Category: Earth Voices

KICK-OFF SESSION: CLIMATE RESILIENT SOLUTIONS TO HYDRO MINI-GRIDS

4/1/2022

How can watershed stewardship enable climate resilient hydro mini-grids? How can traditional ecological knowledge be leveraged for sustainable energy access?

Building onto our Earth Voices series, which featured case studies of Indigenous communities who have developed resilient hydro mini-grids through watershed stewardship, we now go further to understand how rural energy systems can benefit from Indigenous values and methods for climate resilience. We aim to do this by facilitating dialogue with Indigenous leaders and organizations seeking to integrate traditional knowledge and values into energy access solutions.

As a start, in the kick-off of our recent SEEED E-Learning course, “Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro Mini-Grids”, we were privileged to be joined by Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, Advisor for TONIBUNG and JOAS and Board Member for the Right Energy Partnership (REP) and HPNET. Watch the recording for a deep dive discussion on climate resilience, the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus, and Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge and stewardship protocols.

The course was the second in our E-Learning series, offered as part of the SEEED Accelerator, with support from Skat Foundation, DGRV, GIZ, and WISIONS.

Learn More

To learn more about the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and environmental governance supports healthy watersheds and sustainable hydro mini-grids, check out our Earth Voices blog series.
To stay in-the-know regarding future E-Learning opportunities, sign up for our newsletter.
To learn more about Right Energy Partnership, visit their website.

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EARTH VOICES: FROM KALASH, PAKISTAN

12/23/2020

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Our Earth Voices feature series explores how small-scale hydropower promotes ecological integrity and community well-being. Each edition highlights an indigenous community that practices environmental sustainability and conservation through community-scale hydropower.

In this edition of Earth Voices, environmental economist Mr. Hashim Zaman takes you to the Kalasha Valleys, in the heart of the Hindukush mountain range of Pakistan, where community-based mini hydropower (< 1MW) enables community-led initiatives and social enterprise development. For the indigenous Kalasha, this has helped build climate resilience as well as preserve their traditions and culture in one of the most isolated and inaccessible mountainous regions of Pakistan.

Note to readers: While our earlier Earth Voices case studies were developed using interviews, due to lack of direct access to the remote Kalash hydro communities at this time, we leveraged the next best option -- secondary research. We hope that you still find the article an insightful read on how community-scale hydropower has impacted the Kalasha.

A jeep enroute to Kalash valley. Credit: Zindagi-zoq-e-Safar

Descendants of Alexander the Great

Tucked away in the mighty Hindukush range resides an ancient tribe known as the Kalasha. The indigenous communities of Kalash reside amidst the three mountain valleys of Bamburet, Rumboor and Birir, located in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of northern Pakistan. [1]

Kalasha girls celebrate during a festival. Credit: Kamal Zain

The Kalasha form the smallest minority community residing in Pakistan. They are a unique tribe with a distinct language, folklore, tribal customs, and a polytheistic religion. [2] The Kalasha believe that they are descendants of Alexander the Great, with some evidence suggesting that they originated in Syria. There are also traces of a possible history with the Indo-Aryans and the equestrian tribesmen, who roamed the Black and Caspian seas and migrated as far as South Asia. [1]

The way of life for the last of the Kalasha

Kalasha family in Rumbur Valley. Credit: Sanam Saeed

Many historians have expressed their concern over the declining Kalasha culture. Once large in number, the Kalasha population has dwindled down to nearly 5,000 inhabitants. [2] Preservation of local traditions and rituals has diminished, partly owing to locals exhibiting astounding interfaith harmony with surrounding regions. [1] Both forced and voluntary conversions to Islam, coupled with youth migrating to cities in search of better opportunities, has further exacerbated the issue. The majority still rely on traditional sources of livelihood including livestock, small-scale cultivation, and wage labour. [3] However, owing to growing tourism, the Kalasha have transitioned toward a cash-based economy and established local shops, restaurants and hotels. [2]

A local store in Bumburet Valley. Credit: Waleed Ahmad

Most infrastructure is still basic. Lack of energy access has promoted traditional wood burning, kerosene oil, lanterns, and candles across the Kalasha Valleys. [2] For decades, the locals have used firewood and kerosene stoves to cook food, leading to respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. [4]

A Kalasha home in Bumburet Valley. Credit: Waleed Ahmad

Environmental degradation and glacial flooding

Forest products provide a major source of income for inhabitants of the valley. Wood, pine nuts, chilgoza, fruits, and medicinal plants are traded for much-needed income. [3] Moreover, the Kalasha see the forest as vital to their cultural survival and have fought to protect their rights to the land. For instance, from the 1980’s into the early 1990’s the Kalasha of the Rumbur Valley were involved in a 10-year court case to protect the forest for future generations. [5] A local who spearheaded the case stated that, “if we can turn the valleys into a reserve for future people, then the Kalash will survive for another 1,000 years”. [6]

Nature continues to be central to the Kalasha’s spiritual beliefs and plays an important role in their daily lives. [6] Deforestation for timber and fuelwood not only disrupts the health of the watershed but triggers climate induced disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF). Floods and erratic monsoon patterns lead to major destruction of crops and infrastructure, disruption in energy supply and loss of livelihoods. [7]

Kalasha harvest festival hats. Credit: Martin Jung

Bumburet River and autumn colors shine across the valley. Credit: Hassan Ali

Of the 3,044 glacial lakes in northern Pakistan, 33 are considered to be at high risk of bursting. [8] There have been GLOF events happening every year now, but the havoc wreaked by the floods of 2011 and 2015 remains unparalleled. Houses, bridges, orchards, hotels, water channels, shops, farms and roads were either completely or partially destroyed. [7] Recalling the loss and damage borne by the community, Shaheen Gul, a young Kalasha woman states “Our fields with corn and beans that were ready for harvest and fruit trees like walnuts and apricots are gone as they were near the nullah[stream]”. [7] A local farmer, Hussain claims, “Our culture was already under threat, and now these floods have destroyed our crops and orchards. We will have to buy food from the bazaar and store it if we are to survive this winter”. [7]

A broken bridge destroyed in glacial floodwater. Credit: Rina Saeed Khan

The civil works of the micro hydro system, water pipelines and the various irrigation channels of Rumbur, Gambak, and Brone villages were partially destroyed. [7] Moreover, the floods also destroyed the only primary school in the valley and the children were forced to study under an ad-hoc open roof environment for a long time. [7] The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) motel was in ruins too, as the gushing streams turned into a surging river, destroying the wooden chalets and the garden of the motel. [7]

Glacial floods have changed entire landscapes, posing serious risks around soil erosion, species migration and food insecurity. A local resident attributes the origin of these floods to melting glaciers in the region, explaining, “There are around four glaciers high up above in these mountains overlooking the valley. Glacial floods came down along with rainwater, carrying large boulders and we even saw large chunks of black ice”. [7] However, a disaster risk reduction expert from Chitral felt that torrential rainfall was the main cause of the flooding. [7] Similarly, a climate change expert attributed the cause of floods to El Nino (periodic warming of the ocean), which leads to erratic monsoon rainfalls, accelerates snow melt and subsequently triggers glacial lakes. [7] A local blamed deforestation and attributed the intensity of these floods to climate change. He explained, “It was still warm by the end of September this year, while the summers would usually end in August.” [7]

Hydro mini-grids: A solution for climate resilience and energy access

Building climate resilience and ensuring sustainable development requires retaining biodiversity and investment in nature-based solutions. Hydro mini-grids are a nature-based solution because their functionality depends on healthy forests. Thriving forests result in resilient catchment areas that provide maximum flow and erosion protection to the hydro mini-grid.

