The HKH Snow Update 2025 highlights a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence 23.6% below normal — the lowest in 23 years. This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people. All twelve major river …
Over the course of six years (2006–2011), equivalent black carbon (eqBC), coarse aerosol mass (PM 1–10), and surface ozone (O 3), observed during the monsoon onset period at the Nepal Climate Observatory–Pyramid WMO/GAW Global Station (NCO-P, 5079 m a.s.l.), were analyzed to investigate events characterized by a significant increase in …
The ICIMOD and GRID-Arendal have released a report detailing the food security and agricultural situation in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH). The publication considers how food security is being affected by changing socioeconomic and environmental conditions in the region, including climate change and rising global food prices. The report, titled …
DEHRADUN: The Centre has sought a proposal from Uttarakhand government suggesting possible sites within the state for establishing the proposed Centre For Himalayan Studies. The proposal was sought by the Centre when Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar met Additional Secretary (Forest and Environment Ministry) Hem Pandey in New Delhi yesterday to …
With the Modi government determined to step up growth while simultaneously taking up environmental protection, finance minister Arun Jaitley proposed to set up a 'National Adaptation Fund' for climate change, with an initial amount of Rs 100 crore. The fund will focus on innovative methods of water conservation, use of …
Guwahati: The first ever transboundary survey of reptiles and amphibians carried out in the Indo-Bhutan Manas landscape has indicated the presence of a treasure trove of these speciesPreliminary results of the survey indicates the presence of at least 55 species of herpetofauna comprising 20 amphibian species and 35 reptile species …
International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on Wednesday announced the title of its upcoming conference: "Mountain people adapting to change: solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy and practice." The conference is part of the organization´s annual flagship event on mountain people and climate change adaptation and will be held …
The occurrences of moderate to large magnitude earthquakes and associated subsurface geological processes were critically examined in the backdrop of Indian plate obliquity, stress obliquity, topography, and the late Tertiary regional tectonics for understanding the evolving dynamics and kinematics in the central part of the Himalayas. The higher topographic areas …
Throughout the region, the species commands a high socio-cultural reverence and has been designated as the state tree of Uttarakhand. The blooming of rhododendrons heralds the onset of spring in the Himalayas, but thanks to climate change they are now flowering early in the winter itself, research shows. A study …
The Himalayan region contains some of the most dynamic, fragile and complex mountain ranges in the world. These magnificent mountain ranges play an important role in global atmospheric circulation, the hydrological cycle, and water resources availability, provide a wide range of ecosystem services, and are a source of many hazards. …
Himalayas are widely recognised as being the key to sustained ecosystem services such as hydrological balance, nutrient balance, mitigating climate change, biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods. These ecosystem services are today under threat due to serious loss in forest area and decline in quality of forests which can be measured …
Studies from different parts of the world have generated evidences of the effects of climate change on phenology and persistence of species. However, datasets or evidences, including climate sensitive Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Recognizing this gap in the information and realizing wide-ranging implications of such datasets, the present study generates evidences …
World leaders will need to show “real political commitment” if an international treaty to tackle global warming is to be concluded in Paris before the end of next year, according to the Climate Action Network (Can). Alden Meyer, spokesman for the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists, told a Can-sponsored press …
Anomalies in weather pattern during the last decade in the Himalayan region have now become a point of discussion among scientists and academicians. Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre director Anand Sharma opined that change in weather reported in the last few years is a normal phenomenon. The DAV (PG) College head of …
The Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti said that, “Tributaries of the Ganga are being destroyed by dams in Uttarakhand. Wrong comprehension of development by the Governments and the lack of devotion to the Ganga are the major factors responsible for its deteriorated condition …
Despite retreating glaciers, the amount of water supplied by the Himalayan Mountains will increase in the coming decades, a study from FutureWater, Utrecht University and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) suggests. Glacier- and snowmelt contribute water to ten important river basins originating from the Himalayas and in …
Govt is drawing a plan to increase the number of institutes of hotel management to meet the growing manpower requirement Adventure and religious tourism round the Himalayas as well as identification of tourist circuits will find prominence in the tourism ministry's presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Secretaries …
This could be worrisome for Himalayan glaciers. A team from Jawaharlal Nehru University has found significantly accelerated ice melting on Chhota Shigri glacier in Lahaul and Spiti over the last 10 years. The JNU team, which has been studying the glacier for several years to understand the impact of climate …
The South Asian summer monsoon directly affects the lives of more than 1/6th of the world’s population. There is substantial variability within the monsoon season, including fluctuations between periods of heavy rainfall (wet spells) and low rainfall (dry spells). These fluctuations can cause extreme wet and dry regional conditions that …
The latest report of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has calculated that on an average a mountaineer left behind 65 kg of burnable trash in the Everest region in 2013. In 2012, trash per Everest climber was 48.5 kg. “Up to 25.6 metric tonnes of burnable waste and 2,241 non-burnable …
