ICIMOD Annual Report 2019

The stories in this annual report provide a summary of our accomplishments over the last year. They showcase key aspects of our work on multiple fronts – from working with communities, engaging policymakers, facilitating regional cooperation, promoting gender and social inclusion, and generating new knowledge and building capacity – to create positive change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. 

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COVID-19 impact and policy responses in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life in the HKH and compounded the vulnerabilities of mountain communities already impacted by climate change. However, it also presents an opportunity for concrete actions toward the transformation necessary for a more resilient and inclusive HKH.

Inventory of glacial lakes and identification of potentially dangerous glacial lakes in the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali river basins of Nepal, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and India

Glaciers in the Himalaya have been melting at an unprecedented rate since the mid-20th century, impacting flow regimes in major associated river basins. The resultant formation of new lakes and the expansion of existing glacial lakes increase glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks.

Beyond boundaries: Contouring transboundary landscapes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The landscape approach, which informs the Hindu Kush Himalayan transect concept, provides insights into making science more relevant to a general audience and can help research findings gain better traction in regional policies and practices. 

Application of the J2000 Hydrological Model in the Panjshir catchment of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region, Training Manual

This tutorial manual has been prepared with an aim to assist the implementation of the J2000 hydrological model in catchments of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. It has been prepared in such a way that the J2000 hydrological model can be applied independently to other basins.

Forest carbon stock assessment in selected red panda habitats in Ilam and Panchthar districts, Nepal

The red panda is a flagship species and a sensitive biodiversity indicator of ecological health across its range. This forest carbon stock assessment in red panda habitats in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung Corridor in Eastern Nepal, part of the Kanchenjunga Landscape, suggests possibilities for forest cover enhancement and sustainable forest management practices. 

Wild and non-cultivated edible plants and their contribution to local livelihoods in Putao, Myanmar

Wild and non-cultivated edible plants (WNEPs) – collected from natural and semi-natural environments for the purpose of human consumption – have received little attention despite their significant contributions to the sustenance and livelihoods of mountain communities.

Leveraging multi-stakeholder partnerships for integrated water resources management in Afghanistan

Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA) was a two-year project (2018–2019) supported by the National Water Affairs Regulation Authority (NWARA) – formerly the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) – Government of Afghanistan, and the Government of Australia. The project was implemented by ICIMOD and the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO). 

Benefiting from the REDD+ Himalaya Programme: Success stories from Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Nepal

The case studies presented in this report are from work carried out under the REDD+ Himalaya programme in Bhutan; the states of Uttarakhand and Mizoram in India; Shan state in eastern Myanmar; and Dolakha, Gorkha, and Chitwan districts in Nepal. As a benchmark for REDD+ actions, these stories could provide inspiration for scaling out best practices in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and beyond, especially where local communities are at the centre of the programmes.

Establishing Pir-Yakh Glacier as a benchmark glacier in Kabul basin, Afghanistan, November 2019

Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA) is a two-year project supported by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) – Government of Afghanistan and the Government of Australia, and implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO).

Experiences and lessons learnt from HI-AWARE’s climate change adaptation pilots

This Working Paper compiles the experiences and lessons learnt from specific adaptation pilot interventions under the Himalayan Adaptation, Water and Resilience (HI-AWARE) Research on Glacier and Snowpack Dependent River Basins for Improving Livelihoods. 

Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process to support decision making on climate change adaptation

This training manual is based on existing literature on the Analytic Hierarchy Process and is set within the Government of Nepal's National Framework on Local Adaptation Plans for Action. It aims to support adaptation decision makers in government institutions, international agencies, and civil society institutions as well as other development partners in identifying and prioritizing adaptation solutions at the national and sub-national levels.

Proceedings of the workshop on assessing freshwater ecosystems for sustainable hydropower development in Nepal

Anthropogenic and natural disturbances have impacted the health of freshwater ecosystems throughout the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Hydropower development has caused a decline in the connectivity and environmental flows (e-flows) of rivers.

Proceedings of the international forum on cryosphere and society: The voice of the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The health of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) – its cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere – serves as an indicator of the general health of the planet. In August 2019, ICIMOD, Kathmandu University, and the State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences organized the “International Forum on Cryosphere and Society in the HKH: The Voice of the HKH”.

Proceedings of the consultative workshop on renewable energy solutions for enterprise development in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

ICIMOD and IRENA have been conducting a comprehensive scoping exercise to analyse energy needs and gaps in selected key economic value chains in the HKH region, and the opportunities offered by renewable energy (RE) solutions. 

