Binaya Pasakhala

Chapter 5 of the Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the HKH (HI-WISE) assessment report presents the current state of knowledge regarding the impacts of cryospheric change on high mountain societies as well as observed adaptations to associated challenges and the contributions these responses make to sustainable mountain development. Cryospheric change is hitting already marginal and vulnerable mountain peoples hard, and the adverse effects are set to accelerate. Current adaptation approaches have been small-scale and incremental and insufficient to address future needs of communities. Population growth and infrastructure development have exposed communities to increased cryosphere-related hazards and future disasters will be costlier and deadlier.

The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). However, as mountain communities depend heavily on natural resources for their daily livelihoods, governance is especially crucial to ensure sustainable use. Moreover, disadvantaged groups like women and indigenous peoples are particularly affected by weak governance. For this reason, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is committed to promoting equity and empowerment for mountain people through improved governance.