Changing Glaciers and Hydrology in Asia - Environmental Health at ...

changing ecosystems and land-use patterns, and increasing disasters. To address this issue in asystematic, strategic way, the scope of work has defined four tasks:1. Review the science concerning glacier melt in Asia2. Identify key glacier melt vulnerabilities in the Asia region3. Identify organizations contributing to addressing glacier melt and its impacts in Asia4. Develop strategic cross-sectoral responses to these vulnerabilities that provide multiplebenefitsThis report summarizes the findings of the four tasks.The geographic focus of this report is on the region of “High Asia” (see map on cover),sometimes referred to as the Greater Himalayan region; and the countries whose river watersflow from High Asia. High Asia includes the Himalaya, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Pamir, and TienShan mountain ranges, where current glacier coverage exists; and all the countries of east,southeast, south, and central Asia are included.The greater Himalaya is not a single climate region: the eastern Himalaya are separated from theKarakoram-Hindu Kush mountains by approximately 2,000 kilometers. These two areas, eastand west, differ in climate, especially in sources and types of precipitation, and in glacierbehavior/dynamics. Moreover, no sharp dividing line exists between east and west; rather,conditions change gradually across this geographic spectrum.1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDYThe goal of the study reported here is to provide approaches to glacier melt, within the contextof climate change, based on state-of-the-art knowledge, to USAID Missions in three topic areas:(1) science related to glacier melt and high-altitude hydrology, (2) the impacts of changes nearand far in space and time, and (3) the organizations and activities already addressing these issues.The key strategy is then to identify cross-sectoral approaches that will have multiple benefits forimproving the safety, health and overall well-being of the region’s populations.1.4 METHODOLOGYTo carry out these tasks, the team concurrently developed a state-of-the-science report onglacier melt in High Asia and reviewed available information on organizations who are engaged inactivities that address aspects of glacier melt in the region. In consultation with USAID, the teamalso constructed maps within a geographic information system (GIS) to visualize the existingvulnerabilities that either arise from glacier melt or that will impede adaptation to glacier meltimpacts. The team, including USAID staff, then met to review these knowledge streams and todevelop candidate program concepts and approaches that would address the issues associatedwith glacier melt within the context of USAID’s mandate. Four team members discussed thecandidate program concepts and approaches with USAID Missions and stakeholders in India,Nepal, Thailand, and the Central Asian Republics. Stakeholder organizations included10