This chapter provides an introduction to the Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the HKH (HI-WISE) assessment report. It provides an overview of the assessment scope and covers key concepts and frameworks used across the report.
Chapter 1 explains the report’s significance, given the need for an updated assessment specifically focusing on cryosphere–hydrosphere–biosphere–society linkages in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The report systematically explores the ecological and social aspects of cryospheric change and the linkages with water resources, society, and ecosystems.