Current State of Research on and Response to Geomorphological Hazards in Nepal

This chapter investigates the attention geomorphological hazards in NepalNépal have received in literature as well as the roles played by governmental as well as inter-governmental stakeholders, academic institutions and international agencies in responding to these phenomena. While the country is prone to a number of natural hazards, they have not received equal attention in scientific literature and hazard mitigation strategies. Both GLOFs and landslides have received wide attention in research studies and response, while other geomorphic hazards are less comprehensively addressed. Although historical scenarios support multi-hazard occurrence, related multi-hazard studies are limited in NepalNépal and should be prioritized for research to reduce the potential risk. To be able to address these complex natural multi-hazards, extensive disaster risk assessments, as well as a well-maintained and centralized information management systems should be maintained, to anticipate a disaster risk and retain information on disaster loss and damage. While a number of agencies are active in the hazard domain and a number of professional initiatives and solutions are developed, rapid and effective data sharing between all stakeholders and among all levels of Nepalese government are crucial.