THE SMALL EARTH NEPAL

The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) in collaboration with the Nepal Committee for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and  Kathmandu University (KU) organized the ‘International Conference on Mountain Hydrology and Cryosphere’ on 9 and 10 November 2023 in Lalitpur and Dhulikhel, respectively. The main objective of the conference was to provide an extensive forum for organizations, institutions, academics, early career researchers, and graduate and undergraduate students to exchange perspectives and explore new research in the critical subjects of cryosphere, hydrology, and climate change. The conference gathered 150 participants from 17 countries. The conference had 10 technical and 3 formal sessions covering 75 oral and 22 poster presentations spread across two thought-provoking days. 

The conference declaration emphasized substantial progress in high mountain ecosystem research since 1992. It highlighted the imperative need for more on-site data at higher elevations, acknowledging glaciers as critical water sources, recognizing cryo-tourism and addressing climate change impacts emphasizing direct connection between scientific findings and the resilience of communities in high mountains. The conference emphasized the need and importance of open science and diversity amongst scientific and  non-scientific communities. It further spotlighted the United Nations International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025, an international initiative aiming to raise awareness and drive action for the conservation of the cryosphere and its ecosystem. The conference called for continued investment in training and capacity development and anticipated further revelations at the next international conference in November 2025, shaping the future of high mountain research.

The conference was co-organized by Tribhuvan University (TU), the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the Government of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the International Center for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Global Water Future (GWF) of the University of Saskatchewan, Society of Hydrologists and Meteorologists (SOHAM) – Nepal, and UNESCO. The other associated partners of the conference were the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Water Resources Research and Development Centre (WRRDC), Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW), and Real Time Solution Pvt. Ltd. (RTS)