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the flow

CAMBODIA DIALOGUE: TOWARD A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION IN ASEAN

2/9/2023

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From October 3-4, 2022 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a regional multi-stakeholder dialogue “Toward Just Energy Transition in ASEAN”, was organized by Oxfam Cambodia, Australian Aid, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia and Energy Lab Cambodia.  The event aimed to facilitate dialogue on ensuring justice and equity for vulnerable communities within the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in the region.  The dialogue furthermore sought to solicit input for and finalize a policy brief to promote equity and justice within ASEAN energy policy development, ahead of the 2022 ASEAN Summit.  

Mr. Tarek Ketelsen, Director General of the Australia Mekong Partnership for Environmental Resources and Energy Systems (AMPERES) and a member of HPNET, supported the design of the event.  The HPNET Secretariat was invited to take part and facilitated the participation of HPNET members Ms. Nalori Chakma, Advocacy Officer at the Right Energy Partnership (REP) and Ms. Jade Angngalao, Area Coordinator at the Department of Social Welfare and Development through PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA), who has supported micro hydro efforts in her community and other Kalinga communities in the Philippines.

During the two-day dialogue, speakers shared various perspectives and insights regarding the regional context of the energy transition, its challenges, and potential opportunities, with an emphasis on social justice and inclusion.   
Policy Objectives

Civil society and academic stakeholders from across the ASEAN region provided inputs during the workshop which contributed to the development of a policy brief intended to inform policy development relating to ASEAN’s commitment to net zero emissions. Chiefly, the policy brief presents a path forward to ensure the achievement of a socially equitable energy transition in the ASEAN region. The policy brief was subsequently presented by an Oxfam member during the ASEAN Summit which took place in Phnom Penh in November, and will be disseminated at other ASEAN gatherings and events where different government leaders and stakeholders are present.

A Spotlight on Social Equity for a Just Transition

In an insightful op-ed published by Oxfam Cambodia following the regional dialogue, the author emphasizes that, “with its principle of cooperation and mutual benefit, ASEAN could become a global leader by promoting a just energy transition that does not compound existing inequalities and leaves no one behind”.
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This risk of compounding existing inequalities was addressed by several participants at the regional dialogue, including Ms. Chakma of REP, who flagged a threat around land grabbing that has been linked to mining for lithium-ion batteries for solar PV electricity in parts of India and the United States.  As governments ramp up production of lithium to meet clean energy goals, REP emphasizes the need to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as elevate alternative clean energy technologies like small-scale hydropower, which has been increasingly sidelined as solar PV has taken centre stage.   

In addition, a key element of the dialogue was the potential – and ethical imperative – to dovetail the rollout of clean energy infrastructure with rural electrification through an approach that empowers marginalized communities.  Ms. Angangalo highlighted that Indigenous and local communities have long been leaders in this field, leveraging renewable energy within community-based efforts to facilitate energy access.  It is critical that ‘last mile’ communities are centered in the ASEAN clean energy transition, and SDG 7 is prioritized within pathways to ‘net zero’.

The dialogue thus underscored the opportunity to elevate decentralized renewable energy (DRE) as a key component of a just transition.  Participants brought forth a number of policy solutions to advance this aim.  For instance, Ms. Chakma of REP suggested subsidies and soft loans to communities, and support directed to productive-end-use to help sustain DRE systems.  She and others, including Mr. Ketelsen of AMPERES, also noted that as countries develop policies to support grid interconnection of DRE, a key part of a just transition is ensuring that communities in ASEAN have the opportunity to generate income from selling electricity to the grid. (To learn more on this topic, see HPNET’s Grid Interconnection Work Stream).  
Community Hydropower as a Uniquely Appropriate Technology
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Community-scale hydropower became a focal point of several discussions, largely thanks to presentations and inputs by the HPNET members.  During the Roundtable discussions, participants discussed several ways in which community hydro is uniquely well positioned for advancing a just, clean energy transition in the region.  

  • Ms. Angngalao delivered a presentation on community-based renewable energy systems andIndigenous Peoples in the Philippines and introduced HPNET’s knowledge exchange and advocacy initiatives.  The presentation highlighted how community hydro is collectively built and operated, and generates a wide range of socio-economic and ecological benefits.  For instance, micro hydro can support motorized loads for agro-processing and incentivizes  sustainable watershed stewardship aligned with Indigenous governance traditions. 
  • Given said connections with environmental conservation, Ms. Chakma or REP also noted the opportunity for micro hydro communities to leverage conservation finance and carbon credits for forest management.
  • Ms. Chakma also highlighted that community-scale hydropower sidesteps the human rights and land grabbing issues arising in connection with lithium-ion batteries used for solar PV systems. (Notably, a clear distinction was drawn between small-scale (< 1MW) versus large scale hydropower dams, the latter of which have long been associated with land grabbing and ecological harm, though sometimes promoted as “clean energy”.) 
  • Mr. Ketelsen of AMPERES imparted some of the best practices and opportunities observed in Myanmar, a country with a long-established, locally-rooted DRE sector where over 6,000 small-scale hydropower systems have been installed by local developers, largely without donor support or foreign technology.  Mr. Ketelsen observed that that micro hydro is a particularly well-suited technology for enabling more inclusive, community-owned and -distributed systems, due to unique governance and scale aspects.

