Workshop on hydro-meteorological monitoring and watershed management underway

Dimapur, March 15 (EMN): A two-day training and workshop on hydro-meteorological monitoring and watershed management is kicked off at Resource Centre, Ruzaphema in Dimapur on Friday. The programme, which will conclude on March 16, is organised by the Land Resources department in collaboration with University of Minnesota and Mississipi Watershed Management Organisation, USA.

State programme coordinator, state level nodal agencies (SLNA), Inatoli Chishi gave a brief overview of the department’s activities during the inaugural programme on March 15, informed an update issued by media assistant of Land Resource department Penri Yanthan.

Dr. Joseph Magner, research professor, department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering, University of Minnesota, USA, spoke on different ways of watershed management during the event.

Speaking on “Watershed Systems Thinking,” Magner said it (systems thinking) is a visualisation approach to problem solving and about viewing problems as part of the “whole” rather than reacting to specific parts. He added that “systems thinking is based on the belief that the component parts of the whole can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems rather than in isolation.”

The research professor from the US said systems thinking focuses on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect, and that its objective is to “gain new perspective, elicit current belief and understanding and define uncertainty type.” He urged the government officers present at the programme to “think outside the box, think broadly and work for the future.”

Magner also spoke on the topic “Cosmic Driven Climate” during the programme, according to a update from Land Resources department.

In the afternoon session, Dr. Udai B. Singh, Water Resource Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organisation, Minneapolis, spoke on the topic “Role of hydro-meteorology and water resources monitoring for watershed based planning and management of water and natural resources.” He described human resource as the most important factor in watershed development and stressed on the importance of protecting water bodies and maintaining its water quality.

Singh said “if it was not possible to improve the water system then we should maintain it,” adding that the biggest pollutants of water resources were sediment, nutrients, bacteria, chloride, oil and gas and heavy metals and litter.