The newly formed ‘Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River Basin Network’ seeks to strengthen transboundary cooperation to overcome significant challenges in the region and achieve sustainable development in the region.
Balancing protection and development
Mountains are crucial for ecological protection, serving as vital reservoirs of natural resources and biodiversity. However, their rugged terrain presents unique challenges, including unstable slopes, fragile ecosystems, and natural hazards such as landslides, debris flows, and flash floods. These complexities are further exacerbated by climate change and human activities, making the protection of mountain environments both urgent and difficult. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region exemplifies this intricate dynamic. As a key area for studying mountain ecology, resources, environmental challenges, and sustainable development, the HKH serves as a natural laboratory for understanding the multifaceted nature of mountain environments. Despite its significance, the region faces considerable challenges in balancing environmental protection with sustainable development.
International conference on mountain regions
On 29-30 July, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Sub-Society on Mountain Research of the Geographical Society of China and the Central Department of Geography at Tribhuvan University, hosted the International Conference on ‘Environmental Protection, Modernization, and Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions’. This event aimed to draw attention to the HKH and encourage expanded research collaborations and partnerships across this critical region.
The conference attracted over 150 scientists, scholars, and sustainable mountain development practitioners, including representatives from India, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, the UK, and beyond. Sessions covered a wide range of topics essential to the HKH region, including a Regional Dialogue on Accelerating Climate Resilience in the Hydropower Sector of the HKH Region, which emphasised the need for climate-resilient approaches in hydropower development, given the increasing risks posed by climate change, and an academic session on Disaster Risk, Cryosphere, and Water Research, where participants discussed the growing threats to the cryosphere and water resources in the HKH, and the need for robust disaster risk management strategies.
Key presentations included 'Disaster and Recovery Experience of Upper Bhote Koshi Hydroelectric Project' by Bikram Sthapit, CEO of Bhote Koshi Power Company Pvt. Ltd. He emphasized the crucial collaboration between his company and Chinese scientist Prof. Chen Ningsheng of Yangtze University and IMHE-CAS, who provided support in transboundary disaster assessment and information sharing for the 2016 GLOF that occurred upstream in China but caused significant damage to the Upper Bhote Koshi Hydroelectric Project downstream in Nepal. Additional sessions showcased research updates that underscored the interconnectedness of ecosystems and livelihoods, the importance of sustainable development practices benefiting both people and nature, and the impacts of human activities on land use and agriculture in reshaping the HKH landscape.
Fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge
This conference was one of the largest knowledge-sharing events hosted by ICIMOD, in partnership with organisations from China and Nepal, aimed at disseminating the latest research, identifying knowledge gaps, and setting the stage for future initiatives to address these gaps. More than 60 institutions participated, fostering potential collaboration opportunities, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICIMOD and the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) to collaborate on advancing climate-resilient hydropower development across the HKH.
A notable highlight of the conference was a panel discussion that emphasised ICIMOD's role as a platform for bringing together voices from across the region. Representatives from five regional member countries (India, Bhutan, China, Nepal, and Pakistan) discussed the implications of modernisation and sustainable development for the HKH region's mountains and communities. For example, Ms. Tshering Lhamo Dukpa, Senior Lecturer of Development Economics from Royal Thimphu College, shared her insights into preserving cultural heritage and addressing the development aspirations of mountain communities in Bhutan, while Prof. Fan Linfeng of IMHE-CAS discussed the trade-offs between development and environmental protection, using China's “Clear Waters and Green Mountains” campaign as an example of a people-centered approach to people’s wellbeing that emphasises the importance of harmony between man and nature, reflecting the traditional Chinese philosophy of Tian Ren He Yi.
As the HKH region continues to face environmental and developmental challenges, the collaborative efforts showcased at this conference represent a significant step forward. By fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge, the region's researchers and institutions are better equipped to address the complex issues ahead. This conference not only highlighted the importance of protecting mountain environments but also emphasised the need for sustainable development that considers both ecological integrity and the well-being of the communities that call these mountains home.
Event page:
Media coverage:
中国地理学会山地分会2024年学术年会在尼泊尔加德满都召开 https://www.gsc.org.cn/gsc/xueshuDetail.html?id=20&contentId=1756
http://www.imde.cas.cn/kydt_2015/202408/t20240802_7240513.html