Dr. Arvind Kumar, Editor, Focus Global Reporter conducted an interview with Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD. Excerpts from the Interview are reproduced here.
Dr. Pema Gyamtsho is the Director General of ICIMOD. He has served the Royal Government of Bhutan for over three decades in natural resources management and planning, rural development, agriculture, forestry, livestock and food production, rangeland management, livestock development, participatory approaches, research and extension institutional building, climate change and environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and organic farming. He also previously had led ICIMOD efforts in policy and partnerships and regional rangeland management work. In his previous role as Minister of Agriculture and Forests, he was involved and often led to the enactment of over 60 pieces of legialation and throughout his career he has also worked at the graassroot level where he was overseeing the formation of over 400 farmers groups and cooperatives. He holds a PhD in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich.
INTERVIEW
EDITOR: The Mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalaya hold the third largest store of snow and ice after the poles, crucial for the water and food security of 2 billion people in Asia. Given the rapid shrinkage of glaciers and snow-pack due to global temperature rise, what are some of the key challenges ICIMOD faces in addressing cryosphere-related risks, and what innovative approaches is the organization adopting to mitigate these challenges?
DR. GYAMTSHO: Some of the key challenges that ICIMOD faces in addressing cryosphere-related risks are associated with difficulties in collecting, accessing, or obtaining data and information from and for across the Hindu Kush Himalya region needed to better understand current and future risks. This in turn poses challenges in linking upstream and downstream countries and communities in developing and scaling effective risk assessment and reduction solutions. There is still a huge knowledge gap regarding the rate and extent of cryosphere changes that could only be addressed through a coordinated and harmonized approach among the regional countries.
However, there is enough evidence to show that the HKH region is experiencing high rates of warming and melting of glaciers. This was highlighted in the first ever comprehensive assessment of the state of the region (HIMAP) carried out by ICIMOD and published in 2019 which stated that even if the global rise in temperature could be limited to 1.5 degree C, it will be too hot for this region. The second flagship report in 2023 -the Himalayan Water, Ice, Society and Ecosystems (HiWISE) revealed that the rate of glacier mass loss increased by 65%, a significant increase (from an average of –0.17 metres water equivalent (m w.e.) per year for the period 2000–2009 to –0.28 m w.e. per year for 2010–2019). Hence, suggestions for mitigation/adaptation need to consider that the rate of change could continue to increase. The HiWISE report also highlighted that the diminishing snow cover will exert a significant impact on groundwater recharge, consequently reducing spring flows which are crucial for wellbeing of nearly 100 million people in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. In response, ICIMOD is actively advocating for springshed management in the HKH through a combination of protective and restorative measures.
Within the region, there are not many organisations with sufficient capacities to monitor the changes in cryosphere, including analysis of data, especially in Nepal, Pakistan, and Bhutan. ICIMOD is therefore, focusing on capacity building of institutions in these three countries, so that they can carry out their own measurements (both in situ and from remote sensing), analyse the data, and implement the results in planning appropriate adaptation strategies. Towards this end, ICIMOD is providing training on remote sensing, numerical modelling techniques (using open-source software), and fieldwork, including using UAVs (drones) to relevant institutions and other interested participants.
EDITOR: Air pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalayas is a critical issue, with billions regularly breathing air that exceeds safe limits. How does ICIMOD’s clean air unit work to reverse the regional trend of worsening air quality, and what strategies are employed to monitor, assess, and communicate the scale of the problem?
DR. GYAMTSHO: Air pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) is indeed a pressing issue, with significant amounts of pollution originating both within and outside the region, including the Indo-Gangetic Plain. ICIMOD has been actively working to address this problem through a dedicated programme – Stimulating Actions for Clean Air. This programme focuses on generating high quality air pollution-related data in a region that has historically been data-scarce. This data is being shared with relevant entities to inform policies and actions to reduce air pollution that can impact the lives of millions.
One of ICIMOD’s key actions is in supporting regional member countries to set up real-time Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMSs). These stations measure different air pollutant concentrations with high precision and low frequency in different environments. The data from these AQMS, together with other open-source satellite data, air quality models, and emission inventory datasets, is then used to support relevant agencies in the regional member countries to operate dashboards in one integrated platform.
In the coming years, ICIMOD will strengthen its work on regional harmonisation of air quality monitoring and actions as well as creating climate benefits from air quality improvement. Its interventions in the brick sector aim to create an environmentally just and socially equitable brick industry in South Asia. This involves promoting lower emissions, energy-efficient technologies, and safe working conditions.
EDITOR: ICIMOD’s resilient river basins intervention aims to enhance understanding of benefit sharing and risk management opportunities among riparian nations. Could you discuss some successful examples of collaboration between upstream and downstream countries in the region, and how ICIMOD facilitates such partnerships?
