Five-day-long International Conference on Himalayan Environment in Changing Climatic Scenario (HECCS) 2023 organised by the Mountain Research Institute of the University of Ladakh began on September 19.

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) attended the inaugural session.

L-G termed the theme of the conference as important as climate change is not only affecting the Ladakh region but also the entire trans-Himalayan and Himalayan belt. He stated that experts from different parts of India and foreign countries have assembled for the conference to share their thoughts and expert suggestions for the betterment of Ladakh and the trans-Himalayan regions. He also stated that the citizens of India worship the Himalayas for environmental purposes and not only for their religious significance.

He highlighted the importance of respecting and preserving the Himalayas to maintain the environment and ecological balance. Stating that environmental protection is ingrained in our blood, LG stated that everyone must maintain this trait for the betterment of posterity. He asked everyone to share their learning from the conference with their children family members and relatives so that everyone comes forward for the protection of the fragile environment/ ecology. He further stated that this conference will leave a lasting impression on the protection of Ladakh’s fragile environment.

L-G released the abstract volume of the Conference on HECCS 2023 compiled by Dr. Bhupendra S Yadav along with the book, The Palgrave Handbook of Socio-ecological

Resilience in the Face of Climate Change: Contexts from a Developing Country by Sunil Nautiyal, Anil Kumar Gupta, Mrinalini Goswami, and YD Imran Khan. 

Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Shri Tsering Angchuk; Dr. Anil Gupta from National Institute of Disaster Management; Dr. OP Mishra from Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India; Prof (Dr) Talat Ahmad from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun; Dr. Prantik Mandal from CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad; Prof (Dr) Marcus Nuesser from Heidelberg University, Germany; faculty/students from University of Ladakh; delegates from different universities/colleges and officials from UT Ladakh were present in the inaugural session of the international conference.