An aerial shot of Rumbur Valley. Credit: M. Ansari

Sarujalik, a village amidst the Bumburet valley in Ayun local council, had always remained deprived of basic facilities. Having no access to main-grid electricity, the communities were using diesel generators, along with a rudimentary MHP which didn't meet the electricity demand. Moreover, being the hub of seasonal festivals, the village faced energy shortages throughout the year. [10]

Local households during a power breakdown. Credit: Shah Tahsin Anwar

The situation led to local communities approaching a reputed NGO called the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) for support in developing a community-owned mini-hydro system. In 2011, SRSP designed and constructed a separate 200kW mini hydro system to be operated by the Sarujalik community in partnership with SRSP. With the financial support of EU, the system was later upgraded in 2013-14, with improved and more efficient mechanical equipment, civil works and extension of transmission lines. The system uses two locally manufactured cross flow T-15 turbines and the total system cost was PKR 12.84 million.

Sarujalik Mini Hydro. Credit: SRSP

The 200 kW Sarujalik Mini Hydro system. Credit: SRSP

A healthy and connected community

The Sarujalik mini hydropower system has 592 domestic and 111 commercial connections, providing electricity to almost 6,000 individuals across the valley. [10] Previously, the lack of reliable electricity services deprived the Kalasha of basic facilities, with negative impacts on their health and education. [1] The communities that were earlier using candles are now using telephones, refrigerators, and Internet facilities. [2] The local general stores are stocking their supplies in refrigerators, while uninterrupted electricity supply has enabled local businesses, such as welding and tailoring shops, to operate more optimally. [3]

Kalasha festival dance. Credit: Kamal Zain

Local vendors operate through the evening using MHP electricity. Credit: SRSP

Kalasha women greet each other. Credit: Tahsin Shah

Apart from monetary benefits, Kalasha are now enjoying a relatively healthier life. As some vaccines are temperature-sensitive and require cold storage, refrigerators have made it possible to vaccinate the population, and ensure a healthier and happier community. [1] Communication has also improved, as people are able to charge their phones at home and stay connected with their families, as well as access information and news from across the world.

A Kalasha woman able to communicate via phone thanks to electricity access. Credit: SRSP

Education in a remote valley

In these times of a global pandemic, community-scale hydropower has not only enabled online-distance learning, but has paved the way for a more informed community in one of the most isolated regions on Earth. Previously, teachers had difficulty conducting classes due to insufficient electricity in the school. Now, with improved energy access, there is evidence of more effective knowledge transmission and learning amongst students. [9] According to a schoolteacher, “students access new knowledge on the Internet and not only they become more informed, but they also share that information with us, and we learn from them too”. [9]

Kalasha children. Credit: Tahsin Shah

The community-led hydropower has enabled schools to initiate an online enrollment system, allowing students to register for various national examinations. [9] Students are now able to access international research publications and supplement their existing knowledge with scientific and evidence-based research. [9]

Access to clean energy has also lowered the rate of rural migration to cities. A local woman feels “people used to leave the village as their studies suffered without electricity. When all their needs are met at home, why would they leave?”. [11]

Mini hydropower and Kalasha women

Community-scale hydro has been a blessing for the women across the valley. Traditional wood-burning stoves have been replaced by more efficient electric cookstoves, and other electric appliances have reduced drudgery from laborious housework. [1]

Kalasha women amidst the Hindukush mountains. Credit: Tahsin Shah

MHP-powered washing machine. Credit: SRSP

Earlier, women were mostly occupied with housekeeping, e.g. washing and cooking, but now invest their skills and energy in various productive end uses, such as operating their own shops and designing traditional items for sale to tourists. [1] According to the CEO of SRSP, Mr. Shahzada ul Mulk, “When we brought light to one village, one old lady said to me, ‘Son, you have just added 15 years to my life’”. [11]

Community-driven sustainability

SRSP’s bottom-up and community-driven rural development approach has helped the community build community-owned social enterprises, resulting in reliable income generation for the Kalasha. SRSP has ensured active community decision-making at all stages of MHP projects, from identifying potential sites and developing community structures, to keeping the system operational and participating in the cost-benefit sharing of the system. For long-term access to clean and green energy, committees have been set up to evaluate and provide connections to households, collect fees and ensure periodic maintenance of units. [10]

SRSP has implemented 353 community-scale hydropower systems with a total installed capacity of over 29 MW, providing electricity to an estimated 900,000 individuals mostly in off-grid mountainous regions. [10] The founder of SRSP Mr. Masood ul Mulk says, “We do not see ourselves as energy generators but as an organization that gives hope to people who have been devastated by conflict and floods. Electricity is a way to harmonize and bring communities together. Providing light is just the beginning of the process of building up communities.” [11] Learn more about SRSP’s award-winning work in this video.

Ayun MHP construction. Credit: SRSP

As the global pandemic persists and we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, climate-resilient and nature-based solutions become imperative. The role of community-scale hydropower in enabling clean energy access, uplifting livelihoods, and ultimately building resilience is vital in the context of the global climate crisis. We can learn from and be inspired by the resilience of indigenous local communities such as the Kalasha, and strive towards a more equitable and a sustainable future.

Kalasha girls looking out of their traditional home. Credit: Tahsin Shah

References:
[1] http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/zh/960841551256802132/pdf/Indigenous-Peoples-Planning-Framework.pdf
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4570283/pdf/main.pdf
[3] http://kp.gov.pk/uploads/2019/04/IPPF_Pub_Disclosure3.pdf
[4] h ttps://cmjournal.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s13020-018-0204-y.pdf
[5] http://www.icwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CVR-27.pdf
[6] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/south_asia_kalash_spring_festival/html/3.stm
[7] https://climate.earthjournalism.net/2015/12/03/kalash-valleys-struggle-to-survive-post-floods.html
[8] https://www.pk.undp.org/content/pakistan/en/home/projects/Glof-II.html
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDFCdius3KQ&feature=emb_logo
[10] http://www1.srsp.org.pk/site/alternate-energy-new/
[11] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/12/pakistan-electricity-village-micro-hydro-ashden-award

Developed by Hashim Zaman, Environmental Economist
Content support from Atif Zeeshan Rauf, Sarad Rural Support Programme
Editing support from the HPNET Secretariat

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EARTH VOICES: FROM LUKU WINGIR, INDONESIA

10/6/2020

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Our blog series Earth Voices presents the linkages between community-scale hydropower, indigenous-led conservation and sustainable development. The series presents case studies of how community-scale hydropower reinforces environmental traditions by incentivizing watershed strengthening, which in turn enable reliable and clean electricity.

