Climate change
Among others, the events will focus on the use of space technology to monitor the planet
Climate change To understand and address the issues of climate change, the ministry of agriculture and forests and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) will hold a series of events this week.
The five-day program, which is dedicated to youth, will bring together about 40 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal to attend events like ‘Connecting from Space to Village: Enabling Climate Policy and Actions in the Himalayas’, ‘Earth Observation: Empowering Youth for Climate Actions in the Himalayas’ and an exhibition.
A press release from ICIMOD stated that the series of events is to draw the attention of policy makers, government agencies, development agencies, community workers, youth and children to the potential for using remote sensing and Earth observation technologies.
The press release also stated that the event, ‘Connecting from Space to Village’, aims to bring the benefits of modern technologies to mountain communities in the Himalayan region. “It will demonstrate the use of earth observation and geospatial tools and technologies for enhanced scientific knowledge and understanding of climate change.”
The event is also expected to provide a regional platform for sharing experiences of earth observation applications in line with the Bhutan Summit themes (ensuring food security and livelihoods; securing the natural fresh water systems of the Himalayas; securing biodiversity and ensuring its sustainable use; and ensuring energy security and enhancing alternative technologies).
ICIMOD’s Mountain Environmental Natural Resources Information Systems (MENRIS) head, Basanta Shrestha, said the events will also bring the benefits of satellite-based technologies to mountain communities, and will feature practical applications ranging from understanding melting of glaciers, forest cover changes, monitoring and detecting forest fire, emergency response for earthquake disaster, monitoring agriculture and food security, mapping happiness index, participatory three-dimensional modelling of Bumthang.
The event also aims to raise awareness among youth about climate change and appropriate actions they can take in their local communities.
“A special interactive event is planned for Thimphu school children on 16 November, which is also Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day,” the press release stated. On this occasion, ICIMOD will also launch its ‘Herbal Gardens in Schools’ initiative in Bhutan.
The exhibition of posters, demonstrations, and online applications from November 17 to 19 will showcase key earth observation applications addressing climate change in the eastern Himalayan region, with a particular focus on Bhutan.
The events have been put together under the SERVIR Himalaya initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Source: kuenselonline