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 …
Many important and rare medicinal and aromatic herbs are on the way of extinction in Uttarakhand. This is creating major problems for the people and commercial enterprises working in the sphere of Ayurveda in the State. According to information provided by reliable sources, at least 600 medicinal and aromatic herbs …
AMIDST controversies over the melting of Himalayan glaciers, a study by a scientist from the Indian Institute o f S c i e n c e, B a n g a l o r e, claimed that nearly 10,000 glaciers in the Himalayan mountain system, spread across India, Pakistan, Nepal, …
The Himalayan region is dotted with hundreds of lakes from low elevation to the high elevations. Many of the lakes of Himalaya are fresh water ones, with or without inflow and out flow. The Himalayan lakes show varying chemistry in terms of solutes, bio-geochemistry, and mineralogy vis-à-vis eco-hydrology of the …
Biomass burning is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions, most importantly carbon dioxide (CO2). In this study, we used burnt area estimates derived from the L3JRC product to estimate the CO2 emissions from forests. The results suggested than an average of 2,414 sq.kms is burnt annually.
Fire plays important role in shaping ecosystem structure and function. Depending upon the complex effects of fire, it can have either beneficial or harmful effects. In this article, we briefly review the potential of satellite remote sensing data for mapping and monitoring vegetation fires.
Remote sensing plays an important role to discriminate and delineate snow and ice cover in a glacial terrain which are used to estimate the snow melt run-off and also assist in environmental studies. The study area, Manasarovar Lake and the surrounding Himalayan region is the major source of water for …
In many occasions severe water leakage problems are faced in shotcrete lined or unlined water tunnels that not only reduce stability of the rock mass but also result in loss of valuable water in conveying tunnel systems. Such leakage causes safety risks and increases the potential for huge economic loss …
At present, use of SWH is rather limited and scattered in Indian Himalayas. Most of the existing systems are in commercial and institutional buildings (hotels, resorts, hospitals, defense establishments, etc); in general the use of solar water heaters in the domestic sector is very scarce. Northern Himalayan region constituting the …
This report by Chicu Lokgariwar, Peoples’ Science Institute presents the findings of a participatory study conducted in 2009 in the Bhagirathi and Pindar valleys of Uttarakhand to determine the effects of climate change that have the most impact on rural livelihoods. Mountain areas and communities are susceptible to climate change. …
During the last two decades much has been written about the biodiversity richness of country. Avoiding all the numerical details about the documented species an attempt has been made to provide information about the relative forest systems of India. For classifying the vegetation the altitude has been adopted as vital …
News of glaciers retreating in the high mountains of Asia has intensified concerns about impacts of climate change on the hydrological systems of central, south, and east Asia. The overall purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the scientific knowledge about glacier melt/retreat in the high mountains …
This report outlines status and trends of high mountain glaciers in relation to climate change, identifies challenges and knowledge gaps, and finally makes recommendations for adaptation, research and policy. It calls for accelerating research, monitoring and modelling of glaciers, snow and their role in water supplies; and highlights the vulnerability …
POLLUTION IN THE HIMALAYAS Soot gets everywhere. Even into the world's highest mountains T HE Himalayas and the adjacent Tibetan plateau are sometimes referred to as the Earth's third pole, because of the amount of ice they host. They are also known as Asia's water tower. Their glaciers feed the …
CHENNAI: About 50 experts working on climate change will draft the action plan for the next meeting to be held in New Delhi on November 12, said Gerolf Weigel, head of Climate Change and Energy and Deputy Country Director, Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, India, on Monday. Speaking at …
This new report prepared by INCCA, provides an assessment of impact of climate change in 2030s on four key sectors of the Indian economy, namely Agriculture, Water, Natural Ecosystems & Biodiversity and Health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area …
Bilaspur: Himalayan eco-system is very fragile and sensitive. Any large-scale mining activity, as is presently going on in Himachal Pradesh under the garb of development, is not only dangerous but is potentially disastrous also for the future. This clear warning was served both to government and people by Shridhar Murti, …
Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Raghu Bir Singh Rawat on Wednesday flagged off from Dehradun volunteers participating in the Third Great Himalayan Bird Count. Organised by Action and Research for Conservation in Himalayas, the event is supported by the Uttarakhand Forest Department and Uttarakhand Space Application Centre. A mobile …
Mandi: The high-profile Raid-de-Himalayas motor sport rally that reached today at Keylong in snowbound Lahaul-Spiti raised the ire of environmentalists, farmers and tribal writers. They said an ear-blowing convoy of over 140 vehicles had created havoc. Highlighting the impact of the motor rally in the peaceful sylvan valleys of Himalayas, …
