In order to address the various technical thematic issues in the Himalayas, NMSHE has set up six Task Forces with coordinating institutions for each one. The Task Forces will focus on applying knowledge in the larger societal context and knowledge synthesis for policy formulations related to adaptation actions in the Himalayas considering the development needs of the society.

More information can be found on the Task Force Pages

NMSHE engages all the 12 states in the Himalayas in spirit of cooperative federalism for the purpose of strengthening their capacities for planning and implementation of climate change adaptation actions, undertaking vulnerability assessment and spreading awareness among the masses on climate change and its likely impacts. The Himalayan states include 10 hill states- Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and two partial hill states, namely, Assam and West Bengal. In this respect, funds have already been provided to seven states, while proposals from the remaining five states are in various stages of development. Besides funds being provided under NMSHE, technical assistance is also being extended to the states.

More information can be found on the IHR and State Pages.

Capacity building is one of the primary aims of NMSHE. While on the one hand, NMSHE enhances capacities of glaciologists and ecosystem specialists, on the other hand, it is also facilitating capacity building at the state level for adaptation planning and implementation.Sustaining the Himalayan eco system as a national mission, will focus on the rapid generation of four types of national capacities. They deal with

• Human and knowledge capacities,
• Institutional capacities,
• Capacities for evidence based policy building and governance and
• Continuous self-learning for balancing between forces of Nature and actions of mankind

More information on capcity building activities can be found on Events page.

DST is supporting pan-Himalaya research and development projects. DST has supported the first-of-its-kind InterUniversity Consortium on Cryosphere and Climate Change (IUCCCC) with participation from four universities. The consortium is undertaking research on climate change impacts on the cryosphere across various Himalayan states. The study focuses on linkages between changes in glacier fields and their impacts on water availability to communities.

More information can be found on the IUCCCC

International and regional collaboration were always intended to be a strong pillar under NMSHE and required for bringing in tools and techniques and also experiences from other similar regions. Under NMSHE, the IndoSwiss Capacity Building Programme on Himalayan Glaciology has been successfully conducted during 2013 and 2014-15. The programme was jointly organized by DST with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as part of its ongoing collaboration focusing on climate change adaptation in the Himalayas. The glaciology capacity building programme is part of the broader bilateral cooperation programme of the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) being implemented in India by SDC in partnership with DST. Under NMSHE, DST intends to further enhance its collaboration with SDC through IHCAP including that in collaborative research with the aim of conducting studies which respond to the needs and concerns of the communities dependent on the Himalayas. Further, DST is also exploring possibilities of collaborating with the International Center for Mountain Development, Kathmandu (ICIMOD) for unlocking synergies across the South Asia region.

More information can be found on the International Initiatives page.

DST is also working towards establishment of the Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum (HSDF) as a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogues and sharing experiences and knowledge with GBPIHED as its secretariat. HSDF is based on recommendations of ‘Shimla Declaration on Sustainable Himalayan Development’ (Shimla, 30 October 2009). The Forum would be hosted by partner states from the Himalayan region on a rotational basis with GBPIHED as the technical secretariat. As envisaged, HSDF will develop advisories for states in the Himalayas and bi-annual advisories to Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum would be developed through State Councils of Climate Change for implementation.

More information can be found on the HSDF Page

DST is supporting a research and development project on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) being conducted in Sikkim. Research is also being carried out in Sikkim, a state indicated to have glacial lakes which are particularly at risk from GLOF event. The glacial lake which is being studied is South Lhonak lake, which has been increasing in size continuously in the last few years. It is feared that a GLOF may cause devastation downstream.
The lake is purely a glacial moraine dammed lake which is vulnerable in terms of GLOFs.

More information can be found on the GLOFs Page.

One of the key aspects under NMSHE is the component of Governance for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (G-SHE). This focuses on studies and activities oriented towards contributing to policy formulation for the Himalayan region to facilitate evolution of a policy environment which is conducive for climate-compatible sustainable development. For effective implementation of this component, DST is partnering with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).