In this edition of Earth Voices, we feature the micro hydro village of Luku Wingir, located on the island of Sumba, in East Nusa Tenggara province. Luku Wingir was selected as a pilot village for the Village Model Initiative for Gender Integration in Renewable Energy Sector program, which accelerates gender mainstreaming in the renewable energy sector in Sumba. Initiated by Hivos and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, the multi-stakeholder program allows inter-sectoral collaboration, including government agencies (from village to national level), local communities, local NGO, and academics.

We sat with Mrs. Rita Kefi from Hivos Southeast Asia, and local civil society representatives, namely Mrs. Trouce Landukara and Mr. Aryanto Umbu Kudu to learn more about the life of the Luku Wingir community and the socio-economic impact of its community-based micro hydro project.

The Indonesian translation of the article can be found here.

'Rumah Panggung' traditional home in Luku Wingir village. Credit: Hivos Southeast Asia

Energy access in Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in Southeast Asia with a population of 250 million. Indonesia has high energy needs with challenging natural conditions. Even though the Indonesian government notes that the electrification ratio in Indonesia has reached 99%, in fact several regions in Indonesia still have difficulty in accessing energy. One of the contributing factors is the imbalance between urban and rural infrastructure development. There are still around 433 villages in Indonesia that have not yet been electrified (President Joko Widodo's speech 3 April 2020), including 325 Papuan villages, 102 West Papua villages, 5 villages in East Nusa Tenggara, and 1 village in Maluku. However, the definition of a village being ‘electrified’ varies.

Luku Wingir village landscape. Credit: Rita Kefi

Getting to know the Luku Wingir community

Luku Wingir village, an area of 51.8 square km, has a hilly natural landscape with considerably dry land. To get to Luku Wingir it takes about 1.5 hours from Waingapu, the capital of East Sumba district. Although since 2018 road conditions have improved for car and motorbike accessibility, the route is not traversed by public transportation and therefore access is still limited.

There are about 400 people living in Luku Wingir village, with almost the same ratio of men and women. Most households cultivate corn, cassava, vanilla and cashew nuts for selling to Waingapu. Apart from farming, some people raise pigs, cows, buffaloes, horses and goats. The agricultural and livestock systems there still use traditional methods, so the quantity and quality of farming and raising products are not optimal. Modern agricultural equipment has not yet entered the village, it is only limited to chemical fertilizers. “As for livestock, the villagers are not familiar with the livestock fattening method. If only they are trained and equipped with the knowledge about this, it will help to increase the meat production and increase their income” said Mr. Aryanto who has closely worked with the farmers in the village.

Most households rely on traditional biomass stoves for cooking, while a few have been provided biogas stoves by the government. For lighting, several houses are equipped with solar panels, some of which have been funded by the village government.

Before Christianity arrived in Sumba, the Anawaru tribe in Luku Wingir followed the local religion, namely Marapu. Marapu adherents worship the spirits of their ancestors, and they practiced religious rituals that are closely related to nature. For example, there are prayer ceremonies in the forest, near the springs and near old trees to respect their ancestors and nature. Even though this ritual has now disappeared, people still have a close spiritual relationship with nature, and embrace values that are in harmony with nature.

Micro hydro and economic opportunities

Due to inadequate infrastructure problems, Luku Wingir is one of the villages of Sumba that has difficulty accessing energy. The community had been relying on kerosene/ oil lamps until 2015.

Life in Luku Wingir has changed when it started receiving electricity from a 26 kW micro hydro system installed in the neighboring village of Waimbidi village. The project was funded by the regional government budget. In the construction and development process, both Waimbidi and Luku Wingir communities were directly involved. They were both also provided with training for maintenance. Thus, there is a sense of shared responsibility among the two villages to maintain the micro hydro. For instance, during a flood the two communities worked together to rehabilitate the micro hydro plant.

Women were not involved in the construction phase nor the regular maintenance of the micro hydro. Women are more actively involved in the utilization and operation of micro hydro. For example, in Luku Wingir’s village-owned enterprise (BUMDes), there is a women-led business unit called the energy and natural resources unit which is responsible for collecting electricity fees and directing the funds to the village cooperative. This fund will be used to cover the operational costs for technicians and micro hydro’s maintenance.

In the last four years, electricity access has been relatively stable for 24 hours. In the village itself, there are 25 households that are not yet connected to the micro hydro due to their location being far from the center of the village. Even though not all households can enjoy access to electricity evenly, the micro hydro has benefited the village economy. Households can carry out productive activities at night. In addition, the quality of education has also improved because children's learning time outside of school hours has also increased.

The impacts of climate change and how society adapts

Climate change has had a real impact on the lives of the Luku Wingir community. Corn planting that normally could be done in December, now has shifted to February or March. Moreover, because the supply of native Sumba seedlings has decreased, the farmers were forced to use seeds from outside Sumba (e.g. hybrid plants) that are not adaptive to the Sumba’s natural environment. This affects the quality of crop production, and consequently impacts farmers' income.

Climate change, however, has encouraged the community to adapt. Due to the threat of unstable food supply, households use their backyards to grow food crops for their own consumption and for sale within and outside the village. Being self-sufficient in food supplies also helps the community to thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given its location, the Luku Wingir communities have limited contact with big cities and tourists. So far it is relatively safe and trade activity remains as usual.

In addition, the traditional Sumba weaving group has been reactivated, as a new business to support income generation. Sumba weaving is still handmade in the traditional way. The dyes used are also natural dyes from leaves, roots, and fruits.

Collective community contribution. Credit: Rita Kefi

Recommendation to address challenges to the economic development

Luku Wingir is a fairly developed village compared to five other villages in the surrounding area. There are several factors driving this development. Luku Wingir benefits from its location in a sub-district village. Moreover, since it was selected as a gender-energy model village, it received attention from the government. Furthermore, it also benefits from the formation of OPD (Regional Apparatus Organization) in East Sumba and the supporting program that aims at accelerating the village's economic development.

However, there are still challenges that hamper Luku Wingir’s economic growth. In our conversation, Mrs. Trouce and Mr. Aryanto proposed a couple of recommendations to address these challenges.

