Project Summary
In the mountainous terrains of Nepal and Bhutan, landslides pose a recurring threat to rural connectivity and community safety. This research-driven initiative, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), focuses on developing advanced hazard mapping and risk assessment methodologies to ensure safer, more sustainable rural access corridors in the Himalayan region.
Context
In mountainous regions of developing countries, landslides are not just geological events—they are direct threats to the survival of rural and urban communities. This threat is particularly acute along rural access routes, where migratory patterns often lead to rapid, ad-hoc roadside development.
Historically, the landslide hazards occurring in these corridors have presented complex engineering and socio-economic risks that remained under-evaluated. The Landslide Risk Assessment in the Rural Access Sector project was launched to bridge this gap, defining precise hazard assessment methods and evaluating the interface between natural risks and human settlement in densely populated mountain corridors.
Project Objectives
The primary goal of this three-year research programme was to enhance the planning and management of rural infrastructure through:
- Developing and testing mapping techniques specifically designed for landslide hazard and risk assessment.
- Creating analytical land-use management models tailored for the unique topography of the Himalayan region.
- Integrating risk perception into engineering practices and national guidelines.
- Encouraging multi-level participation, from national planning departments down to the local farmers and community engineers.
Our Approach: Services Provided
As the lead local partner for UK-based Scott Wilson, SW Nepal provided a dedicated team of professionals to implement this Knowledge and Research (KaR) programme. Our multidisciplinary approach included:
- Remote Sensing & GIS: Utilizing satellite imagery and spatial data to identify high-risk zones and track terrain changes.
- Landslide Hazard & Risk Assessment: Implementing scientific models to predict slope instability and its potential impact on road networks.
- Social Mapping & Community Engagement: Conducting workshops and site discussions to understand local risk perceptions and traditional knowledge.
- Institutional Strengthening: Training government staff and local stakeholders in modern land-use management and risk mitigation.
Project Results & Impact
- Standardized Guidelines: Developed comprehensive guidelines for land-use and engineering practices in rural access corridors.
- Technology Transfer: Successfully institutionalized GIS-based mapping techniques within partner government departments in both Nepal and Bhutan.
- Policy Advocacy: Promoted the transition from “reactive” disaster response to “proactive” risk-based planning in the rural transport sector.
- Scalability: While focused on the Himalayas, the models and analytical tools developed were designed for adaptation in other mountainous regions globally.
Project Details
- Project Status: Completed
- Project Period: 2001 – 2003
- Lead Consultant: Scott Wilson (UK)
- Local Partner: SW Nepal
- Collaborating Partners: Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR), Nepal
- Department of Roads (DoR), Bhutan
- UK Department for International Development (DFID)