Back to news
10 Jun 2019 | Press releases

The heritage gap

Conserving cultural and natural heritage in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: leveraging the World Heritage Convention

“The Hindu Kush Himalaya is an extraordinary region the rest of the world doesn’t know enough about,” said Cyril Kormos, Executive Director of Wild Heritage, speaking about the potential of the World Heritage Convention to bring needed visibility, protection, and accountability to sites in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) of outstanding natural and cultural value.

2 mins Read

70% Complete

Currently, there are only 17 inscribed World Heritage sites in a region covering eight countries, four Global Biodiversity Hotspots, and some of the world’s highest and most iconic mountain ranges. The region is also home to more than 1,000 living languages and an extraordinary diversity of cultures. Despite the rich biodiversity and large expanses of wilderness and protected areas, half of the eight countries in the region do not have a natural World Heritage property. Thus, there is large potential for additional heritage sites in the HKH.

Experts and policy makers came together on 30 and 31 May 2019 to revisit existing sites in the HKH, and to explore potential sites and opportunities to link sites across international borders. Discussions during the two-day meeting on “Leveraging the World Heritage Convention for Transboundary Conservation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya” will feed into a comprehensive assessment report planned for the World Heritage sites of the HKH and also focused on providing guidance and clarity about the nomination process to countries interested in specific sites.

In the face of rapid global change, including climate change and large-scale infrastructure development, the Convention has been one of the most effective instruments for protecting large wilderness spaces and preserving natural capital for future generations. However, it is underutilized as a conservation instrument according to Tilman Jaeger, Senior Advisor at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the official advisory body to the World Heritage Committee on natural heritage.

“The Convention is a platform for countries to go beyond business as usual to create conservation gains,” Jaeger said. The protection of large intact wilderness areas is crucial to address threats to biodiversity and those posed by climate change.

Sindhu Dhungana, Joint Secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment, highlighted the importance of transboundary collaboration in protecting the region’s heritage while promoting sustainable development. “Although balancing the protection of a place and the sustainable use of resources comes with many challenges, these can be faced with collective action,” he said.

The argument for taking a transboundary landscapes approach under the Convention is compelling; however, there have been limited systematic efforts to leverage it for conservation in a transboundary context. Particular focus during the meeting was given to exploring sites in landscapes shared by multiple countries where the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is currently working with governments, practitioners, and local communities to promote transboundary landscape management.

“Although there are gaps in our knowledge, we can’t let uncertainty keep us from moving forward. In this we have to keep climate change at the forefront of our minds,” said Sandra Elvin of the National Geographic Society. To assist in moving forward, the planned assessment report will contain a roadmap with gaps and recommendations for future decision making. Based on these and the interest of countries in the region, ICIMOD and other meeting participants will act to better conserve the region’s natural and cultural heritage.

The meeting was organized by Wild Heritage, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and ICIMOD with support from the National Geographic Society.

 

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

11 Aug 2016 Press releases
Research on adaptation and climate change in the Gandaki basin shared with key stakeholders in Nepal

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] From left to right: Gehendra Gurung (Practical Action), Madhukar ...

28 Sep 2024 Press releases
Death toll climbs as torrential rains pound nepal

Kathmandu, 28 September 2024 – Much of Kathmandu stands underwater today and the capital’s main river, the Bagmati, is flowing ...

27 Mar 2016 Press releases
More power for women in water decisions needed

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Dr Tira Foran, CSIRO speaks at the opening of ...

21 May 2015 Press releases
Streamline ecotourism in protected areas, say experts

More than 200 experts, policymakers, government officials, and journalists who participated in the three-day international conference on ecotourism in protected ...

29 May 2023 COP28
Mountain communities, climbers and scientists sound alarm from Everest and call for world leaders to decarbonise now

The climate emergency is here for Earth’s tallest mountain, 70 years on from the first ascent, with two-thirds ...

18 Jan 2015 Press releases
Symposium calls for transboundary cooperation in ‘Transforming Mountain Forestry’

‘Managing Himalayan forest ecosystems on a transboundary scale is critical for mitigating the impact of climate change for sustaining ecosystem ...

4 Feb 2019 Press releases
Landmark study: Two-degree temperature rise could melt half of glaciers in Hindu Kush Himalaya region, destabilizing Asia’s rivers

“This is the climate crisis you haven’t heard of,” said Philippus Wester of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development ...