Irrigation water scarcity is a rapidly growing problem in the Hindu Kush-Karakorum-Himalayan region. Water is depleting and becoming scarce around the world due to a lack of integrated water management. Researchers have focused on sophisticated irrigation water management systems as an integral strategy to address water scarcity. However, rapid population growth, climate variability, and changes in mountain regions are exerting increasing pressure on water resources. To cope with water scarcity situations, local communities have developed sustainable management mechanisms throughout the mountain regions of the world. These practices are considered as adaptive strategies to address scarcity situations. This article aims to explore the multi-stage, spatio-temporal indigenous appropriation mechanisms of irrigation water and to analyze the seasonal variation in water entitlements in a semi-arid mountain milieu, i.e., Kushum-Chitral. This study is based on a decade of research conducted in the study area. Data were collected in four phases from 2010 to 2018. The study indicates that the share of co-owners has decreased substantially over time due to demographic development and climate change but does not always lead to the tragedy of commons. The study reveals that the local communities have the capacity and capability to sustainably manage an important and scarce resource – i.e., irrigation water – without external intervention.

中文翻译：

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东兴都库什地区的水危机：巴基斯坦库舒姆山村社区灌溉水管理的微观研究

灌溉用水短缺是兴都库什-喀喇昆仑-喜马拉雅地区一个迅速增长的问题。由于缺乏综合水资源管理，世界各地的水资源正在枯竭并变得稀缺。研究人员将复杂的灌溉水管理系统作为解决缺水问题的整体战略。然而，快速的人口增长、气候变化和山区变化正在对水资源施加越来越大的压力。为了应对水资源短缺的情况，当地社区在世界各地的山区制定了可持续的管理机制。这些做法被认为是解决稀缺情况的适应性策略。本文旨在探讨多阶段，灌溉水的时空土著占用机制，并分析半干旱山区，即 Kushum-Chitral 中水权的季节性变化。本研究基于在该研究领域进行的十年研究。数据从 2010 年到 2018 年分四个阶段收集。该研究表明，由于人口发展和气候变化，共同所有者的份额随着时间的推移而大幅下降，但并不总是导致公地悲剧。研究表明，当地社区有能力在没有外部干预的情况下可持续地管理一种重要且稀缺的资源——即灌溉水。数据从 2010 年到 2018 年分四个阶段收集。该研究表明，由于人口发展和气候变化，共同所有者的份额随着时间的推移而大幅下降，但并不总是导致公地悲剧。研究表明，当地社区有能力在没有外部干预的情况下可持续地管理一种重要且稀缺的资源——即灌溉水。数据从 2010 年到 2018 年分四个阶段收集。该研究表明，由于人口发展和气候变化，共同所有者的份额随着时间的推移而大幅下降，但并不总是导致公地悲剧。研究表明，当地社区有能力在没有外部干预的情况下可持续地管理一种重要且稀缺的资源——即灌溉水。