Demographic Changes, Economic Changes and Livelihood Changes in the HKH Region

Abstract

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is rich in natural resources such as plenty of water, biodiversity, unique landscape, steep heights and deep gorges. Although, the region is very rich in biodiversity, food and energy etc., more than 40 % of the world’s poor live in this region. Currently, it is in the extreme risk due to the adverse effect caused by climate change. According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the global temperature increased by 0.74 °C during the last century and the global average surface temperature is projected to be raised by 1.1–6.4 °C by the end of the twenty-first century. This temperature increasing trend is even higher in this region than the global average. Thus, the changing environment eventually has an adverse effect on the livelihoods of the mountain people of the HKH region and increases their economic and environmental vulnerability. Rapidly growing population, randomly developed infrastructure, poor management and limited investment in conservation of natural resources have led to degradation in resources and decreased in agricultural productivity. Thus, climate change affects all the sectors of the economy. Among them, green economy, i.e. agriculture, is one that is going to be affected badly in the near future, which may lead to a serious threat to food security in the region. Similarly, depletion of natural resources as a result of increased environmental and demographic pressure, tends to worsen the severity of climate change impacts.