Back to news
27 Jul 2018 | DFAT Brahmaputra

Synthesizing Knowledge on the Vanishing Springs of the Himalaya

Eighteen water resource management officials and experts from Bhutan, India, and Nepal participated in a writing workshop hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal, to document knowledge and experiences related to revival of springs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).

The writeshop, held from 13 to 15 March 2018, brought together relevant officials and experts from the three countries to present case studies and draft articles on the various aspects of spring revival for peer feedback. The results will be published as a scientific publication so that this knowledge is documented and becomes available to a larger audience.

0 mins Read

70% Complete
Participants of the writeshop in Kathmandu with Aditi Mukherji, Theme leader, Water and Air, ICIMOD.

Springs are the main source of water for millions of people in the mid-hills of the HKH and provide multiple ecosystem services. However, many springs are drying up or becoming seasonal, and most have seen decrease in discharge. The quality of spring water is also deteriorating throughout the HKH. As a result, communities across the region are facing unprecedented water stress. Researchers are trying to study the extent of the problem.

Since 2015, ICIMOD has been working on spring revival in the Nepal Himalaya in collaboration with the Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM). Experts from the two organizations have developed a spring revival protocol, which comprises a set of implementable methodologies. The application of the protocol has seen success – springs have been successfully rejuvenated. However, scarce scientific documentation of the approaches and results continues to be a challenge.

As a follow-up to this workshop, ACWADAM hosted a second writeshop in Pune, India in June. The writeshop was supported by the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

related content

Continue exploring this topic

25 May 2019 News
In conversation with a climate leader

Bhandari has been engaged in climate action and activism since 2013, working with youth groups and organizations. She has been ...

Himalayan Nettle Links Marginalised to Private Sector

  'There is commercial value to each and every thing if you have an eye for it', said Chief Executive Officer ...

29 Apr 2016 News
Glaciology Student Work Presented at ICIMOD

On 8 April 2016, four students in their final year of MS Research in Glaciology shared their thesis progress with ...

12 Jun 2017 News
ICIMOD Celebrates the World Environment Day 2017

Articles written by ICIMOD staff members on the occasion of World Environment Day 2017 River basin management approach could increase agricultural ...

2 Jan 2015 News
“Good science a must to address climate change in the HKH region”

  Speaking at the Sixth People’s SAARC Conference organized by the Nepal Chapter of Nature-Human Centric People’s Movement in Kathmandu, Nepal ...

26 Jan 2018 News
PhotoHKH winning entries

Through PhotoHKH, ICIMOD hoped to draw attention to change happening in the mountain areas of the Hindu Kush Himalaya and ...

30 Sep 2019 Livelihoods
Himalayan large black cardamom: Geographical indication key to developing value chain in the Kangchenjunga Landscape

During the workshop, Kinlay Tshering, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Bhutan, emphasized the need to capitalize on the unmet ...

27 Oct 2016 News
Joint Field Expedition to Thana Glacier in Bhutan

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Cryosphere Initiative and Department of Hydro Met Services (DHMS) in ...