Chindwin Futures

The document assesses the Chindwin River Basin in Myanmar, highlighting the impacts of climate change, deforestation, and mining on water quality, biodiversity, and livelihoods. It details the transition of local communities from river-based to groundwater-based water use and argues for an integrated, bottom-up approach to water governance through the Chindwin River Basin Organization (RBO).

• The Chindwin River Basin is experiencing significant climatic shifts, including rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. Average annual maximum temperatures at Mawlaik and Monywa stations show an increasing trend of 0.33–0.38 °C per decade, which is nearly double the global warming rate of approximately 0.20 °C per decade.
• Rainfall trends vary by region within the basin: the northern area is seeing a decline in average annual rainfall at a rate of 149 mm per 10 years, while the middle and lower parts show an increasing trend of 25–49 mm per 10 years.
• River discharge is showing a significant decreasing trend across multiple monitoring stations, with annual decreases of 190 m3 s-1 at Hkamti, 91 m3 s-1 at Mawlaik, and 165 m3 s-1 at Monywa.
• Riverbank erosion is a recurring issue, with 34 percent (668 km2) of the river valley suffering bank erosion between 1973 and 2020. This instability is linked to land-use changes, specifically the replacement of native forests with agricultural land.
• Water quality in the basin is declining, with heavy metal contamination detected. In Homalin, mercury levels measured via portable test kits in 2015 exceeded WHO acceptable standards for drinking water, likely due to intensive gold mining in the Uru River and Homalin areas.
• There is a widespread shift in domestic water use from river water to groundwater due to perceived declines in river water quality and quantity. In Kani, 40 percent of households still rely on the river for drinking, but many are switching to tube wells because the river has become 'muddy' and 'shallower'.
• Agricultural water use is also shifting toward groundwater for greater reliability. In Monywa, 50 percent of households use personal tube wells for irrigation, while in Homalin, 20 percent do so.
• Biodiversity is under threat from illegal fishing, mining, and habitat loss. The Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata), a critically endangered species, is now found only in the upper Chindwin area of Khamti District.
• Socioeconomic indicators in the Chindwin Basin are lower than the Sagaing Region average. The basin's infant mortality rate is 74 per 1,000 live births, compared to the regional rate of 60.
• The Chindwin River Basin Organization (RBO) was established in 2017 with funding from the Sagaing Regional Government, marking the first time a regional government in Myanmar provided its own funding for such a mechanism to implement integrated water resources management.
• Water governance in Myanmar is characterized by fragmentation and a top-down approach. Different agencies (DWIR, ID, ECD) operate in silos with limited data sharing, which hinders the implementation of the National Water Policy's goal of community-based, bottom-up management.

APA

Krittasudthacheewa, C., Maung, W., Lebel, L., Daniel, R., & Hongsathavij, V. (n.d.). Chindwin Futures. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chindwin-futures-e-book-small-size-for-download-sept-2021.pdf

Chicago

Krittasudthacheewa, Chayanis, Win Maung, Louis Lebel, Rajesh Daniel, and Vanessa Hongsathavij. Chindwin Futures. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chindwin-futures-e-book-small-size-for-download-sept-2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Krittasudthacheewa |first1=Chayanis |last2=Maung |first2=Win |last3=Lebel |first3=Louis |last4=Daniel |first4=Rajesh |last5=Hongsathavij |first5=Vanessa |title=Chindwin Futures |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chindwin-futures-e-book-small-size-for-download-sept-2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{krittasudthacheewandchindwin, author = {Krittasudthacheewa, Chayanis and Maung, Win and Lebel, Louis and Daniel, Rajesh and Hongsathavij, Vanessa}, title = {{Chindwin Futures}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/chindwin-futures-e-book-small-size-for-download-sept-2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }