Description
The Himalayan River Systems (HRS) are critical to sustaining the livelihoods, economies, and ecosystems of South Asia. Originating from the Himalayan range, major river systems such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus traverse multiple nations, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China. These rivers serve as vital sources of water for agriculture, drinking, energy production, and industrial activities, supporting millions of people across these regions. However, the governance of these transboundary water resources is fraught with complex challenges, arising from competing national priorities, anthropogenic pressures, and the escalating impacts of climate change. In recent years, water governance in South Asia has become a focal point for geopolitical tensions, environmental degradation, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The diverse and often conflicting needs of riparian countries, exacerbated by rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrial expansion, have intensified competition for water resources. Disputes over water allocation, infrastructure projects such as dam and barrage construction, and environmental conservation are pervasive, as nations strive to reconcile domestic water demands with the imperatives of regional cooperation. Climate change further complicates this scenario by altering hydrological patterns. Glacial retreat, erratic monsoon behavior, and fluctuating river flows jeopardize water security and amplify the risk of water-related disasters such as flash floods and droughts. These evolving challenges underscore the urgent need for integrated and sustainable approaches to land and water governance, fostering not only resource management but also regional resilience and cooperation.The international symposium titled “Himalayan River Systems: Transboundary Approaches to Land and Water Governance in South Asia” seeks to address these critical issues by convening scholars, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders. Scheduled for April 16–17, 2025, at Kathmandu University, Nepal, the symposium is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Geomatics Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, and the Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), University of Manchester, United Kingdom. This symposium will facilitate an exchange of knowledge, promote capacity building, and explore innovative strategies for transboundary governance of land and water resources. Key themes will include climate adaptation, equitable water-sharing frameworks, and sustainable land-use planning. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the symposium aims to advance policy-level methodologies and frameworks that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving land and water governance in the Himalayan region. This initiative aspires to contribute to a more resilient and cooperative approach to managing shared resources in South Asia.
Hosted By: Department of Geomatics Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
Organizing partners:
Department of Geography, University of Manchester, UK
Department of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata, India North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Associate Partners:
South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA)
Land Management Training Centre (LMTC)
Funding Partners:
International Science Partnerships Fund 2024/25 (ISPF) vie Research England
Key Organizers: The key organizers of this international Symposium are:
1. Dr Mehebub Sahana, Department of Geography, University of Manchester, UK
2. Dr Reshma Shrestha, Department of Geomatics Engineering, School of Engineering, Kathmandu University, Nepal
3. Dr Upasak Das, Global Development Institute (GDI), University of Manchester, UK
4. Dr Nimesh Dhungana, Humanitarian Conflict Response Institute, University of Manchester, UK
5. Dr Priyank Pravin Patel, Department of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata, India.
6. Dr Md. Abdus Samad, Department of History, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstracts: The interested applicant can submit a 2-page CV along with an abstract (within 500 words) on the Symposium theme or sub-themes. Initial abstracts should be emailed to Dr Sk Ajim Ali ([email protected]) and Dr Reshma Shrestha ([email protected]) by 15th February 2025. Files should be sent and uploaded in Google drive in MS Word format, and the file name should be the first author’s surname. Please include names, affiliations and contact details in the Google form. All Abstracts will be reviewed and selected by the scientific committee of the Symposium.
Contact information: For more information on the Symposium, please contact with:
Dr Sk Ajim Ali: [email protected]
Dr Reshma Shrestha, Kathmandu University Email: [email protected]
Dr Mehebub Sahana, University of Manchester: [email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you at Kathmandu University, Nepal
Period | 16 Apr 2025 → 17 Apr 2025 |
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Event type | Conference |
Conference number | 2 |
Location | Kathmandu , NepalShow on map |
Degree of Recognition | International |
Keywords
- Himalayan River Systems
- Transboundary Rivers of South Asia
- Transboundary water governance
- disaster risk reduction
- Floods
- Droughts
- Integrated Land and Water Management
- Water-sharing Treaties and Agreements in South Asia
Documents & Links
- Call for INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM at KU
File: application/pdf, 300 KB
Type: Printed or manuscript music