- Researchers at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) describe speed and scale of losses in nature and habitat in HKH region as catastrophic.
- About Hindu Kush Himalaya Region
- HKH Region extends about 3,500 km from Afghanistan in the west to Myanmar in the east.
- Home to largest ice reserves outside Polar Regions, feeds 10 major rivers including Ganga.
- Known as greater Himalayan region or the roof of the world.
- Concerns
- As per Asian Development Bank, HKH region is warming faster than global average and if global temperature rises hit 3°C, 75% of glaciers in Bhutan and Nepal could melt by end of century.
- 70% of the original biodiversity has been lost over last century.
- Initiatives to protect HKH
- ICIMOD an intergovernmental institution (Headquartered at Kathmandu) working towards climate resilient HKH.
- Regional member countries of ICIMOD are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.
- Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP) coordinated by ICIMOD.
- National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, launched by India as part of National Action Plan on Climate Change.
- ICIMOD an intergovernmental institution (Headquartered at Kathmandu) working towards climate resilient HKH.