Himalayas Must Be Seen as a Single, Living Entity and Not in Separate Parts: Anil Madhav Dave

Attends Session On Impact Of Climate Change In The Himalayan Ecosystem At COP 22

Marrakech (PIB-GR-TYP-BIN): “Himalayas must be seen as a single, living entity and not in separate parts. Only if Himalayas survive will Indian culture and civilisation survive”, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Anil Madhav Dave, said at COP 22 in Marrakech on Thursday. Addressing a session – “Impact of Climate Change on the Himalayan Ecosystem” held as a side-event at the India Pavilion in COP 22, Mr. Dave said that Himalayas cannot be protected, but must be served with a spirit of selflessness.

The expected outcomes from the session include key inputs for developing strategic plan for addressing issues of Climate Change impacts on the Himalayan ecosystem. The side-event held at the India Pavilion on Thursday was an attempt to highlight the emerging needs for evolving new models of conservation and sustainable development that help restoring intricate balance between economic interests and ecological imperatives in the region under changing climate scenario.

India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) recognizes the Himalayan ecosystem, vital for preserving ecological security of Indian sub-continent and underlines intense vulnerability of this ecosystem.

The vulnerability of the Himalayan region is likely to worsen due to the impacts of climate change. Himalayan Glaciers represent nearly 29 per cent of glaciers in Central Asia and 4.8 per cent of glaciers and ice-caps in the world.

The Himalayas are among the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change and being affected at a faster rate than other terrestrial habitats. Climate impacts form an important threat to mountain ecosystems. Over 80 per cent of the population is involved in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry and other biodiversity dependent livelihood activities. Nearly 70 per cent of the population still relies for health care on medicinal plants.

Himalayas are nicknamed the “Water Tower of Asia”. IPCC estimate suggest that glaciers in Himalayas supply freshwater to 500 million people in Himalaya-Hindu-Kush region and to 250 million people in China.

The session was organized under the aegis of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan environment and development.

(Source: PIB/GR/TYP/BIN/USPA/WN/IAIJ)