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The Upper Indus Basin Network and Indus Forum Collaboration Meeting, a joint workshop, was conducted from 22–25 May 2017
. A majority of the participants came from Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan, countries that share the transboundary Indus River Basin. Among the participants were senior government officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and several international organizations. The key objective of the joint meeting was to synergize the efforts of institutions and individuals affiliated to the Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N) and the Indus Forum (IF) to generate and share knowledge on adaptation, climate, the cryosphere, water, and hazards and vulnerability; and support national governments in developing evidence-based policies to serve inhabitants of the Indus Basin
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This Annual Report broadly presents examples that demonstrate progress toward six strategic goals set out in the ICIMOD’s Strategy and Results Framework (2013-2017), documenting its experience over the last year in moving toward action
. This report also shows how the Centre is working with a multitude of partners – including governments, research and development organizations, civil society, the private sector, and communities on the ground – to increase the impact of ICIMOD’s work
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The cryosphere—snow, ice, and permafrost—is an important part of the water supply in the Hindu Kush Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau-Pamir (HKH-TP) region, driving changes in other spheres (hydrological, biological, geophysical) and sectors (hydroelectricity, agriculture, tourism, disasters)
. The cryosphere helps to buffer against changes in streamflows due t
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The cryosphere reacts sensitively to climate change, as evidenced by the widespread retreat of mountain glaciers
. Subsurface ice contained in permafrost is similarly affected by climate change, causing persistent impacts on natural and human systems. In contrast to glaciers, permafrost is not observable spatially and therefore its presence and possible changes are frequently overlooked. Correspondingly, little is known about permafrost in the mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, despite permafrost area exceeding that of glaciers in nearly all countries. Based on evidence and insight gained mostly in other permafrost areas globally, this review provides a synopsis on what is known or can be inferred about permafrost in the mountains of the HKH region. Given the extreme nature of the environment concerned, it is to be expected that the diversity of conditions and phenomena encountered in permafrost exceed what has previously been described and investigated. We further argue that climate change in concert with increasing development will bring about diverse permafrost-related impacts on vegetation, water quality, geohazards, and livelihoods. To better anticipate and mitigate these effects, a deepened understanding of high-elevation permafrost in subtropical latitudes as well as the pathways interconnecting environmental changes and human livelihoods are needed
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Heavy rainfall (480 mm) on 16 July 2015 triggered a huge landslide (DGSE and GDKU, 2016) that dammed the Tui Lam Lui River approximately 52 km upstream of Yazagyo Dam near Hangken Village, Falam District in the Upper Chin hill region in northwestern Myanmar The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry of Myanmar requested ICIMOD to assess the landslide dam and develop a comprehensive management plan to tackle the problem
. The Director of the Forest Department of Chin State organized a short field trip to the landslide dam and lake area in May 2016 and the ICIMOD team led the investigation group. The team used remote sensing data and field data to be analyzed in a geographic information systems environment. Based on collected data, the ICIMOD team concluded there was a strong probability this landslide dam would breach
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Seasonal snow cover plays an important role in water resources availability in many regions of the world and is a key factor in the weather and climate system, both regionally and globally
. Snowmelt can be a source of water for human use, such as irrigation and hydropower production, but can also cause disasters such as floods and slush avalanches. Reliable models must be developed to accurately simulate snow cover and melt, and to obtain reliable forecasts of snow impact on risks and current downstream water availability, and their likely evolution in the context of climate change. In the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), little is known about snow cover and snowmelt processes as in situ measurements are challenging to undertake in remote, high altitude sites. Snow conditions vary strongly with the time of year, region, elevation, and between years depending on the prevailing weather type. In situ data are needed to improve models and increase our understanding of snow accumulation and melt processes
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The climate, cryosphere, and hydrology of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region have changed in the past and will change in the future
. This literature review investigates the state of knowledge on climate change and its projected impact on the cryosphere and hydrology of the HKH, with a specific focus on the implications for hydropower development..
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The ‘international conference on Mountain People Adapting to Change: Solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy, and practice’, held in Kathmandu from 9 to12 November 2014, sought to break down the boundaries between science, policy, and practice in adaptation to climatic and other changes in the mountains and downstream areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas
. Organized by ICIMOD in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, Nepal, the conference brought together over 300 policy makers, development practitioners, climate experts, researchers, and journalists working in the area of climate change and adaptation. It provided a platform for the sharing of information and fostered rich discussions between policy makers, researchers, and practitioners. This publication presents the proceedings and outcomes of the conference, which aimed to find holistic approaches to adaptation that extend beyond political, sectoral, and national boundaries, and that bridge mountain and non-mountain interfaces. Sessions were devoted to consolidating global and regional knowledge and translating them into systematic policy and action; transboundary and transdisciplinary benefit and knowledge sharing; disaster risk reduction and preparedness; the vulnerability and resilience of communities and livelihoods; adapting global climate science and models to the HKH context; and emerging fields of climate research such as black carbon and its impacts on the cryosphere. The conference also addressed a number of crosscutting themes such as gender and power imbalances, knowledge management and dissemination, and enhanced communication between stakeholders. These themes were integrated into the discussions at several sessions as key concerns for adaptation science, assessing policies, and formulating action
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