Hindu Kush Himalaya
Source: Indian Express
GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Overview
- News in Brief
- About the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)
Why in the News?
Scientists declare Hindu Kush Himalaya a biosphere on the brink of ‘collapse’.
News in Brief
- Scientists declared the Hindu Kush Himalaya region a biosphere on the brink of collapse
- They called for bold action and urgent finance to prevent nature loss in one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth at a key meeting of global biodiversity experts.
- The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued the call as more than 130 global experts convened in Kathmandu, Nepal, for the Third Lead Authors meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) nexus assessment to examine the linkages between food and water security, health, biodiversity and climate change.
- The meeting got underway on Monday and will continue until February 9, with a summary for policymakers scheduled for February 10-11.
- This is the first time an IPBES assessment meeting is being held in South Asia.
About the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge-sharing centre.
- It serving the eight regional member countries (RMCs) of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
- These countries includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- The HKH region is a vast area range in northern Afghanistan to the Arakan range in Myanmar, with the Himalayan range as its spine,.
- It also includes the Tibetan Plateau.
- ICIMOD promotes and fosters partnerships amongst the RMCs to secure a better future for the people and environment of the HKH region.
Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)
- The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is a vast mountain range spanning approximately 3,500 kilometers across Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
- It is one of the most significant mountain systems globally, renowned for its towering peaks, deep valleys, and diverse ecosystems.
- Around 241 million people live in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, of whom 31 per cent are food insecure.
Overview
- Geography and Topography:
- The HKH region encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, from snow-capped peaks and glaciers to alpine meadows, forests, and river valleys.
- It includes some of the world’s highest peaks, such as Mount Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, and Nanga Parbat, among others.
- Importance
- The HKH region serves as the source of ten major river systems, including the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, and Yellow Rivers.
- These rivers provide water, food, and energy to over a billion people in South Asia. Additionally, the region supports rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems, hosting numerous endemic species.
- Four of the world’s 36 global biodiversity hotspots are in this region.
- Twelve of the global 200 ecoregions, 575 protected areas, 335 important bird areas.
- Climate and Environment
- The HKH region is highly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing rapid warming and glacial retreat.
- This has profound implications for water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods downstream.
- Changes in precipitation patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the melting of glaciers pose significant challenges to communities in the region.
- Challenges and Conservation Efforts
- The HKH region faces numerous challenges, including deforestation, habitat loss, soil erosion, water scarcity, and natural disasters such as landslides and floods.
- Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches that promote sustainable development, conservation of natural resources, climate change adaptation, and regional cooperation among the countries sharing the HKH landscape.
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