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River Basins and Cryosphere
The Indus Basin Initiative seeks to build climate resilience across four riparian countries – Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan – by improving the current understanding of water resources and related opportunities and challenges.
Improved understanding of the impact of climate and related changes in the cryospheric and cryo-hydrological regimes, leading to better adaptation strategies
Arun Bhakta Shrestha
Programme Coordinator
Our focus
Improved water resource management in mountain areas is essential for the sustainable development of the region and downstream countries. We seek to increase understanding of water resources-related issues in the basin.
The mighty Indus River is a lifeline for the 268 million people who inhabit the river basin, which includes parts of Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan. The basin is composed of mountainous areas of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya. The Indus River is a major source of water for drinking, household use, irrigation, and energy production in the region. Despite its critical role in sustaining life in the basin, the state of knowledge on the Indus remains far from adequate. Knowledge of key aspects of the river, and information on the effects of climate change on regional rainfall patterns and water balance and snow cover are either confined to academic circles or exist in scattered forms.
Knowledge of key aspects of the river, and information on the effects of climate change on regional rainfall patterns and water balance and snow cover are either confined to academic circles or exist in scattered forms. Realizing this, we started the Indus Basin Initiative in 2013 with the goal of improving understanding of climate change, cryosphere, and water resources and strengthening networks for developing water- and hazard-management solutions in the Indus basin. We work to generate and share knowledge of water–energy–food issues and to build climate resilience in the four basin countries. We also carry out dialogue and advocacy to promote regional cooperation in the HKH.
Actionable proposals for integrated water resource management practices and policies; improved water, food, and energy security; and multi-sectoral collaboration on common challenges
Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan
Information
The Initiative conducts research and exchanges knowledge on agricultural water and hazard management. It has improved understanding of present and future water availability and use in the basin and improved the resilience of riparian communities in the basin through drought information and early warning about upstream flood situations.
News and features
Events around the HKH
HKH
CBFEWS is an integrated system of tools and plans managed by and for communities, providing real-time flood warnings to reduce flood risks.
A fifth of the world’s population depends on rivers that are born in the HKH. Winding for 3,500 kilometres through remote steppes, terraced farmlands, and crowded cities, the 10 largest Asian river systems form ecological communities that are the homes of 210 million people in the mountains and over 1.3 billion people downstream.
The gender network will be a part of the UIBN and provide inputs to its technical working groups from a gender and social inclusion perspective, ensuring women’s agency in food–water–energy governance.
Foster collaboration
The UIBN is an informal knowledge and research network of national and international researchers working in the upper part of the Indus basin. It aims to foster collaborative research in climate, cryosphere, water, hazards and vulnerability, and adaptation-related issues.
Datasets and science applications
The dataset is part of phenometrics produced using time series MODIS 13 Q1 data throught Timesat algorithms.
The mountain climates of the Indus basin are influenced by the broad global circulation patterns associated with latitude, position in the continental mass, and proximity to oceans.
The Indus basin supports a population of about 215 million people, whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly dependent on it.
Find out which countries, government bodies, institutions, and communities are partnering for this Initiative.
Featured partner
One of our key partners, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH-Pakistan), has been honoured with the 2020 World Habitat Gold Award for its “Integrating indigenous knowledge and technology for safer habitat” approach. It is our great pleasure to work with and congratulate AKAH-Pakistan for their outstanding work in helping disaster-prone mountain communities plan sustainable habitats and manage disaster risks!
You will find publications produced or related to this Initiative in HimalDoc, our publications repository. These resources include journal articles, books, book chapters, research reports, working papers, brochures, information sheets, and publicity materials, among other products.
We embrace diversity
Both internally and externally, our multicultural staff and partners are our greatest asset. They provide us with a broad perspective across disciplines and offer us localized knowledge like no other.
Related content
Read more about our impactful work in the Indus basin.
