Himalayan Snow at 23-year Low, Threatening 2 Billion People

Snowfall in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water - AFP
Snowfall in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water - AFP
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Himalayan Snow at 23-year Low, Threatening 2 Billion People

Snowfall in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water - AFP
Snowfall in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water - AFP

Snowfall in Asia's Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has reached a 23-year low, threatening nearly two billion people dependent on snowmelt for water, scientists warned in a report on Monday.

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan range, which stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar, holds the largest reserves of ice and snow outside the Arctic and Antarctica and is a vital source of fresh water for about two billion people.

Researchers found "a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence (the time snow remains on the ground) 23.6 percent below normal - the lowest in 23 years," the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said.

"This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people," it said in its Snow Update Report.

The study also warned of "potential lower river flows, increased groundwater reliance, and heightened drought risk", AFP reported.

Sher Muhammad, the lead author of the ICIMOD report, told AFP that "this year the snowfall started late in January and remained low in the winter season on average".

Several countries in the region have already issued drought warnings, with upcoming harvests and access to water at risk for populations already facing longer, hotter, and more frequent heatwaves.

The inter-governmental ICIMOD organisation is made up of member countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

It urged countries that rely on the 12 major river basins in the region to develop "improved water management, stronger drought preparedness, better early warning systems, and greater regional cooperation".

The Mekong and Salween basins -- the two longest rivers in Southeast Asia supplying water to China and Myanmar -- had lost around half of their snow cover, it noted.

Pema Gyamtsho, ICIMOD's director general, called for changes in policy to address the low snow levels in the long term.

"Carbon emissions have already locked in an irreversible course of recurrent snow anomalies in the HKH (Hindu Kush-Himalayas)," Gyamtsho said.

Asia is the region most affected by climate-related disasters, according to the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which reported last month that five of the past six years have seen the most rapid glacier retreat on record.



AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
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AlUla Kicks Off Summer Fruits Season, Celebrates Abundant Harvest

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA
AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares. - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the launch of AlUla's harvest season, starting with the AlUla Summer Fruits Season. This seven-day event from July 22 to 28 at Al Manshiyah Farmers Market marks the beginning of several seasonal celebrations, including dates, citrus, peregrine, and honey seasons.

According to SPA, during the Summer Fruits Season, farmers and local families will showcase diverse fruits, supporting comprehensive agricultural and economic development. The commission aims to drive economic growth through community initiatives during this peak harvest period for AlUla's over 5,000 farms, which boast more than 50,000 trees.

AlUla's mango farms yield over 1,125 tons from 125,000 hectares, and fig, grape, and pomegranate farms produce over 3,141 tons from 348 hectares.

Celebrating centuries of agricultural history, AlUla's diverse and high-quality produce balances ancient traditions and sustainable agriculture. The Royal Commission for AlUla prioritizes agricultural development to boost economic opportunities, enhance competitiveness, create local jobs, and offer visitors a unique experience of the region's agricultural