Cryosphere changes and local adaptation strategies: socio-hydrological case studies from the Himalayan region

Rapid changes of the Himalayan cryosphere have received enormous scientific and media attention over the past two decades. The abode of snow - as the Himalaya is translated from Sanskrit - faces not only massive hydro-climatic changes but the region is also characterized by rapid urbanization and infrastructure development, which increase vulnerabilities of local communities. The subsequent effects on meltwater-dependent irrigation systems for crop cultivation and risks due to recurring and more frequent cryosphere-related hazards including Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) require integrated analyses of local water management and adaptation strategies to cope with predicted water scarcity. An improved understanding of socio-hydrological pathways is necessary to capture regional and local particularities and dynamics, including glacio-fluvial runoff, socioeconomic processes, indigenous environmental knowledge, and external development interventions. Cryosphere-related hazards of different nature, frequency and magnitude pose recurrent problems ranging from damages of irrigation canals and eroded fields to massive destruction of human habitat and loss of lifes in Himalayan riskscapes. Our contribution is based on long-term case studies from semi-arid Himalayan regions of India and Pakistan. We explore the role of (hard) water harvesting infrastructures, including implementation of ice reservoirs and construction of improved irrigation networks, and (soft) infrastructures ranging from village institutions to non-governmental organizations and state-sponsored development programs. Our field-based research includes socioeconomic and hydrological data collection, supported by multi-temporal analyses of remote sensing data. The contribution aims to develop a socio-hydrological framework for the fragile Himalayan region that may be used as a basis for more sustainable development pathways.