In 2022 – 2023, Nepal achieved a remarkable 4.33 per cent increase in paddy production, churning out 5.72 million metric tons. The images captured by the satellites provided the crucial baseline information that was required to develop this production data. This technology is known as ‘remote sensing-supported crop area mapping ’, and was conducted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Department (MoALD).
In the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), we face numerous environmental challenges that demand innovative solutions. Powerful tools like Remote Sensing (RS) and Geoinformation Systems (GIS) play a key role in addressing environmental challenges in the HKH region through data-driven decision-making.
To harness the power of these tools, we need skilled professionals who can interpret data and turn it into meaningful actions. That’s why educating our students in RS and GIS is essential.
Educating students in these technologies is vital to develop local expertise and future readiness in disaster management, to address critical challenges in climate change, food security, water and related disasters, land use, and air quality.
When the Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS (IRS) of Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, joined forces with SERVIR-HKH, an initiative implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the aim was to set an example in regional capacity-building collaboration to strengthen institutions. This has now started bearing fruits for the IRS as the institute has been able to produce students who are pioneering geospatial research in Bangladesh; at a larger level, the partnership has also elevated the institute’s academic standards.
Last year, under this SERVIR-HKH initiative, 10 IRS students were awarded funding to delve into research topics of national significance, including water resource management, crop yield estimation, forest cover mapping, water quality monitoring, and large-scale flash flood assessment. Their work, spanning a spectrum of critical areas, was showcased and applauded at a recent knowledge-sharing workshop held on 28 April 2024 at the IRS.
Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, Senior Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Specialist, and Science and Data Lead of SERVIR-HKH, led the workshop and made a presentation on ‘Earth Observation Applications for Improved Climate Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’. This presentation was replete with cutting-edge geospatial data and models, offering insights into data-driven decision-making across various sectors. He also provided invaluable feedback to the IRS students on refining their research endeavours.
Following the workshop, there was an outcome-based education curriculum development meeting convened by the IRS. This curriculum, now adopted by Jahangirnagar University, enables faster sharing of technologies, tools, and approaches by regional learning networks.
Recently, the IRS called for admissions for its fourth batch of students since its inception in 2021. This milestone highlights the partnership between the IRS and SERVIR-HKH in nurturing talent and fostering innovation in the field of remote sensing and geoinformation.
Citing the tangible benefits it derived from collaborating with SERVIR-HKH, the IRS now lays emphasis on the transformative potential of partnership programmes. It demonstrates that such synergy between institutions not only enriches academic discourse but also paves the way for impactful contributions to societal and environmental resilience.
Backed by the success of this collaborative endeavour, while the IRS is steadfast in its mission of upholding excellence in education and research, ICIMOD’s SERVIR-HKH initiative is progressing well in its aim to shepherd more such institution-building projects. This is one success story that lays the ground for more.