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ICIMOD supports ICFRE in developing State REDD+ Action Plan for Uttarakhand, India
14 Jun 2018
Countries seeking funds from the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD ) programme need to develop a National REDD Strategy or Action Plan. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), through its regional REDD Initiative, helped the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education prepare a National REDD Strategy for India.
READ MOREIndia’s first State REDD Action Plan in the making
11 Jun 2018
A workshop on 25–26 April 2018 in Mizoram brought together multiple stakeholders (44 participants) to prepare a State REDD Action Plan (SRAP) for the state with input from experts. The workshop was followed by an expert consultation on 28 April in Aizwal, Mizoram.
READ MOREHILIFE team conducts ethnobotanical study in nine villages in Myanmar
10 Jun 2018
As part of the Landscape Initiative in Far Eastern Himalaya (HI-LIFE), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and its partners conducted an intensive ethnobotanical study in nine villages in Putao, Myanmar in the first two weeks of May 2018.
READ MOREGoogle Earth Engine Training Workshop Gives Exposure to Professionals and Students in Mapping Our Rapidly Changing World
08 Jun 2018
Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud-computing platform used for powerful remote sensing analysis across space and time. It can be used for large- and small-scale scientific analysis and visualization of geospatial datasets to store, organize, and access satellite images and geospatial datasets. In addition to the tools and cloud computational powers necessary to analyse large datasets, the GEE platform also offers Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) in JavaScript and Python.
READ MOREThe time is right to apply research findings in the Upper Indus Basin Network and expand into all four riparian countries
05 Jun 2018
During the workshop, UIB-N members revised the network’s core principles to make them more suitable across the transboundary landscape. This resulted in modifications to Technical Working Group guidelines, as well as to the network’s objectives, vision, mission, and governance structure. Participants decided that the UIB-N Strategic Committee would include representatives from all four countries. An ad hoc regional strategic committee formed during the workshop was tasked with proposing the network’s governance framework within a six month interim period.
READ MOREKnowledge hub proposed for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Koshi basin
01 Jun 2018
A series of discussions and workshops identified major challenges and concrete steps to address them. Sector experts have long highlighted the need to bridge knowledge and information gaps within the basin, through progressively downstream areas in China, Nepal, and India.
READ MOREAGORA Workshop in Nepal (29 -30 March, 2018)
12 Apr 2018
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a two-day national workshop on Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) on 29–30 March 2018 at ICIMOD, Lalitpur, Nepal.
READ MOREConsultation Workshop on System Design and Methodology Framework for Climate Resilient Forest Management in Nepal
09 Apr 2018
Forests play a vital role in combating climate change and mitigating its effects. In Nepal, they are a source of livelihood for the country’s growing population. With impacts on forests growing due to climate change, forest degradation, and deforestation, it has become even more necessary to develop a reliable climate resilient forest management system. To combine science with practice, the SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Department of Forests, Government of Nepal (DoF/GoN), recently organized a consultation workshop on the system design and methodology framework for climate resilient forest management in Nepal.
READ MOREStrengthening Farmers’ Knowledge on “Animal Nutrition and Health Care for Improving Dairy Production” in the Kangchenjunga Landscape, India
05 Apr 2018
Over the three days, participants received training in several facets of dairy farming, including animal nutrition and feeding practices, healthcare and medication, as well as livestock management and dairy entrepreneurship. The training was conducted by experts from DISHA, TMI, and ICIMOD and comprised theoretical sessions as well as practical demonstrations and field observations in selected progressive dairy farms.
READ MOREICIMOD and SAPLING Project of HKI Collaborate to Promote Beekeeping in Ruma upazila, Bandarban
04 Apr 2018
Under the European Union-funded Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) initiative, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) partnered with the Bandarban Hill District Council (BHDC) to train selected lead farmers on modern beekeeping practices in Ruma upazila from 29 October to 3 November 2017. Following training, four out of five participants from Bethel para and three out of five participants from Munlai para took up modern beekeeping.
READ MOREICIMOD Regional Board Member Ding Zhongli Elected Vice Chairperson of China National People’s Congress Standing Committee
04 Apr 2018
Ding Zhongli, an International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) regional board member from the People's Republic of China, was elected Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the first session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, China’s capital, on 17 March 2018. The NPC is the top national legislative body in China. Ding was a member of the Standing Committees of the 11th and 12th NPC.
