Journal des risques environnementaux

Geo hazard risk reduction and capacity development in hindukush himalaya

Abstract

Ashutosh Mohanty

T he Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is most fragile and highly vulnerable to major geo hazards in the regions e.g.; landslides, earthquakes and water-induced disasters like GLOF, Avalanche, Cloud burst and flash floods etc. This fragile mountain region is under tremendous stress from climate change and land-use degradation that has accelerated flash floods, river-line floods, erosion, and wet mass movements during the monsoon period and drought in the non-monsoon period. Against the backdrop of intensifying disasters and in the absence of a focused documentation of disaster risk reduction issues in the HKH region, this volume presents a comprehensive body of knowledge. The main purpose and objective of this publication is to connect existing data, research, conceptual work, and practical cases on risk, resilience, and risk reduction from the HKH region under a common analytical umbrella. The result is a contribution to advancing disaster resilience and risk reduction in the HKH region. The study revels major path breaking dimensions to policy makers, donors, and researchers concerned with the disaster issues in the region.  Conceptual and operational evolution in assessments of risk and damage, local response capacities, and have been analysed in the light of sustainability objectives along post-disaster recovery and future risk reduction programmes, resulting in a set of strategic recommendations.