The great value-add of community hydro was well-noted by other participants who expressed interest in intra-regional exposure visits to share knowledge and build awareness of micro hydro amongst ASEAN energy access practitioners and proponents – in line with HPNET’s approach to peer-to-peer exchange and knowledge exchange.

This article was developed by Ms. Lara Powell (HPNET Secretariat) with inputs from Ms. Jade Angangalo (PAMANA), Ms. Nalori Chakma (REP), Mr. Tarek Ketelsen (AMPERES), Ms. Kaneka Keo (Oxfam), and Dipti Vaghela (HPNET Secretariat).
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TONIBUNG: 2022 HIGHLIGHTS AND A STRONG START IN 2023

1/19/2023

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In 2022, HPNET member TONIBUNG (Friends for Village Development) continued to advance an ambitious array of initiatives to generate impact from community-based renewable energy, both at the policy level and on the ground in partnership with Indigenous communities in Malaysian Borneo.  Two key developments from 2022 are highlighted below, along with an exciting update from January 2023 regarding a first-of-its-kind international knowledge exchange event.

For more exciting updates, be sure to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ TONIBUNG’s very active facebook page.

Sabah RE2 Consortium
Since August 2021, TONIBUNG has been part of the Sabah Renewable Energy Rural Electrification Roadmap (Sabah RE2) Consortium in collaboration with Forever Sabah, Pacos Trust and Green Empowerment.  Supported by the Malaysia-UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme, the Sabah RE2 initiative aims to build momentum towards “a future of energy equity, right livelihoods, and wellbeing for rural Sabahans” by advocating for renewable energy as a viable solution for energy access in off-grid communities.  

TONIBUNG’s primary role has been to lead stakeholder training and conduct feasibility studies of potential mini-grid design concepts.  Thus far, the team has conducted feasibility studies in 57 communities for 35 potential mini-grids across Sabah, the findings of which are summarized here.


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Map displaying feasibility studies conducted by TONIBUNG for the SabahRE2 initiative, including for micro hydro, solar and solar-hydro hybrid mini-grids. Credit: SabahRE2.
The Sabah RE2 Consortium has produced a number of rich outputs, including an interactive Demand Map for unelectrified villages in Sabah and other multimedia knowledge products, which can be accessed at sabahre2roadmap.org.

Micro Hydro Training in Bandung, Indonesia

To advance knowledge exchange objectives of the Sabah RE2 initiative, Tonibung engineers and technicians traveled to Bandung, Indonesia for micro hydro development training hosted by Heska Hydro in November, 2022.  HPNET members Pak Komarudin (Protel Multi Energy) and Pak Aji Subekti (Reneconsys) facilitated training on electronic load controllers and mini-grid design fundamentals.  As part of the training, the team also visited two micro hydro sites to enhance their understanding of civil design and to learn about operations and maintenance.  The exposure visits further strengthened the participants’ understanding of the theoretical teachings from the classroom sessions at Heska Hydro.

Inter Learning Exchange on Community-Led Renewable Energy

From January 8-11, 2023, participants from Kenya, Nepal, Cambodia and the Philippines gathered in Kampung Buayan, Ulu Papar, Sabah for the Inter Learning Exchange on Community-led Renewable Energy, co-hosted by TONIBUNG and Right Energy Partnership (REP). 


Participants shared knowledge from their own in-country experiences and learned from the pioneering work of TONIBUNG on implementing community-based micro hydropower in partnership with Indigenous communities.  The participants learned how the community of Kampung Buayan operates and maintains their community hydro mini-grid through a sustainable approach, leveraging capacity building efforts by TONIBUNG and other local partners.  The guests also saw first-hand how the community hydro has generated socioeconomic opportunities, including by enabling motorized agro-processing and allowing children to study at night, among other outcomes.


We extend our thanks to TONIBUNG Founder and HPNET Board Member, Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, for his input on this blog post.  To learn more, contact TONIBUNG at tonibung@gmail.com. 

