Sustainable development in the HKH mountains and the role of GIS GIS for Sustainable Development - MENRIS strategies The works presented above show that of GIS and RS technology are of immense value in the assessment and analysis of different scenarios, which will ultimately generate knowledge about various parameters with their spatial characteristics. Such information are invaluable for addressing numerous issues in sustainable development of the region. The conceptual framework adopted by MENRIS for the utilization of GIS technology and applications for sustainable mountain development in the HKH is shown in figure 3.  Although the use of GIS technology has been advocated to understand the various natural and socio-economic processes in the region, it is important that the scientists and planners first understand the technology itself for its appropriate utilization. Realizing that trained manpower is the most important factor for successful application of the technology, MENRIS has put major effort to capacity building activities since its inception. Again, keeping in view the diverse applications that are possible using GIS, and the importance of the role of partnerships among the different institutions across the region, MENRIS strategies also include application development and networking activities. The programme focus of MENRIS with four main building blocks is shown in figure 4.  Capacity Building Under its capacity building activities, nearly 800 people from over 100 partner institutions have been trained by MENRIS in the use of GIS technologies. Since 1997, nearly 240 people have been trained in GIS applications that are specific to mountain areas. Several partner institutions have in turn become nodal agencies that train professionals and students from many varied disciplines. A recent MENRIS project has been the production of a training CD-ROM on the Application of Geo-informatics for Sustainable Mountain Development. This CD-ROM is the first step in a computer-based approach to training that should one day offer students in the region the options of distance learning, web-based training and, eventually, university courses. To bring GIS to a broader audience, MENRIS is also producing a handbook with CD-ROM for schools and colleges entitled GIS for Beginners, a pilot version of which was launched in Nepal on the occasion of GIS Day 2000. The transfer of GIS knowledge and skills to the partner institutions has created a strong network that is now acting as the foundation for continuing growth throughout the region. GIS Data Management One of the major challenges in the application of GIS in the region is the availability of data. Even the existing data are difficult to use as they are in different reference systems and have inadequate information about the projection systems adopted. Besides, there are problems in integrating the socioeconomic data with the biophysical data due to the different spatial units adopted for data collection. MENRIS is working to come up with a spatial framework for consistent data acquisition and aggregation. To fill some gaps in the lack of foundation data covering the whole region, the database development activities at MENRIS now have a regional perspective. It is working towards the development of a Regional Geographic Information Infrastructure (RGII) for increasing the availability, accessibility and affordability of relevant geographic data across the region. Application development In order to develop applications to deal with real problems of the HKH, the training programmes has been focussed to four pertaining issues of sustainable mountain development - Basic Infrastructure and Facility Planning; Mountain Agriculture and Land Use Planning; Monitoring, Assessment and Planning of Mountain Natural Resources; and Slope Stability Analysis and Hazard Mapping. Several case studies have been undertaken by partner institutions in collaboration with ICIMOD which demonstrate how GIS applications can be used in mountain-specific situations. Some examples are: Planning for agriculture and land-use management in Duilang County, Tibet; Biodiversity conservation and assessment in the eastern Indian Himalayas, India; Municipal-level GIS for Kirtipur, Nepal; and Mass movement and landslide hazards in sub-Himalayan ranges, Muree, Pakistan. Resource Centre and Clearinghouse MENRIS envisages to become the resource centre and a clearinghouse for disseminating the knowledge, technology and support for GIS activities in the region. With the use of latest information and communication technologies, it is working towards reaching a wider audience in the region which are otherwise inaccessible. Challenges in the HKH MENRIS is aware of the challenges that lie ahead, and therefore, since its inception, it has relied on strong relationships with the partner institutions in the regional member countries of ICIMOD. The partnership initiative was designed to extend the functional capabilities of national institutions by developing mutually-supportive relationships. These relationships focused initially on training and dissemination of GIS/RS. Ultimately, MENRIS seeks to develop a robust, productive GIS/RS environment to attain the common goals of an accurate information base, which can then be used for management and monitoring of the natural resource base and the environment in the region. There are many difficulties to be overcome, both technical and practical, to work at a resolution fine enough to model the high spatial variability and diversities of the mountains. A lot has to be done before all the people and institutions working for the common goal of sustainable development in the region can work from a single GIS platform. ICIMOD is working in one of the toughest regions of the world. To work at the regional level is no way an easy task in view of the tough ground realities such as data inaccessibility, technology constraints and a non-conducive political atmosphere in most of the countries. However, ICIMOD has been able to bring visible impacts in HKH region in terms of generating awareness on GIS technology and building a GIS community in the regional countries. ICIMOD's efforts in this regard has been duly recognised with the prestigious President's Award at the 2001 ESRI User Conference (figure5). ICIMOD's substantial work, research, and dedication to GIS education in the last decade are reflected in this award (see box). References
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