used surface water of tank cascades system and this system was interlinked with the ecosystem and social system of the area. It is hypothesized that the adverse changes that took place to the ecosystem of the tank cascade system and new commercial practices of agriculture in the CKDu prevalent area have also become reasons for the spreading of CKDu. This review assesses the effect of different components of the tank cascade systems in improving the water quality. A number of studies have reported positive effects of improving the surface water quality of the tank by the Wew Ismaththa (closer catchment), Thaulla (upper peripheral gentle sloping land), Kattakaduwa (Interceptor) Iswetiya or Potawetiya (upstream soil ridges), Godawala (small silt trapping pond). The review also identified functions of Thaulla area approximately similar to a constructed wetland. This review highlights the issues and gaps in our understanding the ecological functioning of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. It is suggested that reconstruction of ecofriendly structural components of tanks and reestablishment of tank cascade system in the area would help to combat the spreading of CKDu in dry and intermediate zone of the country.

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Section: Kattakaduwa (Interceptor)mentioning

confidence: 80%

Will Restoration of Ecological Functions of Tank Cascade System Contribute to Reduce CKDu in Sri Lanka? A review

Abeysingha

Dassanayake

Weerarathna

2018

EMSD

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“…The approach of integrated watershed management has evolved in terms of definition, scope, and application in water and land resources management since at least 200 BC and gained increasing attention in the late 20th century [3,[8][9][10]. Integrated watershed management is defined as the process of formulating and implementing a course of action involving natural and human resources in a drainage basin, taking into account the social, political, economic, and institutional factors operating within the drainage basin, the superordinate river basin, and other relevant regions to achieve specific social objectives [11].…”

Section: Integrated Watershed Management Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Land Tenure and Integrated Watershed Management—A Review

Katusiime

Schütt

2020

Sustainability

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Land tenure is given attention in the general discussions on conservation and management of natural resources, but the necessary holistic approach to understand the linkages is less considered. Thus, we considered a watershed as a unit of reference and Integrated Watershed Management as a holistic land and water resources management approach with various roles and touchpoints with land tenure issues. To examine the role of land tenure on the management of natural resources in watersheds, we reviewed and compiled literature that captures watershed issues, integrating aspects of land tenure, and aiming to identify the key land tenure roles, dynamics, and its influences on integrated watershed management. Land tenure is observed playing various roles in watersheds and, thus, also on integrated watershed management as an approach—as a driver of change, influence for investment decisions, an incentive for adoption of practices, and leading to sustainability. Land tenure dynamics range from land tenure security, land tenure forms, land access and acquisition modalities, and how these aspects of land tenure relate with integrated watershed management.

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“…In addition, several scholars such as Madduma Bandara, Ithakura and Abernethy, and Panabokke and Tennakoon, investigated the physical characteristics, environmental aspects, and techno-engineering characteristics of these systems [4,[33][34][35]. Tank sediments as archives for environmental reconstruction were investigated by Schütt and Bebermeier [36,37]. Withanachchi investigated the water management system from a historical perspective with special reference to ancient anicuts and dams [38,39].…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

Abeywardana

Bebermeier

Schütt

2018

Water

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The dry-zone water-harvesting and management system in Sri Lanka is one of the oldest historically recorded systems in the world. A substantial number of ancient sources mention the management and governance structure of this system suggesting it was initiated in the 4th century BCE (Before Common Era) and abandoned in the middle of the 13th century CE (Common Era). In the 19th century CE, it was reused under the British colonial government. This research aims to identify the ancient water management and governance structure in the dry zone of Sri Lanka through a systematic analysis of ancient sources. Furthermore, colonial politics and interventions during reclamation have been critically analyzed. Information was captured from 222 text passages containing 560 different records. 201 of these text passages were captured from lithic inscriptions and 21 text passages originate from the chronicles. The spatial and temporal distribution of the records and the qualitative information they contain reflect the evolution of the water management and governance systems in Sri Lanka. Vast multitudes of small tanks were developed and managed by the local communities. Due to the sustainable management structure set up within society, the small tank systems have remained intact for more than two millennia.

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Tank Cascade Systems as a Sustainable Measure of Watershed Management in South Asia

Cited by 42 publications

References 31 publications

Will Restoration of Ecological Functions of Tank Cascade System Contribute to Reduce CKDu in Sri Lanka? A review

Will Restoration of Ecological Functions of Tank Cascade System Contribute to Reduce CKDu in Sri Lanka? A review

Linking Land Tenure and Integrated Watershed Management—A Review

Ancient Water Management and Governance in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Until Abandonment, and the Influence of Colonial Politics during Reclamation

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