This article was developed by HPNET Thematic Coordinator, Lara Powell.

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INDIGENOUS-LED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AT 2ND ASIA PARKS CONGRESS

5/30/2022

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Indigenous peoples have a wealth of knowledge and long-proven environmental governance systems that support healthy watershed ecosystems. In turn, Indigenous-led watershed conservation can contribute toward biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and climate resilient hydro mini-grids. 

HPNET Board Member, Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, recently brought this important message to the 2nd Asia Parks Congress, which was held at the Sabah International Convention Centre from May 24-29, 2022.  Hon. Lasimbang is an Advisor for TONIBUNG and JOAS and a Board Member for the Right Energy Partnership (REP).  At the congress, Adrian presented a paper on the ways in which Indigenous-led watershed conservation contributes to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, highlighting the role of the Tagal system in watershed management, through a case study in Ulu Papar, Sabah.  Tagal refers to the watershed stewardship system/protocols of the Orang Asal Indigenous communities of Sabah. 
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Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang presenting at the 2nd Asia Parks Confress. Source: B. Lasimbang.
Read More:
  • Kickoff Session: Climate Resilient Solutions to Hydro Mini-Grids – Featuring Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang sharing perspectives on climate resilience, the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus, and Indigenous rights, traditional knowledge and stewardship protocols.
  • Earth Voices Blog: Featuring Kampung Buayan, Ulu Papar
  • TONIBUNG (friends for village development) - HPNET Member Organization
  • Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) - The Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia
  • Right Energy Partnership
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FIELD-BASED WORKSHOP IN KALINGA, PHILIPPINES

4/25/2022

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We recently launched the SEEED Accelerator to unlock the full potential of hydro mini-grid practitioners and communities.  The knowledge exchange aspect of the Accelerator incorporates E-Learning and impact-driven, customized capacity building to facilitate hydro mini-grid sustainability and optimal socio-economic benefits.  To this end, we launched the SEEED E-Learning series with support from Skat Foundation, DGRV, GIZ, and WISIONS.  So far we’ve hosted three virtual courses (with more to come) focused on community hydro fundamentals, climate resilient solutions, and agroecological benefits.  In conjunction with the virtual E-Learning courses, iwe recently supported local experts to conduct a field-based workshop in Sitio Gawaan Proper, Kalinga Province, Philippines.  ​
The workshop was designed to build the capacity of micro hydro communities to strengthen the long-term viability of their systems, while building resilience to the impacts of climate change and leveraging benefits at the nexus of water, energy, food, forests and livelihoods.  

Across the Philippines, communities are increasingly affected by stronger and more frequent typhoons and volatile weather due to climate change.  Micro hydro communities in Kalinga Province and elsewhere have seen their mini-grid infrastructure damaged by destructive storms and the reliability of their electricity source threatened by fluctuating stream flow.  The people of Kalinga Province are very keen to build climate resilient energy access through nature-based solutions, building upon long-proven Indigenous knowledge and governance systems.  As one participant noted, “our watersheds are truly connected to the life of the community hydro system, as we have seen and experienced before”.  

The workshops addressed the need for ecosystem restoration and strategies for building for climate resilience, while also building capacity to ensure long-term financial viability and agroecological benefits.  The approach of the workshop and connected E-Learning courses emphasized the need to develop integrative solutions addressing the water-energy-food-forests-livelihoods nexus.
Next Steps

Next steps include working with community leaders and appropriate local and regional experts to facilitate steps towards resolving challenges expressed by workshop participants, including:
  • Continue to unite against the development of mega dams repeatedly proposed to be built on indigneous territory but benefitting external populations
  • Demonstrate the viability of Indigenous-governed micro hydro against the sporadic and expensive central grid
  • Alleviate common pitfalls of community-scale hydropower by integrating methods for greater climate resilience and agroecological benefits.

​More broadly, the successful workshop in Kalinga has led us to reflect on possibilities for future HPNET workshops.  While E-Learning has enabled us to reach practitioners in over 40 countries this year, overcoming pandemic-related challenges, we were thrilled to also resume support for field-based capacity building with the workshop in Kalinga Province.  We see much potential for further hybrid formats going forward. 


Learn More

To learn more about community hydro in Kalinga, check out StreamSide Chats Edition 4, in which we take a virtual tour of the Balbalasang micro hydro project and discuss the Indigenous governance systems that support its success. 

