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Resilience Thinking and Strategies to Reclaim Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Cascade Tank-Village System (CTVS) in Sri Lanka

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  • Gavin Melles

    (Centre for Design Innovation, Swinburne University, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Ethmadalage Dineth Perera

    (School of Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

Cascading Tank Village Systems (CTVSs) of Sri Lanka historically provided a resilient community-based social-ecological water management system in the rural dry zone of Sri Lanka After being abandoned for many centuries, their restoration is now being pursued by different national and international actors as a key to climate change mitigation and sustainable livelihoods for communities. Rural livelihoods in the dry zone are at risk due to multiple factors, poor access and management of water, economic and health pressures, as well as resource limitations and degradation. Despite recent efforts to restore CTVS systems, no social-ecological approach (SES) nor a sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF)-focused approach to ensuring resilient and sustainable livelihood outcomes has been taken. As part of an on-going PhD project, this paper analyses the background, current challenges and potential for an SES focused resilience thinking approach to CTVS for future sustainable livelihood opportunities and outcomes. The study finds CTVS exhibit all the properties of a complex adaptive SES and that a resilience thinking approach centred on achieving sustainable livelihood outcomes for communities suggests deep institutional changes are needed. CTVS are at a crossroads between restoring the past (system adaptability) or transforming for the future, and a combination of legacy and future market orientation seems the best solution.

Suggested Citation

  • Gavin Melles & Ethmadalage Dineth Perera, 2020. "Resilience Thinking and Strategies to Reclaim Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Cascade Tank-Village System (CTVS) in Sri Lanka," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:11:y:2020:i:2:p:27-:d:429320
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    2. Sirimanna, S. & Kahathuduwa, K.K.P.N. & Prasada, D.V.P., 2022. "Are cascade reservoir systems sustainable agroecosystems? A comparative assessment of efficiency, effectiveness and resource footprint in a Sri Lankan micro-cascade," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Jana, Sebak Kumar & Tamang, Pravesh, 2023. "Prospects of rehabilitation of ancient irrigation systems in India – A case study from coastal saline zone of West Bengal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    4. Wickramasinghe, M.R.C.P. & Dayawansa, N.D.K. & Jayasiri, M.M.J.G.C.N. & De Silva, Ranjith Premalal, 2023. "A study on external pressures of an ancient irrigation cascade system in Sri Lanka," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).

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