ICIMOD and HKH region

ICIMOD and HKH region

News: The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region faces a critical situation, emphasizing the urgency for action and financial support by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

About ICIMOD:
• ICIMOD is a regional knowledge and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Established in 1983, ICIMOD works to promote sustainable mountain development through knowledge generation, capacity building, and regional cooperation.

ICIMOD focus’ areas and important initiatives:
• Studying glaciers, snow cover, and river systems to understand the impacts of climate change on water resources and develop adaptation strategies.
• Assessing the impacts of climate change on the HKH region and supporting countries in developing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Conserving biodiversity and restoring degraded ecosystems in the HKH.
• Hindu Kush Himalayan Assessment (HKHA): A comprehensive assessment of the HKH region published in 2019, highlighting the region\'s importance and vulnerability in the face of climate change.
• HI-WISE (Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya): A follow-up to the HKHA, focusing on the ecological and human impacts of changes in the cryosphere.

Key points of ICIMOD report:
• ICIMOD characterizes the HKH region as a \'biosphere on the brink,\' indicating a state of imminent ecological crisis.
• Experts from ICIMOD highlighted concerns about the rapid and extensive losses in both nature and habitat within the HKH region, describing them as \'catastrophic.\' Deputy Director General conveys a sense of urgency, suggesting that it may be nearly too late to address the crisis effectively.
• Despite concerted conservation efforts, a significant portion (70%) of the original biodiversity in the HKH region has been lost over the last century.
• High Mountain Asia, encompassing the Tian Shan, Kunlun Shan, Pamir, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Tibetan Plateau, and the Himalayas, is termed the \'Water Tower of Asia.\'
• The HKH region has a population of 241 million people, with 31% categorized as \'food-insecure,\' and half facing some form of malnutrition.

Way Forward
• Implementing initiatives to enhance climate resilience in communities, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and water management.
• Improving poverty alleviation measures, strengthening infrastructure, early warning systems and ensuring community based disaster management preparedness.