Himalayan Crisis: Fire on the Roof
Himalayas are close to a severe crisis that could affect the world immensely. Himalayan mountains hold the largest water-mass near the tropics, which gave it the name of third pole. Due to this reason, Himalayan ranges give rise to a number of rivers that water most of Asia, including the most populous countries of South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia, supporting almost 2/3s of the world population. It would be a demographic disaster if the Himalayan glaciers were to melt, and flood these countries. In addition, as one of the undisturbed biospheres of the world, Himalayas are native to a number of animal and plant species that do not exist any where else in the world. Anything that may affect this ecological balance will prove devastating not only for the Himalayas, but the wider South Asian, East Asian and Southeast Asian region.
Two issues need the attention of policy makers to change the status quo in the Himalayas and move towards protecting the environment and biomes of the Himalayas. The first issue that needs to be immediately addressed is the industrial development (Mega Hydroelectric projects), infrastructure projects (Roads, oil and gas pipelines, etc.) in the Himalayas. The second issue that needs immediate attention from the international community is peace process in the Himalayas.
The first issue needs involvement of environmental protection groups to to bring forth united action from the rival nations surrounding the Himalayas, i.e. Pakistan, India, and China along with smaller nations such as Bhutan and Nepal.
A number of recent articles in popular media note the Himalayan environmental crisis and melting glaciers due to excessive industrial development and carbon emissions (check the web links below for further information). However, no constructive action is initiated as the world remains a mute spectator.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929071_1929070_1945667,00.html
http://www.thethirdpole.net/climate-change-poor-policies-multiply-himalayan-flood-effects/
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/himalayan-states-also-face-risk-glacial-lake-outburst-floods
The second issue is establishing peace in the Himalayan region by resolving disputes between Pakistan, India and China. The disputes between these three nations are in the back burner for a number of decades since 1950s although a couple of wars were fought between these three nations. It is necessary to resolve the issues and establish peace in this region since the disputes are not only disturbing the human life, but the biome of the Hindukush-Himalayan region. Any war in this region will spell disaster to the environment of the Himalayas, and will have lasting repercussions for the larger Asian region dependent on it for the water resources.
In any case it is good for the world to not let fires rouse on its roof, Himalayas in this case. The effect of the devastation in the Himalayas will not be localized, but will be felt far outside the region with tremendous repercussions. The world should take a closer look at what is happening in the Himalayas and form an international committee to protect the Himalayan ranges.