Equitable and inclusive energy access
Equitable access to energy for all houses in the village is fundamental for inclusive economic growth. Not only will this ensure all families have access to electricity and clean cooking, but it will also enhance farming, agri processing and market activities.. Providing electricity to the 25 un-electrified households requires extending the distribution line of the existing micro hydro system. This would mean creating a road, which will also enhance transportation and logistics routes, opening additional market access routes.

Skills-building for agri-processing
Developing the villagers’ skills will help to increase the value of their agricultural products Luku Wingir has great economic potential that can be developed, such as processing cashew nuts, bamboo, or creative economy (such as ikat weaving for example). However, the limited skills of the community prevent the village from developing added value to the products it produces.

As a pilot village, Luku Wingir has successfully set an example of how energy access using community-based micro hydro has helped to enhance the local economy, and encouraged two villages communities to work hand-in-hand, while preserving nature and respecting the local values of gotong royong (collective actions).

While every village has its own challenges and requires a tailored solution, the best practices from the case of Luku Wingir may be adopted elsewhere, especially for neighboring villages that can mutually benefit from a micro hydro project.

Content provided by Lina Noviandari and Rita Kefi at HIVOS Southeast Asia
Composed by Cherika Hardjakusumah, with editing support the HPNET Secretariat

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EARTH VOICES: FROM SHAN STATE, MYANMAR

7/17/2020

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Our blog series Earth Voices sheds light on the connections between community-scale hydropower, indigenous-led conservation and sustainable development. Each edition highlights a different community, aiming to highlight that which makes each unique, while emphasizing a common thread – a worldview in which environmental sustainability is no new concept, but rather a reality which has underpinned community well-being and resilience for millennia. Earth Voices explores how community-scale hydropower reinforces environmental traditions by incentivizing watershed strengthening, which, in turn, enables reliable and sustainable power supply.

Cattle grazing in the Shan Highlands.

This year, we embarked upon the “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” -- a designation that reflects a dawning realization that nature-based solutions are critical to achieving a sustainable future. Needless to say, it’s been a challenging start thus far. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in agenda setting, resource flows, and action on conservation and climate. Out of necessity, the world’s attention has turned to the immediate concerns of the global health and economic crisis. Yet, the urgency of the climate emergency continues to escalate, and ecosystem restoration remains imperative to planetary health and social-ecological resilience. In fact, in addition to combating climate change, forest conservation and restoration can prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases and future pandemics.

With all this in mind, it’s evermore critical to highlight local communities and indigenous peoples who have been championing conservation and regenerative solutions for millennia. While political leaders grapple with COVID-19 recovery efforts, and international actors face funding and travel restrictions, local communities continue to push forward nature-based solutions.

For this 3rd edition of our Earth Voices feature series, we bring you one such example from Shan State, Myanmar. This edition shines a light on one village where local change-makers harness the interconnected benefits of watershed restoration and community-scale hydropower. Read on, to learn how eco-restoration supports reliable power supply and cultural resilience, and to gain a glimpse into the vision and journey of an inspiring community mobilizer.

Please note: Following the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, this article has been updated to protect the safety of HPNET's local partners, with names and specifics removed.

Myanmar’s locally-grown off-grid energy sector

Ethnic conflict and political strife have affected Myanmar for many decades, and the country only recently opened up after a half-century of Military rule. This context has posed various challenges for Myanmar’s energy sector. Decentralization has been ineffective in practice, meaning that region and state governments have little or no control over energy policies, plans and budgets. Additionally, areas controlled by armed groups are present in many regions and sometimes have their own infrastructure. Corruption and foreign export of generated energy further complicate matters and impede progress within the sector. [Hivos Myanmar 2019]

Despite these challenges and conflicts, Myanmar has a long history of locally developed, small-scale renewable energy technology, which has proven its efficacy over the past 30 years. To date, more than 6,000 small-scale hydro systems and 10,000 biomass gasifiers have been implemented by local developers, without donor support, foreign technology or enabling policy. Solar power has also emerged in more recent years, supporting agricultural end uses, with significant benefits for rural farmers across the country. These clean, low-cost energy solutions are attributed to a thriving community of grassroots entrepreneurs, whose resourcefulness has brought transformative impacts to thousands of rural communities.

This video provides a glimpse of Myanmar’s indigenous community hydro sector, featuring the pico hydro systems discussed in this blog post and 3 other community-scale hydro systems.

The region and people

The village is located in an ethnic self-administered zone, in the picturesque Shan Highlands. The region is home to a government-recognized ethnic group in Myanmar, who have a long history in Shan State. The people have their own language and practice Theravada Buddhism. Their unique culture is hinted in legends such as the Prince Kummabhaya, whose bow and arrow rescued seven princesses trapped in the caves by a giant spider.

In addition to being rich in culture, the region is rich in environmental resources and fertile land. A productive and profitable agriculture sector provides a key source of income, supporting local livelihoods in rural communities. International organizations such as USAID, Winrock International and GIZ have invested extensively in agri value chains in the area, particularly in tea-leaf and coffee production. Today, the region's coffee is sold in Seattle and elsewhere around the world.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, local producers have seen a significant drop in the selling price of tea-leaf and other crops, such as fruits. This has negatively impacted the local economy, however some are less severely impacted than others, in that they aren’t as dependent on external markets.

Rice paddy in Shan state.

Green paddy nursery and strawberry field in Shan State.

Environment, conflict and resistance

The region’s fertile land has also supported poppy plantations – the plant from which opium derives – fueling long-standing conflicts. Poppy plantations existed in the region until the late 1960s to early 1970s, at which point a UNDP initiative substituted the plantations with tea-leaf growing. Major townships of have since eradicated poppy growing, however it persists in other areas within Shan State. Some armed ethnic groups still exist in these areas and conflicts between the military and community groups persist in this ‘triangle’ linking eastern, southern and northern Shan.

That said, the ethnic people of the region strive to maintain peace in the region. Residents have heard that the military has plans to establish a base camp in a watershed area in the region, but the local communities don’t accept military entering the area.

Other challenges also persist in the region, stemming from natural resources. For instance, the area has attracted mining and widespread logging, with devastating consequences for local communities and ecosystems. Mining has negatively impacted watershed ecosystems, while deforestation has resulted in frequent landslides and increasing water scarcity in summer months. However, local communities continue to resist natural resource exploitation on their lands. For instance, steadfast local resistance prevented a mining company from establishing itself in a village with an important watershed, which provides drinking water to 20 nearby villages. Across the region, the people continue to work to build back what has been lost, applying indigenous knowledge, innovation and determination to restore and conserve local ecosystems.

Landslide resulting from deforestation. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).

Deforestation has affected much of the region.

Eco-restoration, land stewardship and hydropower

In 2000, the government mandated a Forest Conservation Department to lead conservation efforts in the area. However, local communities assert that the department is corrupted by profit motives and is ineffective, with limited human resources. According to local conservation leaders, “only bamboo remains in the government’s forest conservation area”; this is juxtaposed against thriving forest ecosystems that are stewarded by local communities, as per traditional knowledge.

