Workshop on impacts of changing cryosphere on biodiversity and society in Langtang National Park

Impacts of changing cryosphere on biodiversity and society in Langtang National Park

Programmes

River Basins and Cryosphere

Venue

Langtang National Park Office, Dhunche, Rasuwa

Date & Time

28 November 2022

Contact

Sunita Chaudhary

Organisers: Langtang National Park Office, ICIMOD and UNESCO Nepal

About the workshop

As part of our ongoing work in Langtang National Park (LNP), ICIMOD, in collaboration with LNP and UNESCO Nepal is raising awareness about the importance and impacts of changing cryosphere on biodiversity and society among the youth and school children. The workshop aims to make the local youth and school children aware about the impacts of climate change, the anthropogenic pressure on the national park and its resources, and the need for collective action to conserve and enhance socio-ecological resilience.

Objective

Understand the changing environment and its impacts on biodiversity and people of the LNP from a local perspective (youth and school children).
Share findings of the cryosphere-biosphere-society research in LNP to make participants aware about the changing environment
Mobilise eco-clubs to raise awareness about the changing environment and the need for collective actions to enhance socio-ecological resilience

Background

The Cryosphere Initiative aims for a resilient HKH cryosphere through monitoring and research, community engagement, and using knowledge and learning for informed policy making. One of the major priorities of cryosphere research is to improve the understanding of changing cryosphere and its impacts on biodiversity and society and share this understanding with local stakeholders including the youth, media, and school children.

In this regard, ICIMOD and our partners have been monitoring cryosphere changes in in Langtang National Park and the Hidden Valley of Mustang since 2011. Recently, ICIMOD has started exploring the linkages and impacts of cryosphere on society and ecosystems in LNP.

Agenda

Time	Activity	Resource person
9:30-10:00	Registration	ICIMOD and UNESCO
Moderated by: Nirjana Sharma, UNESCO
10:00-10:10	Welcome remarks	Pramod Bhattarai, Chief Warden, Langtang National Park
10:10-10:20	Opening remarks	Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD
10.20-10.30	Special remarks	Her Excellency Torun Dramdal, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal
10:30 -10.40	Remarks	Kaisang Nurpu Tamang, Chairperson, Gosaikunda Rural Municipality
10.40-10.45	Remarks	Michael Croft, Country Representative, UNESCO
10.45-11.30	Tree plantation	15mins drive from Langtang National Park Office to the site
11.30-12.30	Group photo and Lunch
12.30-1.30	Poster drawing competition among school children (five groups with 4 students in each group)	Eco-club, ICIMOD and UNESCO Nepal
1.30-2.15	Poster presentation Reflections from the ground Naukunda Bufferzone Ramche Bufferzone Timure Bufferzone	Eco-club representatives Representative from the Bufferzone Committees
2.15-2.30	Changing cryosphere and its impacts on water resources	Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD
2.30-2.40	Impacts of changing cryosphere on biodiversity	Sunita Chaudhary, ICIMOD
2.40-2.50	Changing cryosphere and its impacts on society –	Amina Maharjan, ICIMOD
Poster and media session – Moderated by Sunita Chaudhary, ICIMOD
2.50-3.45	Poster presentation Group work: Garnering support for conserving and managing our environment with reflections from Langtang National Park	Chimi Seldon, ICIMOD and Rabin Rai, UNESCO Nirajana Sharma and Prakriti Gurung, UNESCO
3.45-4.00	Announcement of winners and prize distribution	H.E. Torun Dramdal, Pema Gyamtsho, and Gosaikunda Rural Municipality
Closing session
4.00-4.30	Remarks Closing remarks	Keshab Poudel, New Spotlight Magazine Eco-club representative
	Closing remarks	Pramod Bhattarai, Langtang National Park
	Vote of thanks	Miriam Jackson, ICIMOD Nirjana Sharma, UNESCO
Tea and coffee