Biodiversity in the Hindu Kush Himalaya:
Status, challenges, progress andinterventions
Asia Pacific Biodiversity Observation Network (APBON)
12th Workshop

Sunita Chaudhary, Nakul Chettri & Kabir Uddin
Date: 22 January, 2021

Outline
1. Background: Region, countries,upstream-downstream links
2. Biodiversity in the region: Status andtrends
3. Threats and challenges
4. Biodiversity Aichi Targets
5. Gaps
6. Interventions

Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region

What happens
here affects onefourth of the world

Biodiversity in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: StatusCountry

FloraldiversityAngiosperms

Faunal diversity
Mammals

Birds

ReptilesAmphibians Fish

Afghanistan

3,500–4,500

137–150

428–515

92–112

6–8

101–139

Bangladesh

3,723

128

650

154

49

712

Bhutan
China

5,603

200

700

124

61

91

34,984

556

1,300

1,186

380

279

India

17,926

423

1,233

526

342

3,022

Myanmar11,800

251

1,000

279

82

350

Nepal

6,973

208

867

123

117

230

5,757

38

198

696

177

22

Pakistan

Xu et al., 2019

Covers 36% area ofthe HKH

Between 1998 and 2008,
an average of 35 newspecies werediscovered each year in
the Eastern HimalayaaloneEcoregions

17 World
Heritage Sites
covering 11
ecoregions inHKH
Cultural – 6
Natural – 10
Mixed - 1

Threats andChallenges

Demographic change

Goldewijk 2005

Pollution - AirWHO 2016

Saikawa et al., 2019

Invasive species

Turbelin et al. 2017

Even 1.5
Degrees isToo Hot for
the HKH
and amplified
by elevation
dependent
warming
Source: HIMAP climatechange chapter andKraaijenbrink et al. 2017,
NatureHKH will warm more compared to global mean
and warm more rapidly at higher elevations

5.5 ± 1.5˚C by 2100 relative to 1976-2005 at
current emission trends
2.5 ± 1.5˚C by 2100 relative to 1976-2005 (RCP 4.5)

2.1 ± 0.1˚C (PI) in a 1.5 degree world
For areas above 2,000m, if 1.5˚C EOC then:– Karakoram 2.2 ± 0.4˚C– Central Himalayas 2.0 ± 0.5˚C– Southeast Himalayas 2.0 ± 0.5˚CStatus of Aichi
Biodiversity Targets

Target 11 by country

Source: CBD (2020)

Afghanistan

Insufficient

Bangladesh

On track

BhutanExceeded

China

On trackIndia

Can exceed

MyanmarInsufficient

Nepal

Exceeded

PakistanInsufficientAichi Target 12
Critically Endangered Species (IUCN Red List 2020)
Stable2Increasing

5Unknown

56

Decreasing

2400

CBD (2020)

50

Decreasing

100

150
200
No. of species

Unknown

Increasing

250

Stable300

Gaps• Small-sized PAs: 31%<50sq.km ; 19% (51-100sq.km)• Isolated protected areas• Limited ecologicalrepresentation in PAs
networks• Hotspots: 43%• Global 200 Ecoregions:40%• IBA: More than 80%

Region needs attention•An area of imminent extinction, especially
Indo-Burma and the mountains ofsouthwest China (Ricketts et al., 2005)•Reported on the List as ‘crisis ecoregions’(Brooks et al., 2006)•

70 to 80% original habitat in thebiodiversity hotspots of the HKH alreadylost (relative to1500)•One-fourth of endemic species in the
Indian Himalaya could be wiped out by2100•

By 2100, loss of original habitat by 80-86%(Jantz et al., 2015).

Interventions

Transboundary landscapes and transects

Regional
cooperation•

Enhancing and strengthening partnerships acrossscales•Addressing critical issues and emerging
challenges that cross boundaries•

Interventions are tailored to country specificdemands•

e.g. exchange of yak germplasm, human-wildlife
conflict, data sharing

Corridors and connectivity•

Identifying corridors: 6 corridors
connecting 14 PAs in(stakeholders, field)•Connecting isolated protectedareas•

Expanding habitats for species•

Alternative livelihoods options
for peopleNature-based Solutions• Promoting mountain niche products• Ecotourism i.e. Homestays• Springshed management• Traditional knowledge• Local food systems

Long term Environmental and Social-ecological Monitoring
Long-term Ecological Monitoring Stations in the HKH• Establish and strengthen
LTESM across the landscapes• Improve understanding ofspatial and temporal changes,
drivers of changes, &consequences• Inter-disciplinary &collaborative research• Evidence-based decision
makingSource: ILTER and GLORIA
Kotru et al., 2020; Chettri et al., 2015

Thank you