Guwahati: The Balipara Foundation, based in Guwahati, announced on Wednesday that the 12th edition of the Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum (EHNF) will take place on the 26th and 27th of November this year in Guwahati.
This year’s forum, themed “The Future of the Third Pole and the Himsagar (Eastern Himalaya),” will focus on addressing pressing environmental challenges.
Ranjit Barthakur, Founder of the Balipara Foundation, highlighted the importance of the Himsagar region, which encompasses the Eastern Himalayas, including Northeastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar, North Bengal, and Bangladesh. He explained that the region’s rivers—such as the Teesta, Brahmaputra, and Ganges—are crucial for water security, agriculture, and biodiversity. However, climate change is accelerating glacier melt and altering seasonal water flows, putting millions of people downstream at risk of floods and the loss of livelihoods.
In a statement, the Foundation emphasized the global significance of the Eastern Himalayas, part of the Third Pole, which sustains water supplies across Asia. These “water towers” feed major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Mekong, supporting billions of people. The region, home to over 12,000 species, is a biodiversity hotspot but is severely impacted by climate change. Rapid glacial melt is disrupting water flows, increasing the frequency of floods and landslides, and affecting agriculture, hydropower, and biodiversity in nations like India and Bangladesh.
Barthakur also noted that deforestation from land conversion is exacerbating soil erosion and reducing carbon absorption. Between 2001 and 2023, Northeast India lost 17,650 square kilometres of tree cover, intensifying climate-related challenges. Unsustainable farming practices and resource extraction are further degrading ecosystems.
The Brahmaputra River is particularly vulnerable, facing severe flooding due to glacial melt and erratic monsoons. This threatens agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the region, making it critical to address these issues for long-term sustainability and resilience.
The forum will seek solutions to key challenges in the Eastern Himalayas, especially in Northeast India. Topics such as watershed management, cross-border water cooperation, forest conservation, renewable energy, sustainable land use, community-led conservation, and waste management will be discussed. Over 60 speakers and stakeholders from more than 15 countries will contribute to shaping these discussions.