It is the ethnic people themselves who continue to conserve the primary forests, as they have always done, and who endeavor to restore ecosystems that have been degraded by logging and extractive industries. The communities carry an intricate understanding of local ecological systems, and the environment is very much intertwined with their culture and beliefs. In one area, there are, in fact, plans in the works for a “forest conservation festival”, carrying religious significance, connected with Buddha’s teachings around living in harmony with nature.

The establishment of pico and micro hydropower has further strengthened pre-existing environmental stewardship practices among the ethnic people. Small-scale hydro systems have been developed in at least 15 villages, bringing extra incentive to protect the forest, since watersheds provide the perennial source of their electricity. As such, community-scale hydro has become intertwined with reforestation and conservation efforts across the region.

Local animal populations benefit from community-led resource management. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).

50 kW micro hydro system. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).

People-powered pico hydro

One village provides a bottom-up example of an integrated approach to forest conservation and small-scale hydropower – in this case, largely attributed to the vision of one dedicated community mobilizer. [The name of the village is purposely not being provided to protect the safety of the community after the Feb. 2021 coup, which has resulted in a civil war affecting the region.]

After seeing the wide-reaching benefits brought by community-scale hydro in other villages, the community leader was inspired to bring energy access to his own community through similar means. He learned the required technical skills from experienced local energy entrepreneurs, which he put to use in his small village, toward a vision of ecologically sustainable and reliable energy provision.

Working together with other community members, he led the installation of seven pico hydro systems between 2000 and 2015. Six systems are currently in use, ranging from 1.5-5 kW capacity per system, with a total capacity of 17 kW. Two of the six systems are in the same location but use different transmission/distribution lines. While all of these projects are pico hydro projects, he has also supported the development of a cluster of four community-owned micro hydro projects in the same sub-region.

Today, approximately 150 households are connected to the carefully planned pico hydro systems, out of the 167 households that make up the village. Solar home systems provide lighting for some of the other households, and some families use both pico hydro and solar electricity. Additionally, the local school, temple and monastery are provided with free electricity from the pico hydro systems.

Bathing spot connected with the pico hydro.

Repairing pico hydro turbine. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).

Current and future benefits

The pico hydro systems have brought multifold benefits for community development. For instance, lighting enables students to study at night and extends the hours at which classes can be taught, with known benefits for learning outcomes. Moreover, the ability to power cell phones, televisions and radios provides access to vital information and communication channels – the importance of which is increasingly evident, as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold. Soon the village will also trial electric cooking options, to reduce deforestation linked with collection of fuelwood.

Although the government's central grid has reached nearby towns, the village has not received the central grid. The village would have to raise funds for the final transmission and distribution lines. In addition, there is little certainty about the reliability of the central grid. As such, the pico hydro continues to remain a vital community asset, providing multiple benefits to each household at affordable cost.

Integrating conservation and energy access

The community has seen the direct impact of deforestation on the river, with water scarcity noticeably worsening from one summer to the next. There is a critical need to restore the watershed ecosystem, to preserve the water source – not only for drinking water, food security, and irrigation, but also to safeguard the community’s electricity supply. With a keen understanding of the linkages between the forest watershed, water and energy, the community was mobilized to leverage the interconnected benefits of pico hydropower and ecosystem restoration.

In the video linked above (People Power in Myanmar), elders observe how deforestation was gradually drying up the river; the community therefore plants trees and protects the watershed ecosystem, in order to ensure consistent and sufficient water levels and flow rates, for reliable energy access.

They explain how the community cultivates and consumes forest products in a sustainable way. For instance, the community has a collectively agreed upon protocol for timber extraction, wherein two trees must be replanted for every one tree that’s cut down.

“Without water, there is not light – we cannot produce electricity. Only if we conserve the forest, we can retain water. So we really need to conserve our forest.” – Elder and conservationist in Shan State

While the community leader certainly stands out as an inspiring conservation and micro hydro advocate, his efforts are not carried out in isolation, nor are the actions of his community. Communities all across the region have self-mobilized to safeguard their natural resources, and collaborate on large-scale, organized resource mapping and participatory research initiatives. For instance, in 2018, the Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEENet) held a gathering as part of a participatory research project, called the "Community-Owned Integrated Pan Long River Mountain Watershed Management". Many villages came together to collaborate on a Community Sustainable Environmental Assessment, mapping the forest, water and energy resources of the upper, middle and downstream communities along the Pan Long River. The communities continue to carry out environmental monitoring and work together to sustainably steward their ancestral lands in the face of present-day challenges.

Community Sustainable Environmental Assessment workshop. Credit: MEENet (Myanmar Team).

Bamboo pico hydro turbine. Credit: A. Khomsah et al. 2019.

Opportunities for locally-rooted, pro-environment pico hydropower

Among small-scale hydropower technologies, pico hydro (< 5 kW) tends to receive less attention and support, particularly as the cost of solar home lighting systems becomes competitive. Yet, we have examples to see the vast potential that pico hydro presents as a local, low-cost, high-impact solution.

A key advantage of pico hydropower is its low cost to sustain, long-term. Up-front costs are minimal, with little civil construction required, and there are no or few recurring costs, since there are no batteries to replace, nor complex technology. Moreover, pico hydro is easy to design, install and maintain, and doesn’t require formal education or training. Nearly all of the components can be fabricated or procured locally. When repairs are required, the simplicity of the system allows the community to be creative in using locally available material to rehabilitate the system.

In addition to its affordability, pico hydro is often favoured by rural practitioners due to its complementarity with environmental values and priorities. When integrated with watershed strengthening, pico hydro brings intersectional benefits for social-ecological well-being and resilience. In Myanmar and other countries across the region, we have seen indigenous practitioners consistently prioritize healthy watersheds, ensuring reliable energy supply, as well as sustainable community development.

Moreover, with appropriate load management, pico hydro systems can power more than household lighting loads. They can be used to power village-scale grain mills and other small machines to reduce physical drudgery and set up local enterprise.

Examples of successful, locally developed pico hydro can be seen all over the world. For instance, in addition to Myanmar, pico hydro also has had a long history in Laos, Vietnam, and India,. There continue to be unelectrified regions with untapped pico hydro potential. With support from WISIONS, HPNET members have collaborated through knowledge exchange activities, to continue advancing pico hydro throughout South and Southeast Asia.

Moving forward

As we navigate a path toward sustainable development and environmental resilience, it is clear that much can be learned from pico hydro, and the locally-rooted practitioners who have championed it across the global South. Moving forward into the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, let us uplift, and learn from indigenous communities, such as in Shan State, Myanmar, that are advancing nature-based solutions for the benefit of their people and our collective future.