You can also check out the SEEED E-Learning platform to explore course offerings and read more about the SEEED Approach.
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KICK-OFF SESSION: CLIMATE RESILIENT SOLUTIONS TO HYDRO MINI-GRIDS

4/1/2022

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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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WATCH:  STREAMSIDE CHATS - EDITION 4, SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE IN KALINGA, PHILIPPINES

12/16/2021

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We are delighted to present the fourth edition of our video podcast series, StreamSide Chats!  The podcast features deep-dive conversations with grassroots innovators and international experts of small-scale hydropower, offering insights from the ground, framed within multi-thematic analysis. 
​In this edition, we take a closer look at social and environmental aspects of community hydro, discussing small-scale hydropower from the perspective of Indigenous communities.  Through the case of a cluster of 12 micro hydro projects in Kalinga Province, Philippines, we explore important connections between community-scale hydro, Indigenous rights and livelihoods, and environmental stewardship. 
We had the privilege to speak with Ms. Jade Angngalao, Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Program at SIBAT.  Jade has worked with micro hydro communities for eleven years, focusing on various technical, social, and environmental aspects.  We learn from Jade how micro hydro is supporting socio-environmental resilience in Kalinga, bolstered by long-standing, robust self-governance structures and traditional ecological knowledge.  Don’t miss this chat, featuring a “streamside” tour of the Balbalasang micro hydro system and community! 

PART A: ​
In Part A, Jade reflects on her experience growing up with micro hydro and shares about the ways in which her social and cultural context influenced her view of ‘development’.  We learn how projects are developed and managed by Indigenous communities in Kalinga province, and discuss how local governance structures and traditional environmental protocols support sustainable energy access, climate resilience, and community development.  Jade shares about key challenges and future priorities, highlighting the opportunity for various stakeholders to support and uplift Indigenous-led, nature-based solutions like the community hydro initiatives in Kalinga.
​​Highlights:

03:44 - Cultural and environmental values
05:41 - Natural resource management
08:48 - First exposure to community hydro
12:04 - A rewarding role
13:40 - Productive end use 
15:48 - Rights and self-governance through community hydro
17:33 - 'Lapat' environmental protocols
21:00 - Governance structure
21:45 - Climate change and watershed restoration
26:00 - Challenges
28:50 - Load management
34:20 - From villages to towns
35:38 - Micro hydro versus the grid
38:05 - Need for government support 
40:00 - Nature-based solutions and climate finance
PART B:
​In Part B, join us for a tour with Ms. Jade Angngalao, Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Program at SIBAT, Eng. Ver Ian Victorio, Head of Micro Hydro Power Turbine Testing Center, Univ. of Rizwal System, and Eng. Roy Andrada, the Project Manager of the URS-MHP Program.  First, Jade shares an overview of the Balbalasang micro hydro project, including its technical components, evolution, and local impacts.  Next, the team shows us around the project, chatting with key community members along the way.  From a computer lab at the local high school, to hostels and a carpentry workshop, the tour offers a glimpse into the various community assets enabled by the micro hydro system.
Highlights:

02:11 - Project location and governing body
02:53 - Technical layout, components, and evolution
04:30 - Project funding
05:03 - Community contribution of labor and land
05:21 - Productive end use and impact on local economy
06:43 - Social services end uses
07:58 - Household end uses
08:23 - Load Management
09:15 - Opportunity to upgrade the system
10:15 - Community-initiated fund for upgrade
11:09 - System running for two decades
11:46 - "StreamSide" tour of the project!
In case you missed it

Check out earlier editions of StreamSide Chats on our YouTube channel.  
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  • In Edition 1 we spoke with decentralized renewable energy specialist, Divyam Nagpal, and Director of Clean Energy at Winrock International, Bikash Pandey.  We discussed the role of micro hydro in contributing to long term rural economic recovery and resilience in the pandemic era.  

  • In Edition 2 Bikash Pandey spoke with Ashoka Fellow and micro / mini hydro developer Bir Bahadur Ghale from Nepal, where over 3000 small-scale hydro projects have been developed, supporting local job creation and economic resilience, even in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake.

  • In Edition 3 we focused on Pakistan’s unique small-scale hydro sector, which has been scaled up over several decades.  We spoke with Sherzad Ali Khan, the Coordinator of the Aga Khan Development Network (or AKDN) for Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral regions.  We discussed gender-aware planning, productive end use, successful management practices, grid interconnection, climate finance and more. 

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to stay updated on future releases!
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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.

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'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.
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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.
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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. 
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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.

PictureCollective 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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WHY WATERSHEDS MATTER

9/22/2020

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Our initiative Social Enterprise for Energy, Ecological and Economic Development (SEEED) aims to support local practitioners and communities to transition to a sustainable approach to micro hydro.  It aims to unlock the potential for hydro mini-grids to bring long term environmental and socioeconomic benefits — to support empowerment that goes well beyond kilowatts.
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As we continue to develop this initiative, we want to facilitate a closer look at the core thematic elements that constitute SEEED.  Last quarter we shared about the foundational aspect of reliability, and the role of manufacturing standards to ensure technical reliability.  Today we share about an equally important aspect to micro hydro reliability and also sustainability -- healthy watersheds.  The article is developed by HPNET member and watershed expert, Ms. Koto Kishida.

