Proceedings of the session on the Hindu Kush Himalayan Yak Network: Building partnerships for conservation and development of yak in the Third Pole – Seventh international conference on sustainable animal agriculture for developing countries

Yaks are integral to the culture, tradition, and social life of the high-mountain communities of the HKH. However, yak herding is impacted by climate change, closure of international borders, and increasing disinterest among the youth in the yak herding system. This has heightened the social vulnerability of the yak-dependent communities. At a parallel session organized during the 2019 “International conference on SAADC”, we discussed the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable yak development in the HKH. The meeting found that supporting and connecting local yak networks to national, regional, and global levels could provide a voice to the herders and a pathway for sustained efforts towards investments. Furthermore, strengthening transboundary cooperation can encourage technological innovation and promote cooperation for technology transfer in yak production