Composed by Lara Powell, HPNET Communications Coordinator
With content from HPNET members in Myanmar and the HPNET Manager, Dipti Vaghela

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EARTH VOICES: FT. KAMPUNG BUAYAN, AN INDIGENOUS MICRO HYDRO COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

12/27/2019

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Last quarter we launched our new feature series, Earth Voices, to put a spotlight on indigenous micro hydro communities who are sustainably managing communal resources and successfully empowering themselves through energy access.

This quarter, we chose to feature the community of Kampung Buayan, a remote village located in the Ulu Papar region of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo.

[See Malay translation below; Lihat terjemahan Bahasa Melayu di bawah.]

Buayan is the ancestral home of the Dusun, an Orang Asal tribe who have inhabited the area for at least 6 generations. (“Orang Asal” is Malay for “Original People” and is used to refer to Indigenous peoples.)

Tucked away in the rainforest within Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, Buayan is a long and bumpy drive from the nearest town. The journey into Ulu Papar is most challenging at this time of year, during monsoon season, when muddy potholes impede even the most powerful 4-wheel-drive. However, the potentially stress-inducing ride on a washed out road leads to a tranquil haven. Visitors are consistently awed by the natural beauty surrounding Buayan, and by the hospitable and vibrant community who call this place their home.

Buayan is made all the more special by its strong and charismatic leader, Irene, who became the first female Village Head in Ulu Papar in 2018.

Sunset over Papar River. Source: M. Rock

The Role of the River

Buayan sits on the Papar River, which plays a critical role in the rainforest ecosystem, as well as in the lives of Orang Asal communities in the area. The river, and the mangrove palms that line its shores, support rich biodiversity within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is home to various endangered species. The river provides freshwater fish and water for irrigation for the farming communities of Ulu Papar. The river also provides communities with electricity, through locally-developed micro hydropower energy systems.

Since 2004, numerous hydropower microgrids and minigrids have been implemented in Ulu Papar through partnerships between local organizations and community leaders. The indigenous-lead organization TONIBUNG (or “Friends of Village Development”) has been a key player in implementing community-based systems in 7 villages in Ulu Papar, working closely with the local communities in planning, construction and maintenance.

In 2009, a 10kW MHP was commissioned in Buayan, which provided the village with power for 10 years. Earlier this year, TONIBUNG commissioned a new, upgraded MHP which now provides power to both Buayan and the neighbouring village of Kampung Tiku.

Children of Kg Buayan and Kg Tiku. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)

Powering Enterprise

The implementation of the MHP has had far-reaching impacts on life in Buayan. Energy access has impacted day-to-day activities within the household, education system and local livelihoods. It has powered income-generating activities; for instance, the MHP spurred the development of homestays, which have brought in revenue from volunteer/tour groups and hikers trekking along the Salt Trail that runs through Ulu Papar. Currently, a group of Buayan youth are in the process of establishing an ecotourism “glamping” business, after participating in a year-long program on community-based, sustainability-focused entrepreneurship, run by Energy Action Partners.

Tagal Sungai

Beyond improving livelihoods and generating jobs, the MHP has had a positive environmental impact, as it has incentivized the community to protect their watershed. With support from Green Empowerment, the community established Tagal Sungai -- a set of community protocols around the community’s interaction with the river and catchment area. These protocols include rules of use and entry; for instance, regulations (and associated repercussions) around who is allowed to harvest forest products in the area, which species are/aren’t allowed to be harvested, etc.

Tagal Sungai was formally recorded and established in Buayan in connection with the MHP. However, these protocols build upon traditional knowledge and conservation practices that have been observed for generations in Ulu Papar.

Visitors hiking through Kampung Buayan. Source: M. Rock

“Damn the Dam”

The community safeguards the local environment in various ways; in addition to observing conservation protocols among themselves, the people of Ulu Papar have fought to protect their land from the threat of resource development and large-scale infrastructure projects.

In 2009, the Sabah State Government announced plans to build the Kaiduan Dam (since renamed the Papar Dam). This mega-dam project would flood the Ulu Papar valley and forcibly relocate the communities living there. 9 villages would be affected, accounting for more than 1000 people. For 10 years, the people of Ulu Papar have fought tirelessly to stop the mega-dam and save their home from destruction. A key player has been the Taskforce against Kaiduan/Papar Dam (TAKaD), a grassroots action group formed by communities opposed to the dam.

Earlier this year, the government reaffirmed plans to proceed, backtracking after having previously cancelled the project. Yet, the people of Ulu Papar are determined to never surrender in what has become a long and arduous fight to protect their home.

Local activists protesting Papar Dam. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)

Moving Toward Environmental Justice

Buayan is a unique place in many ways. However the community’s fight against the threat of a mega-dam and displacement is, sadly, all too common. In the context of a global climate emergency, it is now more critical than ever to advocate for environmental justice, and for the rights of those who safeguard their local ecosystems.

Community gathering to advocate against Papar Dam. Source: Save Ulu Papar (https://www.facebook.com/SaveUluPapar/)

Further Reading + Sign the Petition!

-- Versi Bahasa Melayu --

Kampung Buayan adalah sebuah kampung terpencil yang terletak di kawasan Ulu Papar di negeri Sabah, Pulau Borneo, Malaysia. Kampung ini merupakan warisan pusaka orang Dusun, iaitu sebuah suku Orang Asal yang telah mendiami kawasan tersebut selama sekurang-kurangnya 6 generasi. ("Orang Asal" adalah perkataan Bahasa Melayu untuk "Original People" dan merujuk kepada Orang “indigenous”.)

Terletak di dalam Rizab Biosfera Banjaran Crocker, perjalanan ke Kampung Buayan dari bandar terdekat mengambil masa yang lama dan penuh dengan lekak-lekuk. Perjalanan ke Ulu Papar adalah paling mencabar menjelang tibanya musim tengkujuh, apabila jalan yang penuh dengan lubang berlumpur menjadi halangan yang hebat, bahkan untuk kereta pacuan 4 roda yang paling berkuasa. Namun begitu, perjalanan meredah jalan-jalan yang rosak dan yang mampu mencabar jiwa itu berakhir dengan sapaan sebuah persekitaran yang tenang. Para pengunjung selalu terpegun dengan keindahan semulajadi di sekitar Kampung Buayan, serta sebuah komuniti yang penuh ramah dan tamah yang telah menyulami kehidupan mereka dengan alam sekitar.

Buayan dibuat lebih istimewa oleh pemimpinnya yang kuat dan berkarisma, Irene, yang menjadi Kepala Desa perempuan pertama di Ulu Papar di 2018.

