A conceptual socio-environmental systems model of flood vulnerability in Kosi Basin, India

With Pooja Singh, University of Nottingham.

Abstract

The shift in the flood risk management paradigm from flood hazard to flood risk has led to view floods as socio-environmental systems (SESs). For understanding SES, not only do scientific knowledges play a vital role but also local knowledges. In the UK, this paradigm shift begun in the early 1990s. Although there has been a shift in the mind-set in India, there is still a gap in implementing the paradigm shift to the ground level.

In this research, a soft system methodological approach has been proposed to better understand SES in Kosi Basin, India. The major at-risk rural communities identified in the Kosi Basin are the ones living in the waterlogged area, on the west embankment, and within the embankments. On-field data was acquired using participatory modelling and then structured into community SESs using casual loop diagrams.

The SESs were diagnosed using a resilience framework which highlighted that these different SES have different system dynamics and a single homogenous resilient pathway cannot be applied to them. The leverage point technique was used to devise a separate resilient pathway for each community. The findings of this work show that a better understanding of SES is a way forward to enable positive transformation by delivering robust and sustainable policies.

All seminars online. Please contact sue.davis@nottingham.ac.uk for the link. Subject to change.

Part of the Environment and Society Seminar Series.