Glacial lakes and GLOFs in the Koshi basin Koshi Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Knowledge Hub Inception workshop 11 December 2018 FINU SHRESTHA International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Kathmandu, Nepal

Status of glacial lakes and GLOFs SN Date Lake name County/District River/basin Country 1 28/08/1935 Taraco Nielamu Poiqu/Sunkoshi China 2 10/7/1940 Qiongbixiamaco Yadong 3 21-09-1964 Gelhaipco Dingjie Pumqu/Arun 4 Jul-64 Cirenmaco 5 25/08/1964 Longdaco Jielong 6 17/08/1968 Ayaco(1st) Tingri 7 17/08/1969 Ayaco(2st) 8 18/08/1970 Ayaco(3st) 9 11/7/1981 10 27/08/1982 Yindapuco 11 27/08/1985 Jingco 12 23/05/2002 Jialongco(1st) 13 29/06/2002 Jialongco(2nd) 14 5/7/2016 Unknown 15 3/9/1977 Nare Solukhumbu Dudhkoshi Nepal 16 23/06/1980 Nagma Pokhari Taplejung Tamor 17 4/8/1985 Dig Tsho 18 21/07/1991 Chubung Dolakha Tamakoshi 19 3/9/1998 Tam Pokhari 20 Barun khola Sankhuwashabha Arun 21 22 Chokarma Cho 23 20/04/2017 Upper Barun 2% 18% No. decreased by Area increased by Koshi basin is one of such transboundary basin which is highly susceptibility to natural disaster and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is one of them.

Potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) China 25 Nepal 19 Location of PDGLS Location of Hydropower Households and population

Opportunities to reduce risk An updated and standardized glacial lake inventory Monitor the potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) Produce a GLOF hazard and vulnerability mapping , risk assessment, early warning system, and mitigation measures Effective approaches in GLOF risk reduction Effective approaches GLOF risk information, awareness raising, land use planning and management, and emergency preparedness and responses helps in GLOF risk reduction. Dig Tsho GLOF event of 1985 Photo: 24 April 2009

Challenges GLOF risk is difficult to predict Gaps in the data and information sharing in the regional platform Insufficient knowledge, resources, proper management and technical support to understand and manage GLOF risks GLOF risk reduction efforts are costly Due to limited knowledge, resources, proper management and technical support, there still exists a problem in taking effective responsive measures for risk reduction or mitigation GLOF risk reduction efforts are costly (especially, focused on structural, hydrological and geo-technical engineered intervention) Chhukung village downstream of Imja Tsho Photo: 14 October 2010

Why transboundary collaboration? Strengthened institutional mechanisms and governance structures for coordination and communication of the GLOF warnings to act promptly Mutual learning, knowledge sharing and disseminating through regional platforms to enhance disaster resilience What Koshi DRR knowledge hub do? Build a networking among practitioners from a range of disciplines, including climate change (CC), disaster risk management (DRM), environment and development planning, decision makers, media to enhance knowledge on GLOF by exchanging ideas, research and best practices to reduce the risks Propose, share and discuss an idea for joint collaborative research on GLOF risk reduction When it comes to transboundary scale of disaster, there always a lack of cohesion in coordination and communication among different agencies. Using collaboration efforts, we can strengthen institutional and government mechanisms in sharing knowledge and information, disseminating and coordinating at the central and local levels and among the various ministries, departments and non-government actors in both countries.

Collaborator Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) UNDP Kathmandu University (KU) Institute of Research for Development (IRD), France

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