DR. GYAMTSHO: ICIMOD’s Resilient River Basins Programme has been instrumental in fostering successful collaboration between upstream and downstream countries in various regions, thereby promoting transboundary cooperation and benefit sharing. In the Koshi Basin, for instance, ICIMOD facilitated the establishment of the Community-Based Flood Early Warning System (CBFEWS) in the Ratu and Khando rivers situated on the Nepal-India border. This initiative, aimed at mitigating flood risks from the above rivers, exemplifies effective upstream-downstream collaboration. Through hands-on training and technical support provided by ICIMOD’s River Basins and Cryosphere Programme, Tiladi Koiladi Rural Municipality was empowered to implement the CBFEWS effectively. Furthermore, ICIMOD’s facilitation of knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders in the basin, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authorities of Nepal and India through Koshi DRR Knowledge Hub (KDKH) has contributed to the sustainability of the initiative.
Similarly, in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), ICIMOD has played a pivotal role in establishing a science-based policy network connecting Afghanistan, China, India, and Pakistan. This network serves as a platform for collaborative efforts to address critical water resource management issues and climate change impacts in the basin. Through conferences, workshops, and special issue publications, ICIMOD facilitates dialogue and cooperation among basin countries, promoting inclusive decision-making processes and gender-sensitive solutions. Overall, ICIMOD’s interventions exemplify how fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange can lead to enhanced resilience and sustainable development in transboundary river basins.
EDITOR: In promoting the use of innovative and inclusive technologies, how does ICIMOD ensure that these tools are accessible and beneficial to all stakeholders, including marginalized communities and women?
DR. GYAMTSHO: ICIMOD takes several critical steps to ensure that innovative and inclusive technologies are promoted to be accessible and beneficial to all stakeholders, including marginalized communities and women. Inclusivity lies at the heart of ICIMOD’s approach. ICIMOD uses various strategies like participatory approaches, sustainability principles, GESI-responsive design, and inclusive partnerships to address the diverse needs and challenges faced by different groups, including women, girls, people with disabilities, youth, and the elderly.
Using a participatory approach, ICIMOD actively involves communities to co-develop and implement solutions, and prioritizes accessibility by making tools readily available and understandable. ICIMOD translates resources into local languages and contexts and designs user-friendly web and mobile apps. Notably, platforms like SERVIR HKH provide free access to satellite imagery and geospatial data, empowering informed decision-making across diverse groups. This commitment extends beyond mere availability, as ICIMOD also invests in comprehensive training programs and local “lead trainers” to ensure effective use of these tools. Furthermore, partnerships with local NGOs and CBOs ensure training sustainability and reach marginalized communities, including women, often left behind in technological advancements. For instance, ICIMOD’s Women in Geospatial Information Technology (WoGIT)program under the SERVIR initiative has trained close to 1500 female professionals on using earth observation data and geospatial information technology for different applications.
In addition, ICIMOD develops tools to cater to specific challenges and actively involves marginalized groups in the design and development of technologies. Projects like the Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems (CBFEWS) and springshed management, exemplify this approach of actively involving local communities including women in data collection and dissemination, empowering them to take preventive actions against disasters.
By prioritizing these strategies, ICIMOD strives to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone, regardless of background or ability, can benefit from innovative technologies for a more equitable and resilient future in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.
EDITOR: Climate-driven disasters, especially floods, have significant impacts on lives, property, heritage, and infrastructure across the region. How does ICIMOD collaborate with governments and other stakeholders to enhance preparedness and resilience to such disasters, particularly in vulnerable mountain communities?
DR. GYAMTSHO: Various strategies are adopted to collaborate with governments and other stakeholders to enhance disaster risk reduction for mountain communities which ranges from risk assessment to policy formulation and advocacy.Through risk assessments, ICIMOD works with partners to identify vulnerabilities and develop frameworks like the Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment with a focus on cascading risks, while sharing data and tools for informed decision-making.At the policy level, ICIMOD collaborates with governments to develop policies and strategies for reducing disaster risk, fostering regional partnerships to leverage resources and expertise.
Early Warning Systems (EWS) are crucial for saving lives and properties. ICIMOD is collaborating with relevant local and national agencies in establishing Community-Based Flood Early Warning Systems (CBFEWS). This system was successfully piloted in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, and is now being scaled up in Bhutan and Bangladesh. The central tenet of CBFEWS is the empowerment of communities through training and capacity building in operating and maintaining the warning mechanism. This fosters ownership and sustainability by creating local government led and community-driven “basket funds” for continued system operation.
