1. 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

2. Status of glacial lakes and GLOFsSN
Date
Lake name
County/District
River/basin
Country 1
28/08/1935
Taraco
Nielamu
Poiqu/Sunkoshi
China 2
10/7/1940
Qiongbixiamaco
Yadong 3
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.

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

8. Thank You