Proceedings of the technical session on regional cooperation for conservation of primates in transboundary landscapes, particularly in the Far Eastern Himalayan Landscape, 5–14 February 2020, Guwahati, India

ICIMOD along with its partners from India and Myanmar participated in the 7th Asian Primate Symposium and organized a technical session on 9 February 2020. 

Proceedings of the workshop on Transboundary Landscapes Regional Programme: Outlook and synergy building for 2020 and beyond

In December 2019, professionals working with ICIMOD’s five Transboundary Landscapes initiatives – currently being implemented across the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir, Kailash, Kangchenjunga, and Far-Eastern Himalayan landscapes – came together to share information and lessons learned over the years, and devise ways to tackle challenges common across these HKH landscapes. 

Proceedings of the consultation meeting on the Gender Resource Group in the Upper Indus Basin Network

In January 2020, ICIMOD conducted a consultation meeting on the Gender Resource Group (GRG) in the Upper Indus Basin Network (UIBN) to discuss possible ways of integrating gender into the UIBN’s work across the larger Indus network to achieve gender-inclusive change.

Proceedings of the workshop on organic potential along the Silk Road

Organic agriculture and growing organic markets present an invaluable opportunity for improving the livelihoods of mountain communities. Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral hold great potential for organic agriculture and trade. On 18 June 2019, the Government of Pakistan and ICIMOD, along with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan, joined hands to organize a national consultative workshop on “Organic Potential along the Silk Road” in Islamabad. 

Upper Indus Basin Network: Promoting Science-based Regional Cooperation, ICIMOD Proceedings

The transboundary Indus River Basin, originating at the lake Ngangla Ring Tsho in the Tibetan plateau and spread across parts of Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan, serves about 268 million people as their primary source of water for agriculture, energy production, industrial use, and human consumption.

Proceedings of the regional knowledge forum on drought: Earth observation and climate services for food security and agricultural decision making in South and Southeast Asia

The majority of Asia’s rural population depends on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihood. However, due to the effects of climate change, agricultural production faces increasing pressure from frequent and extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods. 

Proceedings of the Koshi Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge Hub Nepal country consultation: Building a resilient Koshi basin

Responding to floods, droughts, landslides, sedimentation, and glacial lake outburst floods in the Koshi basin requires collaboration across sectors and among policy makers, academics, practitioners, and communities. 

Proceedings of the second policy roundtable on building climate resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan

The “Second policy roundtable on building climate resilience in Gilgit-Baltistan” explored the possibilities of integrating lessons learnt from interventions piloted by ICIMOD and its partners in the region into relevant policies. 

Mountain agricultural systems: Essential elements for their sustainability

Agriculture is crucial to life in mountain regions. Agricultural systems evolve and transform with people–nature interaction, and accordingly help biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, and climate change adaptation. More than 70% of the rural population in the hills and mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region relies on agriculture.

Community Information Resource Centre: An enabling institutional mechanism for communities to contribute to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation

The Community Information Resource Centre (CIRC) is a self-sustaining community-based institutional model in Wa San Dam Village in Putao District of Kachin State. 

Harnessing the tourism potential of the Far Eastern Himalaya: Putting research to action

ICIMOD and its partners have been conducting research on unlocking this tourism potential in the Indian part of the Far Eastern Himalayan Landscape. The aim is to develop models of sustainable tourism that harness the strengths of the landscape, help communities diversify their livelihoods, and conserve the rich biodiversity.

Bird-based ecotourism for conservation and sustainable livelihoods: Connecting research with policy and practice in the Far Eastern Himalaya

Harnessing the landscape’s potential for bird-based ecotourism The Landscape Initiative for Far Eastern Himalayas (HI-LIFE) – implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and its national partners – aims to scale out such bird-based ecotourism within the landscape’s three member countries – China, India, and Myanmar – and possibly across other Hindu Kush Himalayan countries. 

Regional Drought Monitoring and Outlook System Seasonal outlook

The Regional Drought Monitoring and Outlook System (RDMOS) is an operational service which produces reliable drought indicators for the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region with a specific focus on Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. The system incorporates climatic models with suitable Earth observation data and land surface models to produce drought indices – precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration – and vegetation conditions at 10-day intervals for near real- time monitoring of droughts.

Reaching the most vulnerable: Community-based flood early warning system (CBFEWS)

CBFEWS is an integrated system of tools and plans managed by and for communities. It provides near real-time early warnings when rising flood waters are detected. The warning information is transmitted to caretakers who disseminate the information to the rest of the community, government line agencies, and stakeholders. 

iHeritage: Engaging citizens to map cultural ecosystem services