Research & Management

Hosting the world’s highest mountain ranges and a world heritage site, the SNP and CKNP socio-ecosystems are of outstanding national and regional importance with respect to resource provision, biodiversity, and the tourism economy. The decision, evaluation and monitoring tools developed by the HKKH Partnership Project are applied and field-tested in the course of the engagement for the sustainable development of these systems: Participatory scenario planning exercises have been conducted in Nepal and Pakistan to explore possible long-term scenarios for these ecosystems. Several preliminary assessments have been carried out to develop research and baseline studies on wildlife, glaciology, biodiversity, forestry and livelihoods in CKNP. A series of workshops has been organized to develop a common management planning process and build partnerships for research and a landcover map that corresponds to FAO-standards is in process for both sites Using sound scientific knowledge to support the management process of mountain ecosystems is one of the coditions to achieve sustainability together with the effective participation of the stakeholders directly depending on and managing those ecosystems. Currently major gaps exist in the knowledge of crucial socio-ecosystem dynamics of the HKKH mountain complex and no clear mechanism is established linking research with management priorities. At the same time, results of past international research are often not available to national institutions and communities directly involved in the management process. Strategies and tools will be developed to bridge research and management thought the development of “Research Gateways”, platforms dedicated to foster the sharing of existing knowledge and data as well as brining together the management and research communities with a common goal: sustainable ecosystem management.