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HIMAP
The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is one of the greatest mountain systems in the world, encompassing an area of over 4.3 million km2. Outside of the North and South Poles, the region contains the largest area of permanent ice cover in the world, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Third Pole’.
It is the source of 10 major river systems, and contains all of parts of 4 global biodiversity spots, 330 important bird and biodiversity areas and hundreds of mountain peaks over 6,000 masl. The HKH provides ecosystem services that directly sustain the livelihoods of 240 million people living in the hills and mountains. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report-4 announced that climate change will be the most prominent force of global change in the modern era and that the HKH region is seen as ‘a data gap’ area, lacking consistent long-term monitoring. The report calls for national, regional and global attention towards filling this data gap. Unfortunately, not much progress has been reported in IPCC 2014 AR-5 on the HKH region in this regard.
While initial progress has been made by universities, NGOs, and science organizations in the region, in assembling and consolidating existing data, the information remains too fragmented and incomplete to derive any meaningful conclusions about trends and scenarios. The need for an evidence-based assessment which brings together hundreds of scientists and policy experts persists. A comprehensive assessment could greatly assist in addressing threats, acting on opportunities, and scaling cutting edge approaches. At the same time, looking to the success of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), a regularized system of monitoring which can generate powerful data about the key trends and scenarios in the region is needed.
Steering Committee
Steering Committee (Chairperson)
Steering Committee (Convener)
HKH Assessment
More than 350 researchers, practitioners, experts, and policy-makers were involved in drafting the HKH Assessment Report. The process involved: Framing of the assessment: An initial framing workshop and consultation with various experts defining the structure and process of the assessment; Drafting of chapters: The experience of other assessments, engaging a network of people with in depth knowledge of the region has drafted the chapters; Extensive review: The draft, the chapters and sections outline, will be modified/revised and shared with respective group of people for more suggestions and inputs before finalizing it; Active communication program: Steering committee to look into issues that have been discussed on the overall structure, chapters and timeline; Engagement with policy makers: The assessment will be linked to policy makers in the region through various processes through a policy reference group, Development of a summary document: A Summary for Decision Makers will be prepared based on the results of the process, Publication and Launch: The assessment book was published in early 2019. Access the full text of HKH Assessment Report
Recognizing Food, Water and Energy as the critical lenses for the HIMAP process and defining the nexus among these threads, in different country contexts within HKH, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organized a two day workshop (15-16 October 2014) at ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together different scientific and educational institutions, and experts/researchers to debate on issues related to research particularly focused on food, water and energy in the Himalaya. The deliberations were focused on:
The workshop was attended by over 30 experts, social scientists, senior officials from government Ministries, development practitioners and senior Fellows. The two-day deliberation was organized into highly participatory sessions, each session with a facilitator and panel members. Dr David Molden provided the brief on the Overview, Goals, & Progress of HIMAP and Dr Eklabya Sharma presented on the HIMAP Structure.
Dr Lars-Otto Reiersen, Executive Secretary of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme gave a presentation on the key achievements and lessons learned in the arctic context. Dr Shobhakar Dhakal of the IPCC gave a presentation on the IPCC context and the process that would need to be followed to develop a chapter on mountains in the next IPCC report.
The major deliverable was in the form of a road map for strengthening research in the Himalayas. The areas of the workshop were limited to the questions on the diversity of situations and the implications for the food-water-energy nexus. The diversity of the mountain context was stressed as well as the need to derive locally specific solutions. The workshop concluded with a note that several overarching themes or topics are needed to look more specifically at the food-water-energy nexus with this perspective. Outcomes of the workshop will be presented to ‘Himalayan Circle’ meeting in Thimphu.
The Second HIMAP workshop was held from 4 to 6 February 2015 in Thimpu, Bhutan, focusing on Drivers of Change. This workshop was held back to back with the ‘Himalayan Circle’ meeting held in February 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan.
This provided opportunities for technical experts who attended the assessment meeting to start dialogue with policy makers who would be specifically joining the ‘Himalayan Circle’ meeting.
Meet the team
Lead Author Food and Nutrition Security in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Unique Challenges and Niche Opportunities
Lead Author Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Stronger Action Urgently Needed
Lead Author In the Shadows of the Himalayan Mountains: Persistent Gender and Social Exclusion in Development
Lead Author Status and Change of the Cryosphere in the Extended Hindu Kush Himalaya Region
Lead Author Meeting Future Energy Needs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Governance: Key for Environmental Sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Exploring Futures of the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Scenarios and Pathways
Lead Author Migration in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Drivers, Consequences, and Governance
Lead Author Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Air Pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Drivers of change to mountain sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Disaster Risk Reduction and Building Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Understanding and Tackling Poverty and Vulnerability in Mountain Livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Lead Author Unravelling Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Rapid Warming in the Mountains and Increasing Extremes
Lead Author Status and Change of the Cryosphere in the Extended Hindu Kush Himalaya Region, Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Drivers of change to mountain sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Disaster Risk Reduction and Building Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Understanding and Tackling Poverty and Vulnerability in Mountain Livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Governance: Key for Environmental Sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Status and Change of the Cryosphere in the Extended Hindu Kush Himalaya Region
Contributing Author Unravelling Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Rapid Warming in the Mountains and Increasing Extremes, Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Unravelling Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Rapid Warming in the Mountains and Increasing Extremes
Contributing Author Food and Nutrition Security in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Unique Challenges and Niche Opportunities
Contributing Author Meeting Future Energy Needs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Contributing Author Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Stronger Action Urgently Needed
Contributing Author Exploring Futures of the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Scenarios and Pathways
Contributing Author Air Pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Food and Nutrition Security in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Unique Challenges and Niche Opportunities
Coordinating Lead Author Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Stronger Action Urgently Needed
Coordinating Lead Author Air Pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Unravelling Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Rapid Warming in the Mountains and Increasing Extremes
Coordinating Lead Author In the Shadows of the Himalayan Mountains: Persistent Gender and Social Exclusion in Development
Coordinating Lead Author Meeting Future Energy Needs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Exploring Futures of the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Scenarios and Pathways
Coordinating Lead Author Understanding and Tackling Poverty and Vulnerability in Mountain Livelihoods in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Governance: Key for Environmental Sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Status and Change of the Cryosphere in the Extended Hindu Kush Himalaya Region
Coordinating Lead Author Disaster Risk Reduction and Building Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
Coordinating Lead Author Migration in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Drivers, Consequences, and Governance
Coordinating Lead Author Drivers of change to mountain sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
