ZCZC
BSS-45
HKH-CLIMATE-CHANGE
Experts call for urgent coordinated action to protect HKH
DHAKA, Nov 5, 2020 (BSS) – The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) is threatened by climate and other changes, and urgent coordinated action is needed to save it, experts have warned.
They were speaking at a session titled ‘The HKH call to action – maintaining the ‘pulse of the planet’ at the ‘GLF Biodiversity Digital Conference: One World – One Health’ recently organised by the Global Landscapes Forum, according to a message received here today from Kathmandu.
The One World – One Health concept is of immense significance at this time, as it advocates the role of biodiversity in preventing future crises of global pandemics and climate change.
The Hindu Kush Himalaya is referred to as the ‘pulse of the planet’ since changes to its cryosphere and biodiversity are a barometer of climate and environmental change across the world. It is a key global asset, sustaining the lives and livelihoods of nearly two billion people.
The session, hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), aimed to highlight the links between biodiversity, landscapes, culture, and health in a post-COVID ‘new normal’.
One of the objectives was also to draw attention to the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic value of the HKH region and the challenges presented by climate and other changes.
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable landscapes. This year’s conference, which was digital owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, brought together top scientists, environmental practitioners, policymakers, banks, corporates, indigenous peoples and local communities to discuss and showcase means to ‘build back better’.
The conference hosted six plenaries, 23 sessions, and over 200 speakers this year, to discuss global challenges related to biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, and public health.
Speaking at the session, Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD, highlighted the uniqueness of the HKH, particularly its rich biocultural diversity and the associated traditional and indigenous knowledge systems that continue to be practiced.
He informed that ICIMOD is committed to improving the well-being of communities in the HKH through three strategic areas of impact: reducing poverty, enhancing resilience by reducing physical and social vulnerabilities, and enhancing ecosystem services.
Dr Gyamtsho also touched upon the complex challenges facing the HKH especially population growth, unsustainable development, migration and climate change, with COVID-19 further compounding these challenges.
In his keynote presentation, Dr Eklabya Sharma, Deputy Director General, ICIMOD, highlighted the ‘HKH Call to Action’ which provides a roadmap for the region with six urgent actions as pathways to prosperity.
These six urgent actions emphasise greater regional cooperation, recognising and prioritising the uniqueness of HKH mountain people, taking concerted action to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees, accelerated actions towards realizing the SDGs, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and facilitating greater data and information sharing.
Dr Sharma also shared ICIMOD’s ongoing efforts in four transboundary landscapes in the HKH, using a landscape approach across boundaries to manage biodiversity and ecosystems and achieve conservation at scale.
A panel of speakers from Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan addressed critical questions related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the HKH.
They highlighted the need for water conservation, reversing land degradation, ecosystem restoration involving local communities – particularly the youth, documenting traditional knowledge systems, and strengthening scientific capacity in the HKH.
The panel included Dr Mehjabeen Abidi-Habib, ecologist and writer from Pakistan; Dr Sarala Khaling, Regional Director, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Eastern Himalaya Programme, India; Dr Fu Yao, Kunming Institute of Botany, China; Sonam Tashi Lama, Red Panda Network, Nepal; and Jamyang Dolkar, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan.
BSS/PR/MRI/KU/1932 HRS