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

16 Dec 2021 Press releases
IUCN report identifies sites with World Heritage potential in Himalaya and beyond

A new report lists seven broad areas in the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram mountain ranges where new ...

11 Aug 2015 News
Stakeholders discuss way forward for adaptation programme

Representatives of the promoters, partners, and stakeholders of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) met in Delhi from 17-19 June 2015 ...

13 Dec 2017 News
Commitment to Support Integrated River Basin Management in Nepal

Over the course of the next five years, policy and implementation efforts will be made to support integrated river basin ...

29 Jul 2015 News
Early warning systems for Mahottari

Three community-based flood early warning systems (CB-FEWS) were installed at different sites along the Ratu River in Mahottari District in ...

19 Feb 2016 News
Reducing Koshi Water Vulnerability

  Discussing solutions around water security and water-induced disasters in the Koshi basin, specialists from the Koshi region gathered in Patna, ...

24 Aug 2018 SANDEE
Nurturing Evidence-based Solutions for a Sustainable Future in South Asia

Twice a year, SANDEE requests research concept notes in any area of environmental and resource economics with implications for poverty ...

15 May 2015 News
A preliminary assessment of potential lower Pisan landslide dam outburst flood

In the aftermath of the 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, ...