Back to news
17 Mar 2015 | Atmosphere Initiative

Conference on alternatives to open agricultural burning

1 min Read

70% Complete

To discuss the extent to which open burning of agricultural residue and waste causes black carbon emissions and to explore mitigation options, a two-day long conference titled ‘Mitigation of Emissions from Open Agricultural Burning in the Wider Himalayan Region’ was held from 20 to 21 February in Kathmandu, Nepal. The event was jointly organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) with sponsorship from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

During the conference, Dr Jessica McCarthy of Michigan Technological University presented the monthly maps of fire hotspots detected by the MODIS satellite sensors from 2003 and 2013. The maps show the location and timing of large agricultural fires.  Around the Himalayan region, burning is most prevalent in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan. Dr Arnico Panday from ICIMOD pointed out that while MODIS captures large fires under clear skies, it does not capture the small short-duration fires of piles of agricultural residue that are common across the HKH region.

In his presentation, Dr Svante Bodin from the ICCI stressed the importance of involving local communities in achieving environmental targets. He said that the CCAC scoping project in the Himalayan region would seek to “answer basic questions like where and when the burning take place, identify the crops that are being burned, the farmers’ reason/s for burning particular crops/lands, and possible alternatives.”

Experts from the region explored alternative methods and options to reduce open burning of the most common crops. They identified potential solutions such as conservation agriculture and other alternative agricultural practices, as well as the conversion of waste and residues to biogas, providing a local source of energy. Over 30 representatives of the scientific community, government officials, international organizations, farmers and farmer organizations, and other relevant experts in agriculture, air quality and health issues, adaptation and climate change participated in the conference.

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 contents

Continue exploring this topic

13 May 2016 Gender
Empowering Women as Agents of Change in Taplejung, Nepal

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalayas (Himalica) Programme, in ...

17 May 2016 News
ICIMOD’s Contribution to Implementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive to Accelerate Socioeconomic Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is Recognised

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MOCHTA) considers ICIMOD’s strategic framework for sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of ...

Trash on Everest. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, it’s time to clean up our act

Read in Chinese   Three actions to #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day Nowhere, it seems, is ...

10 Feb 2015 News
Hands on Training on Herbal Gardening for Teachers of Bhutan

ICIMOD, in collaboration with CoRRB, began promoting herbal gardens in Bhutan’s schools in 2012. Children plant medicinal herbs in their ...

3 Sep 2019 KDKH
The KDKH’s transboundary working group to study impacts of GLOF events in the Koshi basin

In June 2019, a study that used declassified military satellite data showed that a staggering

2 Jan 2015 Climate change
Good science a must to address climate change in the HKH region

He issued a call for enhanced transboundary cooperation to address climate change in the HKH region. “Green house gas emissions, and ...

15 Jun 2015 News
Interview with Mr Chewang Lachenpa on Tourism in North Sikkim

Mr Chewang Lachenpa, a former executive member of the Lachen Tourism Development Committee, ...