Report Released By

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

Date of Release

April 21, 2025

Region of Focus

Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) spanning 4.2 million sq km across 9 countries

Key Finding

Snow persistence in 2024–2025 winter was 23.6% below 20-year average lowest in 23 years of satellite records

Snow Persistence Definition

The duration that snow remains on ground a key indicator for water availability

Impact on River Basins

All 12 major river basins showed deficits; Mekong (-51.9%), Salween (-48.3%) worst affected

Major Indian River Basins Affected

Ganga (-24.1%), Brahmaputra (-27.9%), Indus (-16.0%)

Importance of Snowmelt

Contributes 23% of annual river flow critical for irrigation, hydropower, drinking water

Risks Identified

Lower river runoff, increased groundwater dependency, higher drought risks

Populations at Risk

Over 2 billion people across South Asia

Outlook

Climate change continues to exacerbate vulnerability even under 1.5°C warming scenarios

Geographical Extent

Stretches ~3,500 km across 8 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan

Area Coverage

Approx. 4.2 million sq.km

Orientation

Runs northeast to southwest; separates Amu Darya (Oxus) basin from Indus basin

Geopolitical Intersection

Borders converge near Pamir Knot (Afghanistan-China-Pakistan region)

Major Sections

Eastern HKH, Central HKH, Western HKH (Bābā Mountains)

Prominent Peak

Tirich Mir, 7,708 m (25,289 ft), Chitral, Pakistan

Climatic Identity

Known as “Third Pole” for its massive cryosphere; significant for global climate regulation

Glacial Features

Hosts ~54,000 glaciers & largest permanent ice cover outside poles

Ecosystems

Includes glaciers, alpine tundra, conifer forests, wetl&s, montane grassl&s

Biodiversity Hotspots

4 major ones Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Mountains of Central Asia & Mountains of Southwest China

River Systems Originating

10 major rivers Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze, Yellow, Tarim

Population Dependency

Supports water needs of ~1.9 billion people across South, Central & East Asia

Geological Formation

Result of collision between Indian & Eurasian Plates (~55 million years ago)

Tectonic Activity

Highly active; associated with thrust faults, frequent earthquakes, orogenic uplift

Permafrost Presence

Widespread, though declining with warming; key hydrological buffer

Snow Cover Dynamics

Highly seasonal; critical for spring meltwater feeding rivers

Hydrological Role

Seasonal melt governs discharge in rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra & Indus

Environmental Threats

Glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)

Inner Valleys

Arid with desert-like vegetation due to rain shadow effect

Transboundary Nature

Challenges in coordinated climate action, data sharing & river basin management

Scientific Monitoring

Tracked by institutions like ICIMOD, WMO & national meteorological agencies

Policy Frameworks

HKH Call to Action, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, 13, 15), Paris Agreement alignment

Amu Darya

Pamir–Hindu Kush junction

Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

~2,540 km

Lifeline of Central Asia; historically Oxus River

Indus

Tibetan Plateau near Lake Manasarovar (via HKH ranges)

China (Tibet), India, Pakistan

~3,180 km

Major irrigation source for Pakistan; high glacial dependency

Ganges

Gangotri Glacier (Indian Himalayas)

India, Nepal, Bangladesh

~2,525 km

Supports densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plain

Brahmaputra

Chemayungdung Glacier (Tibet)

China, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh

~2,900 km

Originates as Yarlung Tsangpo; extreme seasonal discharge

Irrawaddy

Eastern Himalayas

Myanmar

~2,170 km

Main river of Myanmar; low glacial contribution

Salween

Tibetan Plateau

China, Myanmar, Thail&

~2,815 km

Sparsely dammed, rich in biodiversity

Mekong

Eastern Himalayas

China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thail&, Myanmar

~4,350 km

Major Southeast Asian river; under threat from dams

Yangtze

Tanggula Mountains (adjacent to HKH)

China

~6,300 km

Longest river in Asia; crucial for hydroelectricity

Yellow River

Bayan Har Mountains (northeast of HKH)

China

~5,464 km

Prone to siltation & flooding

Tarim

Kunlun–Tianshan range (HKH influence)

China

~2,030 km

Inl& river system, terminates in Taklamakan desert

Length

~3,500 km

~7,000 km

~1,200 km

~4,800 km

~3,000 km

Peak Elevation

Tirich Mir (7,708 m)

Aconcagua (6,961 m)

Mont Blanc (4,808 m)

Mount Elbert (4,401 m)

Mount Kenya (5,199 m)

Glacier Cover

Largest outside polar regions

Moderate

Moderate

Limited

Limited

River Source Significance

10 major river systems

Amazon tributaries, others

Rhine, Rhône, Po

Missouri, Colorado, Columbia

Nile tributaries

Tectonic Formation

Collision of Indian & Eurasian plates

Subduction of Nazca plate under South American

African & Eurasian plate collision

North American & Pacific plate interactions

Rifting & volcanic activity

Biodiversity Hotspots

4 global hotspots

Amazonian influence

Alpine ecosystems

Coniferous & montane

Great Rift Valley hotspots

Climatic Role

Third Pole, snow-fed rivers, monsoon modulation

Rain shadow, glacier-fed rivers

Influences Western Europe

Barrier to moist Pacific air

Regulates rainfall in Rift Valley

Human Dependency

~1.9 billion people

Localized populations, some megacities

Densely populated valleys

Western US & Canada

Densely populated highl&s & rift valleys

Full Name

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Established

1983

Headquarters

Kathm&u, Nepal

Member Countries (8)

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan

Focus Region

Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

Governance Structure

Board of Governors (country representatives), Director General (executive head)

Primary M&ate

Promote sustainable mountain development through regional cooperation & scientific integration

Core Thematic Areas

Climate Change & Resilience
Water & Air
Ecosystems
Livelihoods

Key Programs

SERVIR-HKH (satellite data & GIS for environment)
Cryosphere Monitoring
REDD+

Research Contributions

Glaciology, permafrost mapping, hydrology modelling, ecosystem valuation, air quality monitoring

Notable Collaborations

NASA, UNEP, UNDP, ADB, World Bank, national research institutes

Strategic Tools

Regional Database on Glaciers
HIMAP (Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment Program)

Role in Policy Influence

Supports evidence-based policies on mountain issues in regional & global forums

Disaster Risk & Resilience

L&slide & flash flood risk monitoring; early warning systems

Biodiversity Focus

Monitoring protected areas, promoting sustainable tourism, conservation of endemic species

Flagship Reports

Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment (2019), Water in HKH (2023), Cryosphere Monitoring Reports

UN SDGs Alignment

SDG 6 (Water), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 15 (Ecosystems), SDG 17 (Partnerships)

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) is not only water tower of Asia but also a climate stabilizer & ecological hotspot. In this context critically examine transboundary environmental challenges facing HKH region & suggest a cooperative framework for sustainable development & climate resilience.