NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. Status of CHARIS Project, Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan October 16, 2014 CHARIS Training, Dehradun, India Presenter(s): Dendup Tshering & team Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan

Site description Thana glaciers: Upstream of Chamkhar chhu (river) basin Coordinates: Latitude: N 28 o 00’36.9” Longitude: E 90 o 37’11.8” Elevation: 5200m Walking distance: Officially 6 days walk from the road head CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Location map for water sample collection CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Tentative scheduled plan for field trip (sample collection)  Based on different stakeholder’s (DHMS, trekking agents and nomads) experience, 4 months (December to March) are said to be inaccessible to the study site(s) because of the extreme weather condition and snow fall.  Therefore, we have planned to collect the sample 6 times in a year for the following months  April (or) May  June  July  August  September  October (or) November CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Progress/achievements till date  Project agreement signed on August 16, However, field work was possible to start only from July,  Field visits (3 times)- sent samples to CU via DHL  6 persons trained on water sample collection as per the CHARIS Project protocols. CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Samples to be sent to CU for analysis CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Risks/Constraints: Swollen icy rivers CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Risks/Constraints: Shooting/loose boulders CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Risks/Constraints: Landslide and mudslide CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Risks/Constraints: Altitude sickness CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Risks/Constraints  Wild animals (Bear)  Lack of capacity in sample analysis as well as lack of laboratory facilities CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Future Plans  Installation of AWS station at the study site  Construction of bulk precipitation collector near Jakar and at Sherubtse college campus  Send two officials for mountaineering training abroad  Send one official to CU for training on water chemistry analysis  Install analysis equipment at Sherubtse College Environmental Science Laboratory and conduct analysis thereby easing the burden of CU and strengthening Sherubtse’s capacity  Extend the project to other study sites, if interested and funds available. CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India

Thank you & Trashi Delek! CHARIS Training, October 13-16, Dehradun, India