PictureCredit: Gram Vikas
​​Watersheds and Climate Resilience

​There are a number of accounts of negative impacts of climate change in rural communities where our members work. Many of the communities have known the importance of healthy watersheds, as they are the source of drinking and irrigation water, as well as timber and non-timber products that provide food and livelihood. 
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Those communities have traditional rules to sustainably manage their natural resources. HPNET members who work on local community-based hydropower also understand that building resilient watersheds is key for the communities to sustain and regulate stream flow, secure clean drinking and sanitation water, as well as forest resources that could support sustainable rural development.  Gram Vikas’ work in Odisha, India is one such example.

PictureU Zaw Min, an MHP practitioner in Myanmar, maps a watershed. Credit: D. Vaghela
Watersheds and Micro Hydro
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In addition, healthy watersheds are the foundation to sustainable community-based hydropower that is also highly beneficial socio-economically.  

Hydropower requires a consistent water supply to generate electricity year-round. Seasonal fluctuations in stream-flow, as well as topography and changes in forest cover all impact a system’s energy output, making some systems more vulnerable. When the forest above hydropower intake is logged, the retention capacity of the soil and stream-flow is altered.  This could result in greater variability between wet and dry season flow rates, and increase the risk of flood and landslides that could damage hydropower structures.  Increased siltation can also clog intakes and wear down turbine runners, incurring additional maintenance costs.
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Maintaining and establishing mature forest cover alleviates the impacts of seasonal variability in flow, reduces landslide risks, and can help build resilience against the impacts of climate change. The potential for the communities to access stable sources of electricity provides communities with hydropower an added incentive to protect their watersheds.  Community-scale hydropower reinforces environmental traditions by incentivizing watershed strengthening, which, in turn, enables reliable and sustainable power supply. (Examples of this can be found in our feature series, Earth Voices)

Watersheds and Reforestation
A plantation site supported by Gram Vikas in Kalahandi in early 2000s before getting the watershed treatment. Credit: Gram Vikas
A plantation site supported by Gram Vikas in Kalahandi after getting watershed treatment in 2018. Credit: Gram Vikas
The key to thriving watersheds are forests. Establishing and maintaining mature forest conditions as a way to mitigate and adapt to climate change could be achieved through conservation and restoration of watersheds informed by local knowledge and best practices. Thriving watersheds with forest cover could significantly mitigate the negative impacts of climate change by offsetting carbon emissions and build resilience against severe weather events and other climate change impacts. Forest conservation in community-based hydropower watersheds could be valuable for climate mitigation because the watersheds tend to be in the upper basins where forests provide the cleanest water and provide habitat for diverse flora and fauna. 

Many rural communities in the global south have traditional rules around resource management. Competing land use pressures such as farming, logging, and development by community members as well as external entities make observing such rules challenging. The communities can keep each other accountable by negotiating a plan to prioritize land uses and conservation goals. If all parties commit to implement the plan as a management guide, it could facilitate data collection, fundraising efforts, evaluation of the impact of the plan, and opportunities to adjust management strategies for more impact. Depending on the scale and land ownership of the hydropower watersheds, community would be easier with support from a CSO or a project manager. 


Community Micro Hydro + Reforestation

Integrating community-based hydro with reforestation will have dual benefits for rural communities.  In addition to the reasons provided above, access to electricity supports income generation of rural households and communities -- the lack of which can exacerbate deforestation.

Due to the inherent nature of community-scale and community-based hydropower, rural communities accessing hydropower are often already organized with active committees for management of the system as well as its load. The committee members often include those with in-depth knowledge of watersheds who could contribute local knowledge to forest conservation and enhancement efforts. 
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There are cases of reforestation activities affiliated with community hydro projects as well as the communities pledging to conserve watersheds in a form of contracts between funding organizations and the communities.




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EARTH VOICES: FROM TAT GONE, 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.
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Cattle grazing in the picturesque Danu region of the Shan Highlands. Credit: Kyi Phyo Wai.
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 the Danu region of Shan State, Myanmar. This edition shines a light on the village of Tat Gone, where local change-makers harness the interconnected benefits of watershed restoration and community-scale hydropower. Read on, to learn how eco-restoration supports Tat Gone’s reliable power supply and cultural resilience, and to gain a glimpse into the vision and journey of  an inspiring community mobilizer.

