Background

The ‘Shimla Declaration on Sustainable Himalayan Development’ during Conclave of the Chief Ministers of Indian Himalayan states (Shimla, October 30, 2009) recommended establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum (HSDF) on the issue of sustainable development of Himalaya in the context of climate change. The conclave took note of developmental concerns & climate change, and provided an inventory of developmental themes and issues which needed a thorough scrutiny and fine-tuning in the perspective of sustainability.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system (NMSHE), one of the eight national missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) focuses on the issues of sustainable development of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and aims at delivering a possible framework for multi-stakeholder dialogue and policy guidelines.

Objectives

• To foster cooperation on sustainable development across Himalayan region to promote science-policy-practice connect
• To identify priority sectors and needs for adaptation action in Himalayan region
• To facilitate dialogue among stakeholders on strategies for climate change adaptation in identified sectors
• To build a vibrant knowledge network to support national and state action plans for climate change
• To suggest institutional framework for implementation of strategic adaptation plan

Core Issues

The issues related to sustainable Himalayan development are at the core of the NMSHE and are to be discussed at length in the proposed meetings of the Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum (HSDF)

• Climate change in IHR- threats and opportunities
• Adaptation strategy – strengths and weaknesses
• Role for different stakeholders – government departments, communities, scientific & academic institution,private sector

Consultations of Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum

First Regional Consultation
4th August 2015, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

From left to right Honorable Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri Harish Rawat, speaking during the inaugural. Seated left to right: Ms. Janine Kuriger, Director of Cooperation, SDC, Dr. P.P. Dhyani, Director, GBPIHED, Padmashree (Prof.) A.N. Purohit, Shri Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Disaster Management, Uttarakhand.

As part of HSDF, the first regional consultation has already been conducted. A group of decision makers, research scientists, academicians, government officials, and representatives from the civil society organizations from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand came together for the first regional consultation of the multi-stakeholder Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum (HSDF) on 4 August 2015. The consultation aimed to foster cooperation on sustainable development across Himalayan region; promote science-policy- practice connect; and identify priority sectors and needs for adaptation action in the Himalayan region.

In this first consultation, issues of disaster risk reduction, tourism and environmental governance were discussed at length.

Second Regional Consultation
5th October 2015, Guwahati, Assam

The Chief Guest Shri Alemtemshi Jamir, Former Chief Secretary, Nagaland speaking during the inaugural. (Left to right): Prof. R.M. Pant, Director, NIRD & PR-NERC; Dr. P.P. Dhyani, Director, GBPIHED; and Dr. Shirish Sinha, Deputy Director of Cooperation, SDC

A group of decision makers, research scientists, academicians, government officials, representatives from the civil society came together on 5 October in Guwahati to share knowledge and exchange ideas related to disaster risk reduction, tourism and environmental governance and to prioritize actions for climate change adaptation in the Indian Himalayan Region.

First National Consultation
29-30th December 2015, New Delhi

A group of decision makers, research scientists, academicians, government officials, representatives from the civil society came together on 5 October in Guwahati to share knowledge and exchange ideas related to disaster risk reduction, tourism and environmental governance and to prioritize actions for climate change adaptation in the Indian Himalayan Region.

Partners

The HSDF Consultation workshops are organised organized by G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

For more information contact: http://www.hpccc.gov.in/PDF/Shimla%20Declaration.pdf