Perenan Sungai
Kampung Buayan terletak di Sungai Papar, sebatang sungai yang memainkan peranan penting dalam ekosistem hutan hujan serta kehidupan masyarakat Orang Asal di kawasan itu. Sungai ini, dan pokok-pokok bakau yang tumbuh di tepi sungai, menyokong biodiversiti yang kaya di dalam Rizab Biosfera UNESCO yang juga merupakan sebuah habitat untuk pelbagai spesis terancam. Sungai ini membekalkan ikan air tawar dan air untuk tujuan pengairan bagi komuniti pertanian di Ulu Papar. Sungai ini juga membekalkan komuniti tersebut dengan tenaga elektrik melalui sebuah sistem tenaga hidro mikro yang telah dibangunkan oleh penduduk tempatan.

Sejak tahun 2004, banyak sistem mikro hidro telah dilaksanakan di Ulu Papar melalui perkongsian yang terjalin antara organisasi-organisasi tempatan dan ketua-ketua masyarakat. Sebuah organisasi yang diketuai oleh Orang Asal, iaitu TONIBUNG (atau "Kawan Pembangunan Desa"), telah memainkan peranan utama dalam pelaksanaan sistem berasaskan komuniti di 7 buah kampung di Ulu Papar, dengan kerjasama yang rapat dengan masyarakat setempat dalam hal perancangan, pembinaan dan penyelenggaraan.

Pada tahun 2009, sebuah MHP (tenaga hidro mikro) 10kW telah dilaksanakan di Kampung Buayan, dan telah membekalkan kampung tersebut dengan kuasa selama 10 tahun. Awal tahun ini, TONIBUNG telah melaksanakan sebuah MHP baharu yang telah dinaiktaraf dan kini membekal kuasa kepada Kampung Buayan dan Kampung Tiku yang berdekatan.

Kesan MHP
Pelaksanaan MHP mempunyai kesan yang meluas terhadap kehidupan di Kampung Buayan. Akses tenaga telah memberi kesan terhadap kegiatan seharian di dalam rumah, sistem pendidikan dan punca pendapatan tempatan. Akses tenaga telah membekalkan kuasa untuk aktiviti-aktiviti yang menjana pendapatan; sebagai contoh, MHP tersebut telah merangsang pembangunan homestay, lantas menjanakan pendapatan hasil daripada kumpulan sukarelawan / pelancongan dan para pengembara di trek sepanjang Salt Trail yang melalui Ulu Papar. Pada masa ini, sekumpulan belia dari Kampung Buayan sedang berada dalam proses menubuhkan sebuah perniagaan "glamping" ekopelancongan, setelah mengambil bahagian dalam sebuah program sepanjang tahun berkenaan keusahawanan berasaskan komuniti dan bertumpukan kelestarian yang telah diadakan oleh Energy Action Partners.

Tagal Sungai
Selain meningkatkan kehidupan dan menjana pekerjaan, MHP mempunyai kesan alam sekitar yang positif, kerana MHP telah memberi insentif kepada komuniti untuk melindungi kawasan tadahan air mereka. Dengan sokongan daripada Green Empowerment, komuniti tersebut telah menubuhkan sistem Tagal Sungai - sebuah set protokol komuniti berkenaan interaksi komuniti dengan kawasan sungai dan tadahan air. Protokol-protokol ini merangkumi peraturan-peraturan tentang penggunaan dan kemasukan; contohnya peraturan-peraturan (dan akibat-akibat yang berkaitan) tentang siapa yang dibenarkan untuk menuai hasil hutan di kawasan tersebut, spesies yang boleh / tidak boleh diburu, dll.

Tagal Sungai telah direkod dan dan ditubuhkan secara rasmi di Kampung Buayan berhubungan dengan MHP. Namun begitu, protokol-protokol ini dibina di atas asas ilmu dan amalan pemuliharaan tradisional yang telah diamalkan untuk bergenerasi lamanya di Ulu Papar.

"Damn the Dam"
Komuniti ini menjaga alam sekitar setempat dengan pelbagai cara; selain daripada mengamalkan protokol pemuliharaan di kalangan mereka, penduduk Ulu Papar telah berjuang untuk melindungi tanah mereka daripada ancaman pembangunan sumber dan projek-projek infrastruktur berskala besar.

Pada tahun 2009, Kerajaan Negeri Sabah telah mengumumkan rancangan untuk membina Empangan Kaiduan (yang telah dinamakan semula sebagai Empangan Papar). Projek empangan mega ini akan membanjiri lembah Ulu Papar dan memindahkan penduduk komuniti secara paksa. 9 buah kampung akan terjejas dan melibatkan lebih daripada 1000 orang. Selama 10 tahun, penduduk Ulu Papar telah berjuang tanpa henti untuk menghentikan empangan mega dan menyelamatkan tempat tinggal mereka daripada kemusnahan. Pihak utama dalam usaha ini adalah Pasukan Petugas Menentang Empangan Kaiduan / Papar (TAKaD), sebuah kumpulan tindakan akar umbi yang dibentuk oleh komuniti-komuniti yang menentang empangan tersebut.

Awal tahun ini, pihak kerajaan telah mengesahkan rancangan untuk meneruskan rancangan tersebut, lantas menarik balik janji mereka setelah membatalkan projek ini sebelumnya. Namun begitu, penduduk Ulu Papar bertekad untuk tidak pernah menyerah diri meskipun terikat dalam sebuah perjuangan yang panjang dan sukar untuk melindungi tempat tinggal mereka.

Bergerak Ke Arah Keadilan Alam Sekitar
Kampung Buayan adalah sebuah tempat yang unik dalam pelbagai cara. Namun begitu, perjuangan komuniti ini menentang ancaman empangan mega dan ketersingkiran, malangnya, merupakan sebuah perkara yang terlalu lazim berlaku. Dalam konteks kecemasan iklim global, kini merupakan masa yang lebih genting berbanding sebelum ini untuk menyokong keadilan alam sekitar, dan untuk hak-hak insan yang melindungi ekosistem tempatan mereka.

Written by HPNET Communications Coordinator, Lara Powell, with input from Kampung Buayan Village Head, Irene Tani Kodoyou. Translation by Sonia Luhong.

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EARTH VOICES: FROM TUBO, AN INDIGENOUS MICRO HYDRO COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

9/27/2019

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We are excited to announce the launch of our new Earth Voices feature series!

UN logo for International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Credit: UN

To commemorate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this quarter, marked annually on August 9 by the United Nations, we are introducing Earth Voices to spotlight indigenous micro hydropower (MH) communities across the region who are sustainably managing communal natural resources and successfully empowering themselves through energy access.

Indigenous communities of South and Southeast Asia are highly diverse, with unique traditions, languages, religious/spiritual beliefs and social structures. One commonality is the link between environmental conservation and indigenous heritage. Indigenous communities play a vital role in safeguarding the region’s rich biodiversity and forest ecosystems. They are often deeply reliant on ecosystem services, and carry an intricate understanding of local ecological relationships.

