Fostering Knowledge, Innovation and Climatic Adaptation in Himalayan Region

Recognizing the climatic changes and their impacts in Himalayan Mountains, Prakriti a mountain environment group based in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, India founded a Pan-Himalayan initiative called ‘Climate Himalaya’ to divest its efforts in Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Mountain Development. The initiative was launched formally on June 5, 2010 at IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand, India) on the occasion of World Environment Day in partnership with Indian Water Resources Society (IWRS) and Times Foundation New Delhi, with the representation from Andes and Himalayan countries like Chile, India and Nepal.

The Need

It is evident that the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is in a state of crisis, affecting the population vulnerable under various environmental changes. The region lacks coordinated and comprehensive research about the scale and extent of such worsening changes, whereas the library of any such research on various aspects, wherever available, remains a great deal academic and policy implementations on various scientific and developmental fronts are largely disjointed.

It is felt that the research done in an uncoordinated manner is the reason why knowledge is not shared effectively in the region. There are sheer knowledge gap and lack of understanding on various mountain and climate linked issues, while no adequate shared understanding and action plan are in place for the regional problems as a whole, and no map of potential risks.  It has also been observed that there is either missing or disconnected leadership among various stakeholders in Himalayas. Despite financial investment the results are deficient in making a difference due to inadequate planning, poor implementation quality and outreach actions.

Vision

To serve as a link between practice, science, policy and decision making towards climate change and sustainable mountain development.

Mission

Our mission is to work on knowledge networking through innovative means to develop adaptation actions in Himalayan region.

Closing Knowledge Gap

The Climate Himalaya initiative works towards the need of closing the knowledge gap in the Himalayan region by developing a knowledge sharing platform, strengthening the capacities of people and organizations, generating awareness and developing leadership. We work on a broader framework of fostering ‘knowledge’, ‘innovation’ and climate ‘adaptation’.

Scope of Work

Countries of Work: India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan (initially) China and Bangladesh (in future) through partner’s and various stakeholder’s involvement.

Thematic Areas:  Ecosystem, Water, Forest and Livelihood

Focal Actions: Awareness generation, Advocacy, Knowledge networking, Capacity building and Research.

Work

The initiative envisions a systematic reform in the present environmental governance system in Himalayan mountains, working closely with volunteers and partners in building an interactive platform, scientific and practitioners’ database and a leadership network. It also keeps the mountain people updated about various climate adaptation and mitigation processes in the region. As our first phase of activities we are working on knowledge sharing, networking and outreach activities. Link: http://chimalaya.org/about/

Our Take: Who Funds our will…!

With a belief that we don’t always require project funds to set examples, spread ideas and make things happen, we launched Climate Himalaya in 2010, and in about less than two years we succeeded in raising voice on various mountain and climate issues through our knowledge networking, knowledge sharing and partnership building actions. We could see that our voice has made substantial difference in advocating various important policy aspects on knowledge management and institutional networking.

Future Support

We need long and short term financial support to implement our ongoing activities like ‘Mountain 2020 Campaign’,  Knowledge Portal ,  ‘Mountain Voice’ series,  Discussion Forum or planned climate change courses. You can also contribute to this initiative through other various possible means like individual donation, holding a joint workshop, meeting or seminar, sending us communication material or publications, or by writing blogs/columns etc. Please let’s know in case you need any clarification or proposal for this purpose, at info@chimalaya.org