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 Tat Gone pico hydro systems and 3 other community-scale hydro systems in Shan State. 
The Danu region and people

Tat Gone village is located in the Ywangan Township of the Danu Self-Administered Zone, in the picturesque Shan Highlands. The region is home to the Danu people, a government-recognized ethnic group in Myanmar, who have a long history in Southern Shan State. The Danu people have their own language and practice Theravada Buddhism. Their unique culture is hinted at in the history of the term ‘Danu’ itself, which links back to the legend of 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 Danu 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 Danu 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, Danu 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 Danu communities such as Tat Gone are less severely impacted than others, in that they aren’t as dependent on external markets.
Rice paddy in Pindaya, Danu SAZ. Credit: K. Phyo.
Green paddy nursery and strawberry field in Pindaya, Danu SAZ. Credit: K. Phyo.
Environment, conflict and resistance
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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 Danu region until the late 1960s to early 1970s, at which point a UNDP initiative substituted the plantations with tea-leaf growing. The Danu townships of Pindaya and Ywangan have since eradicated poppy growing, however it persists in other areas within Shan State, such as Lawksawk. 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 Danu people 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 Danu region, but the local  communities don’t accept military entering the area.

Other challenges also persist in the Danu 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 Mya Sa Ti – a Danu village with an important watershed, which provides drinking water to 20 nearby villages. Across the region, the Danu 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 Danu region. Credit: Kyi Phyo Wai.
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 Danu conservation champion, U Kyaw Lwin, “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 Danu 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. Danu communities carry an intricate understanding of local ecological systems, and the environment is very much intertwined with their culture and beliefs. In one Danu 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 Danu people. Small-scale hydro systems have been developed in at least 15 Danu 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 in Mying, Danu SAZ. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
People-powered pico hydro

Tat Gone 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.  

After seeing the wide-reaching benefits brought by community-scale hydro in other villages, U Kyaw Lwin 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 Tat Gone, toward a vision of ecologically sustainable and reliable energy provision. 

Working together with other community members, U Kyaw Lwin led the installation of seven  pico hydro systems in Tat Gone 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, U Kyaw Lwin 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 Tat Gone 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 Tat Gone pico hydro. Credit: Kyi Phyo Wai.
U Kyaw Lwin repairing pico hydro turbine. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
Current and future benefits

The Tat Gone 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 Tat Gone will also trial electric cooking options, to reduce deforestation linked with  collection of fuelwood.

Although the government's central grid has reached nearby towns, Tat Gone 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.

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Integrating conservation and energy access
The Tat Gone community has seen the direct impact of deforestation on the river, with water scarcity noticeably worsening from one summer to the next. U Kyaw Lwin saw the critical need to restore the watershed ecosystem, to preserve Tat Gone’s 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, U Kyaw Lwin mobilized his community to leverage the interconnected benefits of pico hydropower and ecosystem restoration.

​In the video linked above (People Power in Myanmar), Tat Gone elder, Daw Eain Myar, observes 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. ​
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U Kyaw Lwin inspecting pico hydro channel in Tat Gone. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
U Kyaw Lwin also explains 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.” – U Kyaw Lwin
While U Kyaw Lwin 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. Danu 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 in Tat Gone, 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. 
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Community Sustainable Environmental Assessment workshop in Tat Gone. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
Survey of village micro-hydro in Tat Gone, Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
Map from Community Sustainable Environmental Assessment workshop in Tat Gone. Credit: MEE Net (Myanmar Team).
PictureBamboo 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 need only look at an example like Tat Gone 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 like Tat Gone, that are advancing nature-based solutions for the benefit of their people and our collective future.

​Stay tuned for the Burmese translation of this article, coming soon!

Composed by Lara Powell, HPNET Communications Coordinator
With content from: 
U Kyaw Lwin, Pico Hydro and Reforestation Practitioner of Danu
U Kyi Phyo Wai, Founder of Foundation for Renewable Energy and Ecology (FREE)
Dipti Vaghela, HPNET Manager
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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.
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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. 
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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. 


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

Further Reading + Sign the Petition!
  • Taskforce's memo proposes alternative to Papar Dam
  • Petition: Stop Papar Dam

-- 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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"HIDDEN NO MORE" INTERVIEW SERIES:  PHILIPPINES CHANGE-MAKER, MS. JADE ANGNGALAO

10/3/2019

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Earlier this year we launched the Hidden No More feature series to spotlight women change-makers who have transformed gender barriers, and made significant contributions to energy access for marginalized communities.

