12th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum 2024 to start from 26th Nov

The Eastern Himalayas, spanning India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar, are part of the Third Pole, crucial for Asia’s water supply. These “water towers” sustain major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Mekong, supporting billions. A biodiversity hotspot with over 12,000 species, the region faces severe climate threats. Rapid glacial melt is disrupting water flows, increasing floods, landslides, and affecting agriculture, hydropower, and biodiversity, with serious impacts on countries like India and Bangladesh.

In response to the pressing challenges facing our environment, the Balipara Foundation proudly announces the 12th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum (EHNF), scheduled for 26th-27th November 2024 in Guwahati, Assam.

This year’s forum, themed “The Future of the Third Pole and the Himsagar (Eastern Himalaya),” will address critical issues with urgency. “Himsagar, covering the Eastern Himalayas—northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, North Bengal, and Bangladesh—is vital for ecosystems and livelihoods. Its rivers, like the Teesta, Brahmaputra, and Ganges, sustain water security, agriculture, and biodiversity. However, climate change is disrupting glacier melt and seasonal flows, threatening millions downstream with floods and loss of livelihoods,” says Ranjit Barthakur, Founder of Balipara Foundation.

Deforestation from land conversion is worsening soil erosion and reducing carbon absorption. Northeast India lost 17,650 square kilometers of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, intensifying climate impacts. Human activities like unsustainable farming and resource extraction are further degrading ecosystems.

This forum is vital for Northeast India, a region vulnerable to climate change, including glacial melt and deforestation. The Brahmaputra River faces severe flooding from glacial melt and erratic monsoons, threatening agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Addressing these challenges is crucial for long-term sustainability and resilience.

The forum will provide solutions to key challenges in the Eastern Himalayas, particularly Northeast India, including watershed management, cross-border water collaboration, forest conservation, renewable energy, sustainable land management, community-led conservation, and waste management. These outcomes will be shaped through discussions with over 60 speakers and stakeholders from 15+ countries. Join the Forum for a sustainable future at [www.baliparafoundation.com].

Founded in 2007, the Balipara Foundation partners with rural communities to restore forests, break the poverty cycle, and create economic opportunities through conservation.