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PHOTO CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
We're excited to announce the long-awaited results of this photo contest! We received an overwhelming response to our call, with 700 photos submitted by 188 photographers from 6 Hindu Kush Himalayan countries. The entries were evaluated by a panel of four independent judges, including two professional photographers and an ecosystems specialist.
Judging the entries was challenging. The images covered a lot of ground, from the ice stupas of Ladakh to coastal forests devastated by cyclone, biodiversity, and tree planting. We also received drone images, a first for any photo context that we have organised – and a reflection of the changing nature of photography in our region.
Ecosystem restoration is not really an abstract idea, but it can be challenging to capture it in a single frame.
In the first round of screening, 114 photos made the long list. They were then evaluated using four criteria: originality, clarity of the visual story, composition, and resonance with the theme. Based on the scoring, 29 photos made it to the top 25.
In the final round, the panel rated the 29 photos. The photos with the highest score have been awarded the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes – and the next 10 best images have been featured here as the ‘Top 10 photos of the contest’.
The first prize is awarded to Kacho Amir Khan for his image of Stongdey village in Zanskar, India
Jury: The perspective and stark contrast of ripening crops in an otherwise bleak landscape drive home the message that climate adaptation must address changes taking place in mountainous regions that are on the frontline of climate change, using approaches that build the resilience of socioecological systems.
The second prize is awarded to Susheel Shrestha for his image of birds in a wetland in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal
Jury: This image captures the diversity of bird life in this Ramsar site while also reminding us of the huge problem of invasive species and the need for restoration of wetlands.
The third prize is awarded to Rohit Giri for his image of a mountain pit viper from Nepal.
Jury: The excellent framing and visual brilliance of this image draw attention to the need to consider lesser known taxa in our ecosystem restoration efforts in the mountains.
Caption: Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in Stongdey, with farmers mainly growing barley, wheat, and buckwheat. Agricultural sowing and harvesting seasons are shifting due to climate change at these high altitudes.
Location: Stongdey village, Zanskar, India
Caption: This Ramsar site is home to more than 400 bird species. Wetlands protect and improve water quality and many animals and plants depend on wetlands for survival.
Location: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal
Caption: This photo was taken during a herpetofauna survey in Mustang, Nepal in 2019. The viper was basking on a rock surrounded by wildflowers.
Location: Mustang, Nepal
Caption: Lunana is nine days walk away from Gasa district. Due to its treacherous route, harsh climate and unpredictable weather, it is almost impossible to travel there in all seasons. But those who are willing to defy the odds share their stories of triumph and of greatness – and of the aroma from thousands of herbs in the alpine meadows.
Location: Lunana, Bhutan
Caption: This unique waterbody and its rich diversity has sustained the livelihoods of local communities for centuries. People from 50 hamlets depend on the floating land mass of the lake, which basically comprises matted vegetation and soil, and supports two kinds of floating gardens – raadh and demb – that produce a range of winter and summer vegetables. Local traders take the fresh produce to the floating markets, where the barter system is still practiced.
Location: Dal Lake, Kashmir, India
Caption: Fresh and clean water is vital to health and wellbeing of people and ecosystem. Here, a woman collects discarded plastic bottles from the lake.
Location: Pokhara, Nepal
Caption: This ice stupa (an engineered ice reservoir) was built by the villagers of Tarchit in the Changthang Rong of Ladakh, India. It stores meltwater in winter as ice and provides water for irrigation in the spring. This is an important way to adapt to climate change in a region that relies on snowfall and glacial meltwater for farming. The ice stupa was first developed by Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk and is now built in different parts of Ladakh to address water scarcity caused by glacier recession.
Location: Ladakh, India
Caption: The Inle Lake in western Shan State is famous for its floating villages and gardens and the unique way of life of the Intha people. Intha fishers catch fish by standing on one leg on the extreme end of the boat, with the other leg wrapped around the oar. They are completely dependent on the lake, growing plants on floating platforms from water fern and seaweed fixed to the lake bed using bamboo.
Location: Inle Lake, Myanmar
Caption: This is an aerial view of Tetang Village in the cold desert region of Upper Mustang, Nepal. Until 1992 this region was restricted to outsiders which makes it one of the most preserved regions in the world, with a majority of the population still speaking traditional Tibetic languages. This beautiful village dates back to 500 CE. The majority of people in this village depend on agriculture, livestock and tourism for their livelihood. Life is tough in this inhospitable climate and people often migrate to Pokhara, Kathmandu and India to escape the winter and conduct trade.
Location: Tetang village, Mustang, Nepal
Caption: Khonoma is a Naga village located about 20 km west of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland state, which lies on the Indo-Myanmar border. The village is inhabited mostly by the Angami tribe. In recent years, habitual ethnic and sacred cultural practice of hunting has been stopped by the conservation-minded village elders, except for three days in a year. The hills are covered with lush forestland, rich in various species of flora and fauna, including the endangered state bird, Blyth’s tragopan. Their sustainable agricultural practices, including fallowing and agroforestry, and conservation practices have earned this model Himalayan hamlet global recognition.
Location: Nagaland, India
Caption: Bandarban in the Chattogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh is rich in forests and biodiversity. Several tribes live there and they grow their food and meet other needs from the forests. Here, Murong women are seeding for shifting cultivation, an excellent way to maintain the ecosystem in the hills.
Location: Bandarban, Bangladesh
Caption: A one-horned rhinoceros wallows in a pond to cool down as the temperature rises in Chitwan, Nepal.
Location: Chitwan, Nepal
Caption: The Lower Barun Glacial Lake is one of seven potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Mahalangur Himalaya. An outburst flood can have catastrophic impacts in the environment downstream, which can take years to restore. It is essential to take measures to prevent and reduce the potential impacts on both ecosystems and livelihoods downstream.
Location: Sankhuwasabha district, Nepal