In this 3rd edition, in honor of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples earlier this Quarter, we’re excited to feature Ms. Jade Angngalao, an accomplished indigenous community leader who is a coordinator for community-based micro hydro in the Philippines. We had the opportunity to connect with Ms. Jade and gain insight into her inspiring journey and vision.

PictureCoordinator at SIBAT, Jade Angngalao (left), and her mentee, Benazir Bacala (right). Credit: HPNET
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have been involved in community development work for 9 years. For the past 2 years I have been Coordinator of the Renewable Energy Program at Sibol Ng Agham At Teknolohiya (SIBAT). I am a member of the Kalinga tribe, from a mountainous area in the North of the Philippines. I am also a mother of two daughters (which poses a challenge in terms of balancing and prioritizing my different responsibilities). 

What motivated you to work in the field of energy access?

I first became aware of micro hydropower (MH) when SIBAT implemented an MHP in my hometown. Previously we didn’t have electricity access, since the electric co-op (the main grid provider) did not reach our town. My father was the one who led the community to participate in the construction of our village micro hydro system. As a young person, I was also involved in building the system, for example, by helping to transport sand.

When the MHP was being constructed, I was also studying Agricultural Engineering at Kalinga State University, and working part-time at the Affiliated RE Centre (a university research centre). When one of the engineers heard of my studies, he suggested that I apply to work with SIBAT after graduating.

For my thesis, I decided to evaluate and report on the sustainability of MHPs in the North. My findings were that most of the systems were no longer operational and there were no plans to repair them. After being implemented, most systems were handed over to the local communities; the communities used the systems for about 5 years before most became non-operational. In most cases, the local MH operator had damaged, or was unable to maintain the system as a result of inadequate training and a lack of proper capacity building. I created a report to give to the Department of Agriculture; however, repairing the MHPs was not a priority, as solar home system were the focus, at the time. I felt that it was a waste of money to build MH systems in very remote communities and then leave them without any support for maintenance and management.

This experience motivated me to work on building communities’ capacity to sustain their MH, rather than leaving them without support, post-construction. I was driven to implement capacity-building measures such as training on maintenance and management, in order for MH communities to become independent and for community-based projects to operate sustainably. Most of the existing systems in my region were based on old designs which required a lot of maintenance. I saw a need for these systems to be upgraded, to give the villages quality electricity, and to improve local management and system sustainability.


How did you start your career with SIBAT?

I was hired by SIBAT in 2010 as part of the technical staff working in potable water and irrigation systems, in remote sites in Mindanao. The sites were so remote that it took two days to reach most of them (and we had to carry our own food along the way). This is when I saw the vulnerable situation of the villages in these areas. There were very high rates of poverty, with many families eating just one meal per day. The villages were deprived of basic social services, with no formal education, health care, clean source of water, or electricity - no government support whatsoever. 

This was when I promised myself to continue to work to help the communities there. I felt a kinship with the local people, because I also belong to an indigenous tribe, and had faced a similar reality growing up. These were ‘my people’ and I wanted them to experience the benefits of MH that were felt in my own community.

The irrigation project I was initially working on did not materialize because of the remoteness of the community - 15 hours were needed to walk there and it was very difficult to bring in materials, and also to mobilize the people. In any case, I think it would make more sense to give local training on agricultural techniques before focusing on irrigation projects. Subsequently, I was involved in a solar water project in the southern part of Luzon, before I took part in any MHP work. It was quite difficult starting out and, after three years, I almost quit my job. However, I stayed because I was passionate about the work and was encouraged by some individuals.


What sort of challenges did you face?

I nearly quit my job because some of my seniors expected too much of me. As the youngest team member, I was expected to be full of ideas, gutsy and energetic, but I have my limitations, of course. The program was also dominated by men. As the only woman in the group, I was often the centre of jokes, which were sometimes very offensive.

My senior, Chris Alfonso, encouraged me. He was a SIBAT engineer who had played a big role in the capacity-building of the SIBAT team. He mentored me in potable water and irrigation and I learned a lot from him.  His life was short-lived, but we will always be grateful for his mentorship and his vision for SIBAT’s Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATech), where we now manufacture micro hydro turbines and electronic load controllers.

Tell us about your current work in the MH field.

Currently, I’m working as a coordinator, delegating the team, which is a challenge because the staff is still dominated by men. Lately, I have also been frustrated because we frequently hire an engineer, and invest time and money in training him, only to find that he resigns very soon after starting. They often complain about the small salary or they’re unable to adjust to the culture in the communities where they’re placed. Indigenous communities have a different culture from low-land culture, where these engineers come from. I’ve been encouraging management to hire local, indigenous engineers, who wouldn’t face the same problems around cultural adjustment. 