READ MOREGilgit-Baltistan partnership in disaster risk management: key effort in enabling mountain people understand and respond to consequences of climate change
03 Apr 2018
Building on collaborations on disaster management in Gilgit Baltistan in 2017, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GB-DMA), and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) have reinforced their commitment to improve disaster risk management in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, by joining hands to develop the Disaster Risk Management Plan of Gilgit Baltistan.
READ MOREMyanmar works towards linking REDD+ with SDGs and NDCs
30 Mar 2018
Country commitments to mitigate and adapt to climate change are an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 global goals that countries have adopted to guide development efforts. The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism contributes directly in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land). These goals address climate change, reducing deforestation and sustainable use of ecosystems. REDD+ can also contribute indirectly to other SDGs, including ones that address poverty reduction, health and well-being, hunger alleviation, and improving institutions.
READ MOREICIMOD delegation discusses REDD+ activities in Mizoram, India
30 Mar 2018
ICIMOD’s Director General David Molden and Deputy Director General Eklabya Sharma met with the Honorable Chief Minister of Mizoram Pu Lal Thanhawla and discussed various activities undertaken in Mizoram under REDD+ Himalayas project. The ICIMOD delegation also visited the villages Reiek and Ailawng and interacted with local farmers, and observed the operation of the turmeric solar drier and its utilization by the local farmers.
READ MOREGovernance study of Community-Based Forest Management Systems (CBFMS) completed in Myanmar
30 Mar 2018
The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism (REDD+) is designed for developing countries where, coincidentally, Community-Based Forest Management Systems (CBFMS) have become more popular. In 2002, about 22% of the total forest area was legally under CBFMS and in 2007, it increased to 27%. Eventually, forest management regimes in developing countries could be dominated by CBFMS.
READ MOREPromoting Ecotourism in the Hkakabo Razi Landscape, Myanmar
23 Mar 2018
Local people, district government representatives, and representatives from the private sector in Myanmar gathered together to discuss prospects for ecotourism in the Hkakabo Razi Landscape at a two-day stakeholder consultation workshop in November 2017.
READ MOREKSLCDI promotes its Kailash—Truly Sacred brand at 6th International Herbal Trade Fair in Bhopal, India
19 Mar 2018
A team from the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) travelled to Bhopal, India, in December 2017 to participate in the 6th International Herbal Trade Fair organized by the Madhya Pradesh State Minor Forest Produce (Trade and Development) Federation Ltd. This marked the second time KSLCDI participated in the event, the first being in 2016. The team members were there to promote the Kailash—Truly Sacred brand and disseminate knowledge about the key achievements of KSLCDI.
READ MOREGreening Barren Land: Facilitating Irrigation and Agricultural Activity in Upper Hunza, Pakistan
19 Mar 2018
A new World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) project is set to pilot water-lifting technologies appropriate for the irrigation of barren lands in Upper Hunza, Pakistan . The project will enable and facilitate the process of pumping water from the Indus River to surrounding areas, enabling farmers to use the water for agricultural purposes.
READ MOREICIMOD Delegation Observes REDD+ Activities in Mizoram, India
14 Mar 2018
ICIMOD’s Director General David Molden and Deputy Director General Eklabya Sharma are currently in Aizwal, Mizoram, to observe ongoing ARCBR research activities. ICIMOD and ICFRE are collaboratively implementing the REDD+ Himalaya Project in the state of Mizoram. Molden and Sharma are also observing the progress of activities carried through this project during their visit.
READ MOREICIMOD DG Pays Courtesy Call to Chinese Ambassador to Nepal
12 Mar 2018During the visit, Molden introduced ICIMOD as a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), and emphasized that China has been an important regional member country for ICIMOD. He also expressed the organization’s appreciation for the Chinese Embassy’s support of its work.
READ MOREMelanesian Delegates Visit Nepal to Learn About REDD+ and Community Based Forest Management
05 Mar 2018
Delegates from Pacific Island countries—the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea—visited Nepal from 5 to 7 September 2017 to learn about Nepal’s successful community forest management, and the benefit sharing mechanism and safeguards system adapted by Nepal. The visit was organized by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and ICIMOD’s Regional REDD+ Initiative with the objective of fostering transboundary exchange and learning. Twenty-four participants from the four countries visited two forest sites—a community forest in Chitwan and a collaborative forest in Nawalparasi.