Due to traditional knowledge and customs around natural resource management, indigenous communities are uniquely positioned to effectively manage community-based energy systems, such as micro hydropower projects. In turn, MH has the potential to strengthen traditional environmental practices and social cohesion, thereby improving the resilience of indigenous communities.

TUBO VILLAGE

To kickstart the series, we are featuring the indigenous community of Tubo, located in Barangai Kili of the Abra Province in the Philippines. We had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Jade Angngalao of SIBAT, who works closely with the community of Tubo. Jade shed light on the community’s unique governance structures and environmental customs, which have been strengthened with the implementation of a community-based MH system -- which in turn has supported Tubo in building climate resilience.

COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE IN TUBO

Tubo is a municipality located in the mountainous Barangai Kili region of Abra, a Northern province of the Philippines. Residents belong to the Maeng tribe and speak the Maeng dialect. The local population is Catholic, but also uphold traditional indigenous rituals and beliefs; spirituality is an important part of everyday life in the community.

Central to Tubo’s governance structure is a Council of Elders, whose opinions are highly respected in the community. The Council is made up of both men and women elders, who play an equal role in decision-making and drafting policies. Municipal elections are held in Tubo, but for mostly perfunctory purposes, as the Council of Elders appoint leaders prior to official elections. The Council also has leverage over the local government, and has successfully influenced local representatives to implement social services, such as government-funded health care, in Tubo.

Tadok, gong celebration of the Maeng tribe, conducted after the burial of a family member so that "the spirit can leave her/his family happily". Credit: B. Bacala

THE ROLE OF NATURE

Nature is deeply embedded in the Maeng’s traditional beliefs, and plays a significant role in everyday life. Agriculture is the community’s main source of livelihood, and is linked to many local customs, beliefs and festivities; for instance, harvest rituals are important within Maeng culture.

Barangai Kili region of Abra. Credit: Google Maps

Spiritual beliefs about the natural world have been passed down through generations, and the Maeng’s interactions with the local ecosystem are informed by deep-rooted conservationist ontologies. The community upholds strong customary laws around watershed management; locally referred to as the ‘Lapat System’, these customary laws have, in fact, been institutionalized as government policy in Barangai Kili.

MICRO HYDRO AND RAM PUMP SUCCESS STORY

Tubo’s microhydro system was installed 12 years ago, jointly funded by a missionary group and and the municipal government. The system has a capacity of 15 kW and provides power to 78 households. SIBAT's Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATech) also supported the installation of a hydrualic ram pump to irrigate 10 hectares of rice fields, manufactured at CREATech.

SIBAT considers Tubo to be an “advanced” MH community because local actors have developed successful methods for sustainably operating and managing the system. A key factor in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the MHP has been the efforts of the Council of Elders to mobilize local youth to participate in the implementation and maintenance of the system.

Credit: B. Bacala

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & SELF-EMPOWERMENT

Five years ago, a hot spring resort was established in Tubo by a local people’s organisation, with the approval of the community, Council of Elders and the Barangay Local Government Unit. Led by the Kili Hydro Electric Power Association (KHEPA), the community wants to build new cottages for the resort to meet increasing demand, as well as extend the power from the MHP to two un-electrified sitios.

Tubo hot springs vicinity. Credit. B. Bacala

Eco-tourism facility in Tubo. Credit: B. Bacala

Tourist vicinity of Tubo village. Credit: B. Bacala

Together with profits from the resort, the MH has generated enough revenue through tariffs to support the expansion of the system. Thus, with the collected tariffs and some minor support from the municipal government, the community is currently expanding their MHP into a cascading system. A second powerhouse will be implemented upstream (such that the tailwater from the turbine goes to the old forebay), adding an additional 15 kW of capacity. This expansion has the potential to support other productive end use activities, in addition to the resort; sugar cane processing is being considered as potential MHP-powered enterprise.

PRESERVING CULTURE & STRENGTHENING CLIMATE RESILIENCE

The people of Tubo have maximized the positive social and economic impact of their energy system; moreover, they have developed a sustainable management model which has ensured its long-term viability. The community’s strong governance structures and environmental stewardship practices have played a critical role in supporting the success and sustainability of the system.

A member of the Council of Elders aptly stated that “the true heart of the energy system lies in the watershed”.

Typical start to a SIBAT field visit for micro hydro implementation: Meeting community leaders and local officials to discuss the purpose of the visit. Credit: B. Bacala

Indeed, watershed management plays a highly important role in MHP sustainability. Tubo’s strong customary laws around watershed management have therefore proven very valuable for the management of their system. Moreover, by incentivizing watershed protection and management, the MHP has, in turn, strengthened traditional customary laws and environmental stewardship practices.

J. Angngalao and Tubo youth show off their catch. Credit. B. Bacala

Customary laws for watershed protection (the 'Lapat System') exist all across the Philippines, but are not always practiced. By strengthening customary laws, community-based MH is helping to build climate resilience in rural, indigenous communities across the region.

The implementation of MH has also increased social cohesion and strengthened traditional tribal boundaries in Barangai Kili. This is significant, considering the increasing regularity of resource-based conflicts, caused by food insecurity. By reinforcing customary boundaries and laws, MH has helped to mitigate the threat of invasion from neighboring communities into the watershed area. Of course, by supporting watershed strengthening, MH also plays an important role in safeguarding increasingly scarce water resources, thereby building climate resilience and food security.

Jade explains of the photo (left), "The fish that I hold are the fresh catch from that river. The river is rich of fish since Tubo is following the Lapat system."

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MICRO HYDRO AND LARGE HYDRO

By enhancing social cohesion and incentivizing watershed strengthening, the impact of small-scale hydro is quite the opposite of large hydro. The community of Tubo is working to preserve their MHP, and its many social and environmental benefits, resisting external plans to implement a large hydro dam. Large hydropower and other large energy infrastructure often displaces indigenous communities. In Tubo, policies around customary watershed protection laws have so far mitigated the threat of resource development -- from both large hydro and geothermal.

In addition to SIBAT's work on renewable energy, support is also expected to come from a newly established organization called RESILIENCE, founded by Ms. Victoria Lopez, retired executive director of SIBAT. The main goal of RESILIENCE is to build climate resilience in indigenous communities by strengthening the Lapat.

Written by Lara Powell, HPNET Communications Coordinator

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the flow

KICK-OFF SESSION: CLIMATE RESILIENT SOLUTIONS TO HYDRO MINI-GRIDS

EARTH VOICES: FROM KALASH, PAKISTAN

EARTH VOICES: FROM LUKU WINGIR, INDONESIA

EARTH VOICES: FROM SHAN STATE, MYANMAR

EARTH VOICES: FT. KAMPUNG BUAYAN, AN INDIGENOUS MICRO HYDRO COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO

EARTH VOICES: FROM TUBO, AN INDIGENOUS MICRO HYDRO COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

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