ICIMOD’s HIWAT tool offers 5-hour probabilistic forecasts for the HKH region, aiding weather prediction and disaster preparedness. Through the national hydro-met agencies and local organizations, this could be used to empower decision-makers at all levels to manage extreme weather events.
ICIMOD is also building national and subnational capacities to inventories springs so that targeted and informed actions can be taken at policy and programme levels to protect, conserve and revive springs in the HKH.
Finally, ICIMOD works directly with communities to identify their needs and priorities, integrating traditional knowledge into culturally relevant and sustainable strategies for reducing disaster risks. This empowers communities to manage risks themselves, building long-term resilience in the face of disasters. By combining these strategies, ICIMOD plays a crucial role in reducing disaster risk and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable mountain communities across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.
EDITOR: The thawing of permafrost in the region is accelerating, posing additional risks to water resources and infrastructure stability. What are some of ICIMOD’s strategies for addressing these emerging risks, and how do they intersect with broader efforts to promote sustainable development in the region?
DR. GYAMTSHO: Very little is known about permafrost in the HKH, particularly on the steep slopes of the mountains. However, from the limited information available, it is acknowledged that there are extensive areas of permafrost in the high elevation areas. Increasing knowledge regarding permafrost is challenging because remote sensing techniques have limited application to permafrost studies and areas with permafrost tend to be difficult to access.
ICIMOD is now taking a concerted effort to study and understand permafrost changes and risks. It has started measurements to determine the status and changes in frozen ground using simple low-cost sensors to validate maps generated using a probability analysis of permafrost existence. Currently, these sensors are installed in three areas in Nepal (Langtang, Mustang and Humla) and plans are in place to work with partners in Bhutan and Pakistan to increase the geographic extent of measurements.
Given the potential risks from permafrost thawing and destabilization and failure of slopes that could cause extensive damage to settlements and infrastructure, ICIMOD has initiated a permafrost strategy for the HKH, that will be part of a wider regional cryosphere strategy. In this way, countries can co-operate in promoting sustainable development, including road and hydropower construction at high elevation that considers changes in permafrost and the resulting risk.
ICIMOD is also developing a Multi Hazard Framework Assessment tool. This will be especially useful as permafrost change often acts in concert with other hazards. For example, permafrost thaw could trigger a GLOF from a moraine-dammed lake or a landslide that could dam a river and results in floods when the dam breaches.
EDITOR: Scaling river-basin planning and management regionally requires effective science-policy dialogue mechanisms. How does ICIMOD foster such dialogues, and what role do digital and earth observation tools play in supporting evidence-based decision-making in river basin management?
DR. GYAMTSHO: In the context of river basins, we are moving forward from data and knowledge generation to practical application to support informed river basin planning and associated infrastructure development. Recognizing the critical role of evidence-based decision-making, ICIMOD has developed a robust climate risk assessment framework specifically tailored for hydropower development projects. Currently, it is being applied in the Narayani basin of Nepal in collaboration with the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat of the Government of Nepal. The aim is to support the formulation of Climate Resilient Hydropower Development Guidelines, thereby enhancing the sustainability and adaptability of hydropower projects in the face of climate variability and change.
EDITOR: Looking ahead, what are the main priorities and objectives for ICIMOD’s cryosphere and water risks team, and how do you envision the organization’s role in shaping sustainable water management practices in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region?
DR. GYAMTSHO: ICIMOD is prioritizing capacity building of relevant partner organisations so that they have the resources and expertise to do their own monitoring of cryosphere, river discharge, and water resources management. This includes capacitating local communities in understanding the risks and taking responsibility for their own safety such as in managing early warning systems. It is working with national and sub-national governments, civil society organisations, academia and private sector to scale up and scale out gender and socially inclusive springshed management following the “six-step protocol for spring revival” that it developed based on trials done at pilot sites.
Transboundary issues are of major concerns for the region, and as a neutral organisation, ICIMOD is trying to leverage this position in addressing transboundary hazards. For instance, while a glacial lake may be in one country, the risks that it poses in the form of GLOF and benefits from it by providing water for food production and energy generation extend across borders. Therefore, it is increasing its efforts to strengthen transboundary cooperation at all levels, and in all domains from conducting join research and assessments to sharing knowledge and good practices.
ICIMOD is committed to sustainable management of water resources in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region under its Strategy 2030 and action plans. Efforts are made to promote water harvesting, river basin management, watershed modelling, and improvement of water use efficiency for irrigation and other purposes. It is engaged in actively seeking and promoting nature-based solutions for addressing the phenomenon of “too much or too little” water. Too much water involves coping measures to incessant rainfall events and floods, and too little water requires measures to address prolonged periods of draught and drying water sources.
*Director General of ICIMOD
