Research insights on climate and water in the Hindu Kush Himalayas

This publication contributes to an improved understanding of the water resources of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) region by drawing together knowledge from the eight research projects of the South Asia Water Initiative Small Grants Program. By bringing together researchers from different countries in the region, the Small Grants Program also promoted a shared vision of water resources management, which is essential for realizing the benefits of the water resources of the Hindu Kush Himalayas. The publication presents seven research papers and a note drawing on the final technical reports of the eight funded projects. These are preceded by a synthesis of the key findings of the research papers, which discusses the challenges of water availability and demand and water-related hazards in the HKH region. The findings are then summarized in terms of their contribution to the key themes of climate change impacts, adaptation and resilience, and holistic approaches to management at the basin level. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the key findings, recommendations, and a look at the way forward. The detailed research results are presented in the second part of the book.