Dissemination workshop on Decision Support Tools and Approaches for Integrated Mountain Development was jointly conducted by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) from 14 to 15 May 2009.
Prof. Dr. Cheng Shengkui, Deputy Director of Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), in his welcome speech, highlighted the importance of developing effective decision support tool (DST) in view of the emerging issues in the HKH region attributed to climate change and attached high significance to the HKKH partnership project between IGSNRR and ICIMOD in this regard. He said ICIMOD as a developer of the DST, is one of the first and foremost regional institutions promoting geo-based solutions for sustainable development in mountain region.
Speaking in his keynote presentation, Mr. Basanta Shrestha, Division Head of Mountain Environment and Natural Resources’ Information System (MENRIS) of ICIMOD spoke of the HKH as the “Third Pole” and critical role it plays as fresh water source, and climate change indicator in view of the present climate change. He highlighted emerging issues in the region due to various drivers of change including climate change and population dynamics and the need for collaboration to develop effective decision support tool, a key to adaptation response. The fact that HKH is a hot spot of biodiversity and natural hazards warrants strong research based DST to help decision making for which scientific database is critical.
Another Keynote Presentater Prof. Zang Yili, Head of LUCCR, IGSNRR highlighted high mountain areas as sensitive to climate change and thus spoke of the importance with regard to global climate change research. He said high alpine issues are associated with fragile ecosystem and poverty.
Dr. Andreas Schild, Director General, ICIMOD reiterated and reinforced the issues presented by earlier speakers on problem associated with climate change and adaptation in the HKH. He said the problem such as water scarcity, natural hazards, and land degradation, and inadequate long term data for scientific research to design adaptation strategies is a major concern. Life of over 200 million people living in the Himalaya and also in the plains he said depends on the resources that the Himalaya represents.
Participants of the events
