Valais’s bisses, ancient wooden water channels, are regaining importance in today’s changing climate, not only in Switzerland but also in regions suffering from drought worldwide. Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly dry country reliant on irrigation for its agricultural endeavors, recently sent a delegation to Valais to study its innovative bisses.
Valais’s Bisses: A Model for Sustainable Water Management
The picturesque region of Valais in Switzerland has become an unexpected source of inspiration for Central Asia, particularly Kyrgyzstan, grappling with the challenges posed by climate change, especially in agriculture. Valais boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site – its bisses – which are ancient wooden water channels originally designed to transport water from glaciers to alpine meadows and fields, contributing significantly to the development of agriculture in the area.
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In today’s changing climate, these historical irrigation systems are regaining importance, not only in Switzerland but also in regions suffering from drought worldwide. Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly dry country reliant on irrigation for its agricultural endeavors, recently sent a delegation to Valais to study its innovative bisses.
Kyrgyzstan Learns from Valais’s Centuries-Old Expertise
Jyldyz Abdyllaeva, the project manager of the Helvetas Kyrgyzstan water project, expressed her amazement at this traditional technology, contrasting it with Kyrgyzstan’s concrete irrigation canals. Until recently, water management in Kyrgyzstan was centralized, but a recent law change has allowed local communities to oversee their water supply, including constructing new irrigation canals or repairing existing ones, ultimately ensuring more water for farmers in the future.
In Valais, local communities have long held authority over their water supply, with the exception of the Rhone, which is under cantonal jurisdiction. However, the canton of Valais plays a pivotal role in guaranteeing water supply, particularly for agricultural purposes. The renovation of bisses is supported by the canton when they serve agriculture.
Ancient Irrigation Systems: Valuable Models for the Future
For instance, the Grand Bisse de St. Luc water pipeline in the Valais village of Anniviers was recently restored to bring water back to the fields. Danièle Zufferey, a local councilor in Anniviers, stressed the importance of such initiatives in light of climate predictions. With Valais’s centuries-old expertise in managing bisses and organizing water resources, there is hope that this knowledge will eventually benefit irrigation practices in Kyrgyzstan.