READ MOREChina, India, Nepal, and Pakistan Partners to Strengthen Sea Buckthorn Value Chain
23 Feb 2018Sea buckthorn is a high-altitude mountain niche product known for its ecological, nutritional, and economic benefits. Growing at elevations ranging from 4000 to 14,000 feet, the plant can withstand extreme temperatures of up to minus 40 degrees Celsius. The plant controls soil erosion, and its fruit, which is rich in Vitamin C, is known for its anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Sea buckthorn has high demand in the international market for use in food, medicine, and beauty products.
READ MORERegional Workshop on Planning Transboundary Technical Collaboration for Landscape Management
22 Feb 2018
ICIMOD and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) hosted the workshop. Khin Maung Yi, Permanent Secretary; Naing Zaw Htun, Deputy Director; and other staff members represented MONREC. Maung emphasized the importance of wildlife traffic control, resource use and management, collaborative research and monitoring for sharing resources and encouraging conservation across the landscape.
READ MOREManual on Planning Management for Ecosystem Services Launched
21 Feb 2018
A training manual on planning management that presents key knowledge and six steps for setting objectives and choosing actions to manage environments for multiple ecosystem services has recently been developed. It was designed by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United National Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP WCMC) to support ecosystem management work being done by ICIMOD and its partners in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).
READ MOREICIMOD Supports LAKI through Side Events at Major International Conferences
30 Jan 2018
In May 2017, ICIMOD organized a LAKI side event during the Bonn Climate Change Conference at the World Conference Centre in Bonn, Germany. The event brought together country delegates, representatives of regional centers and networks, the academia, research institutions, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors, and knowledge brokers. The objective was to facilitate a dialogue on the modalities, challenges, and opportunities related to closing adaptation knowledge gaps in different regions of the world. The event also featured a call for expressions of interest to close priority knowledge gaps identified through the LAKI for the HKH subregion and support the implementation of the LAKI in new subregions.
READ MOREPhotoHKH winning entries
26 Jan 2018
ICIMOD is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 PhotoHKH photo competition. Over one month, ICIMOD invited photographers of all ages and skill levels to submit photos under two categories – the ResilientHKH photo story contest and the Mountains Under Pressure single photo contest – representing the themes of climate, hunger, migration, and resilience.
READ MORECryosphere in service for the people of HKH
24 Jan 2018
One major cryosphere service is the cryosphere’s role as a climate indicator. “Changing glaciers are very visible indicators of climate change” said Miriam Jackson, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). “We cannot directly see how carbon dioxide has increased, or how the temperature has been increasing but we can see what is happening to a glacier” she said.
READ MORELeveraging Collaboration for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Koshi Basin
24 Jan 2018
Through a panel discussion, four panelists shared their perspectives and experiences in relation to DRR. Jyoti Raj Patra, Project Manager, Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA), stressed the high cost of non-cooperation and said that collaboration among stakeholders between disasters is equally or more important than during disasters. Arti Sinha, Deputy Director, Flood Management Improvement Support Centre, Water Resources Department in Bihar, noted that Bihar, a state that has been facing natural disasters frequently, now has a DRR Roadmap (2015–2030) which has synergized inter-departmental efforts to reduce the vulnerability of communities living in multi-hazard environments.
READ MORECryosphere Initiative field activities for the autumn 2017
24 Jan 2018
A total of four research expeditions were carried out on research sites in Bhutan and Nepal as part of the data collection and research expedition by the Cryosphere Initiative under its cryosphere monitoring programme (CMP). Research sites include Thana Glacier in Bhutan, and Yala Glacier in Langtang Valley, Rikha Samba Glacier in the Hidden Valley, Mustang, Nepal. The field activities started in late August and ended in November 2017, just before the winter months kicked in.
READ MORERiver basin approach demands coordination among multidisciplinary agencies: interview with Prem Paudel, Chief of the Planning Section, DSCWM
23 Jan 2018River basins are characterized by typical features where all ecological, environmental, and economic principles are in harmony. Proper management of these principles can support sustainable and effective development through coherent policies and programmes. Major initiatives under the river basin approach include infrastructure development, scientific and sustainable management of natural resources, and building local ownership.
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