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Project Leader	Dr. J. G. CAMPBELL Director-General International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu NEPAL Tel: +977-1-525-313  Fax: +977-1-524-509 Email: gcampbell@icimod.org.np bshrestha@icimod.org.np (Mr. Basanta Shrestha) pmool@icimod.org.np (Mr. Pradeep Mool)
Funding	US$ 77,340
Participating countries	Participants from the following countries were funded: India, Pakistan, and P.R. China.<

Brief introduction and background
The glaciers are nature's renewable storehouse of fresh water that benefits hundreds of millions of people in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. The glaciers of the region, however, are retreating with rapid accumulation of water forming lakes in the face of accelerated global warming. The sudden breaching of unstable dams discharges of huge amounts of water and debris from lakes are known as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).  GLOFs often have catastrophic effects. Several GLOF events have been documented in the HKH region causing loss of life and property. An inventory of glaciers and glacial lakes is an important undertaking to acquire accurate information and knowledge of GLOFs. While the potential GLOF hazards in the region are still unknown, this study will add a database to enhance the ability of researchers, policy makers and water resource planners as well as to understand and mitigate GLOF-associated hazards.

Outline of activities conducted

• Necessary consultation meetings with the identified collaborating institutions and agencies;
• Acquisition of satellite images (Landsat-7ETM+), digital topographic maps (scale of 1:500,000) and other necessary data (e.g. meteorological and hydrological data) of the project;
• Development of training materials for the project using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS);
• Institutional capacities strengthened by training the professionals and providing GIS and RS software and other technical support to the participating institutions;
• Preparation of a digital database of glaciers and glacial lakes of the Tista basin of Sikkim State of India, the Pumqu basin of Tibet Autonomous Region of the P.R. China and the Astor basin of Pakistan, using RS & GIS technologies; and
• Draft report preparation in association with the participating organisations and agencies (on going).

• Digital satellite images of Landsat-7 ETM+ and digital topographic maps at the scale of 1:500,000 of the project areas;
• Upgraded and established RS & GIS facilities for the participating institutions;
• Training materials for the application of GIS and RS for inventory of glaciers, glacial lakes, GLOFs and hazard mitigation;
• Strengthened institutional capacities by holding training workshops at ICIMOD for the collaborating institutions of the P.R. China, India and Pakistan in RS & GIS technology for the project. Participants from Bhutan and Nepal were also included in the workshop programme to share their experiences through past activities with the UNEP GLOFs Project;
• Trained professionals of participating countries through on-the-job training schemes in their own institutions for the inventory of glaciers and glacial lakes using RS & GIS;
• Established a digital database of glaciers and glacial lakes of the Tista basin of Sikkim State of India, the Pumqu basin of Tibet Autonomous Region of P.R. China and the Astor basin of Pakistan; and
• Documentation of glaciers, glacial lakes, potential GLOFs, and associated hazards.

• Further institutional capacity strengthening by on-the-job training of  participants of collaborating institutions and agencies;
• Acquisition of necessary materials (e.g. satellite images, maps, data, etc.);
• Preparation of a digital database of glaciers and glacial lakes of other basins in India, P.R. China (Tibet region) and Pakistan using RS & GIS technology;
• Establish analytical protocols and systems to identify 'hot-spots' (existing and potentially dangerous glacial lake hazards), and to regularize GLOF hazard studies;
• Conduct rapid environmental change assessment (RECA) studies on GLOF hazard risks and potential impacts; and
• Prepare analytical briefing papers for policy-makers/planners, and dissemination by publications, presenting in regional/international workshops and conferences.