For NGOs that don’t offer large salaries to their engineers, I recommend orienting new engineers to help them understand and adapt to the situation in the communities where they will be working. This can help improve retainment of young engineers.

Community work is very challenging and frustrating at times, but I always tell the staff that they should try to go deeper in developing their understanding of the community.


How do you involve women in your MH work?

When I work in indigenous communities, I have an advantage because I am indigenous myself. This allows me to assert myself in order to include women in decision-making and encourage them to voice their concerns, especially in meetings. Men listen to our opinions and our input is valued and respected. 

I believe that women can be the role models to lead people’s organizations. Three of the MHPs I’ve worked on are led by chair-women, and the strong management of the female leaders is reflected in better reporting and book-keeping. 

There are still many areas for improvement. For example, in my province, the division of labour is still such that women must do all the household chores and men must provide for the family. When I was starting out in my career, whenever we went to the field, my male seniors would tell me to do the household chores, like cooking. I was proactive in telling management when this happened, but it was difficult. Sometimes I ended up staying back with the community rather than going with my team members, when I couldn’t tolerate being the centre of their jokes.

Yet, I conquered. After years passed, I learned how to fight back and speak out. I resisted until I gained their respect (which took about 5 or 6 years).


What advice do you have for other organizations? 

First, you should always include women in decision-making in MH projects. If I had my own organization, I would prefer for it to be dominated by women, primarily because women often have a more holistic approach to community projects.

Additionally, gender awareness and inclusion should start at the internal level, in the organization itself, before any attempt to facilitate it in the community. Gender orientation is included in SIBAT programs on paper, but not in practice. I tell my colleagues we should run gender workshops to teach men how to value and respect women. As an indigenous woman, It’s natural for me to promote this, but I want to see more engagement from others, so that real change will happen. 

As for female engineers, my advice is that you should speak up and voice your opinion, don’t be shy!


What is the impact of MH that you have you seen since you started out?

MH has changed many lives in the Philippines. I’ve seen the changes directly in my own village. Before the MHP was installed, we spent a lot of time pounding rice and corn; normally women were the ones doing this work, including the younger generation who would help their mothers and aunties. My mother spent a lot of time doing manual pounding, and I used to help her after school. 

It took 4 days of manual pounding for 10-15 kg of rice! In some villages, they had to do this every day. Corn would take 6 hours to pound per day, for just 8mkgs - which would take just 1 hour with a machine (and no labour except for transport). By providing power for rice and corn milling machines, the MHP made life a lot easier for us and saved a lot of time, particularly for women and girls. 
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River in Tubo, a Micro Hydro community in Abra Kili province. Credit: B. Bacala
I heard that your grandmother was an activist?

Yes, my grandmother was a fierce lady and a strong activist for Indienous rights. She was once featured on National Indigenous Women’s Day by the Cordillera Women’s Education and Research Centre (CWERC). She fought against big geothermal and mining companies in my village. Some of the engineers from a geothermal company installed a system near my grandmother’s rice field. She was very angry and led the community in pulling out the post. She told the engineer, “when you come back, we’re going to kill you; you’re invading out land”. 

Is it common for Indigenous women in your tribe to be so strong?

It isn’t really that common now – that’s the problem. My grandmother is no longer there to fight for indigenous land rights and a geothermal company is trying to come again to hold a meeting in the village. Now, there are no women opposing it. 

My grandmother got her strength through her genes. She was one of many of my ancestors to fight for our rights. If I go back to my village, I will be the one to lead the movement against the geothermal plant.


It looks like you are mentoring the next generation of MH and agriculture engineers, and they are women! What wish or message do you have for the next generation of MH women practitioners?

Yes, I’ve been supporting a younger engineer and friend, Ms. Bena, to learn how to adapt in indigenous communities. I have also brought my daughters with me to one of SIBAT’s sites to show them my work and to help them understand why I’m sometimes gone for two or three weeks. This also exposes them to the situation of the children there, who are less fortunate. My message to young women MH practitioners would be to appreciate and value their work.

Are there any key messages you have for our readers?
​

When you are doing community-based MH work, the women should be the first people you try to influence, before the men. This is because the women can lead the men in systemized implementation of the MHP. That is what I’ve learned through my 9 years at SIBAT.

I encourage all women to stay determined and to leave your mark, the way my grandmother did.

Finally, you should be happy with whatever work you are doing; if you’re happy in your job, that is more important than money.

For more journeys of women micro hydro practitioners in our Hidden No More  series, please sign up below to receive our newsletter!  ​
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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!
PictureUN 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. ​
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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. 
​
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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.

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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.
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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.
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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”. ​
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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. 

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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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