ECOHYDROLOGY APPROACH AND

IMPLEMENTATION IN ASIA PACIFIC

Zulmira Ximenes da Costa, M.Sc.

Faculty of Engineering, Sciences and Technology
Unversidade Nacional Timor-Leste

Street of Fatuahi-Hera, Dili Timor-Leste

M. Phone: +670 7355-2918 or 7798-1619
E-mail: zxcosta@gmail.com
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 Summary

Timor-Leste perspectives on potential issues

Ecohydrology approach and implementation

Recommendations and alternatives

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 Timor Leste Perspectives on potential
issues
Timor Leste is a new
independent country located in
between Indonesia and
Australia, Dili is the capital city.

Population Growth (1,167,242

at 2015); continuing need to
bring water and energy for the
most disadvantaged, make it As a developing country; the Surface
necessary to find new solutions. water, ground water and sanitation
systems are very poor quality, and has
many environmental problems (Solid
waste management),
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Bottles, Plastic, toxic, moving on the water surface of streams in Capital

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 Waste Stream and Environment
Septic tank, toilet, and/or kitchen which directly discharge to river / canal will
affect human body because people use this water to agriculture, car washing,
etc, and vegetable grown by the water is sometimes sold around Dili city or
supermarket.

However, there are almost no information on water quality in Dili city.

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 Deposition solid waste in Tibar: the general waste dump and burning it

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 Timor-Leste perspectives on potential
issues
1. Climate change: el-nino and la-nina
Dry season in long period and low
precipitations;
Heavy precipitations in wet season over a
long period.
They have big impacts for environmental
degradation and water quality.
2. Minimum of communities understanding on
environmental protections and water
conservation:
Deforestation;
Solid waste.
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 Timor-Leste perspectives on potential
issues
4. Minimum of government funding for integrated
research development on environmental protections
and water resource management
5. Minimum existence of research institutions focus on
environmental and water resources issues;
6. Minimum collaborations between state and research
institutions regarding environmental and water
research and conservation;
7. Conflict of interest is very high.

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 Timor-Leste perspectives on potential issues
According to our reality, some of the issues are:
Poor management of water supply
Limited capacity at the local level
Lack of integrity and transparency
Difficulties in resource allocation
Poor financial management
Poor economic regulation (free for the water tax)

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 Timor-Leste perspectives on potential issues
Water Resource

Source: ADB report 2002

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
1. Reforestation

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 Ecohydrology approach and
implementation
2. Ancient Traditions protect the environment through
tara bandu ritual performed by communities

Ancient Traditions protect the enviroment_tara bandu ritual performed in East Timor
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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
3. Preservation for Water Environment

Lake in Badomori_Wogabiloi (Veniale _Baucau Municipality) Fresh Water Ecosystem)

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 Preservation for Water Environment_Uaicana

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
Preservation of Water Environment

Lake in Badomori_Wogabiloi (Veniale _Baucau Municipality)

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
4. Preservation for Flooding and Landslide protection

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
5. Preservation for waterfall

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
Protection Water Source

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 Ecohydrology approach and implementation
5. Increase integrated management of water resources and
the efficiency of water use

6. Increase wastewater management and pollution

prevention;

7. Improve capacity building and institutional governance

8. Add in National Curriculum

9. Network for water resource issue

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 Recommendation
Take all action into the practice;
Ecosystem Service and Integrated River Basin

Capacity building about the environment and how to protected it

Clear polices and Community awareness

Water quality changes along the river course according to different

environmental pressures.

Promoting integrated ecosystem management approach with

integrating social, environment and economics perspective.

Source pollution to regulate processes toward sustainable water use

and ecosystem protection

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 Alternative; Eco-Hydrology and Groundwater
Groundwater:

Restoration of groundwater systems degradation and the time lag associated

with discharges of contaminants and their impacts on Reserves of groundwater,

Lake Wogabiloi, Waicana, Marobo, Jaco Restoration

Restoration for Ira-lalaro, Loes River Basin

Monitoring of Groundwater and Surface water

Add in National Curriculum

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 Conclusion_ Big Challenges

Scheme of responsibilities for the sustainable solution

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 Interesting Issues
Increase the integrated management of water and solid waste in the Urban
Area

Community mobilization of water management and water conservation in

Atauro Island

: Quality of River or Canal in Dili

Analyses Water

Underground Water Quality of Alluvial in Dili City-Implications for community

Health

Management water resource in Loes river Basin

Management lake basin in Venilale village

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 is there any possible to seek partnership of agencies,
academic organizations, civil society..etc to help in
case improve sustainable water environment

. Thank You

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