The Himalayan region, often referred to as the "Third Pole" for its vast ice reserves, is one of the world's most critical climate hotspots. Home to over 50,000 glaciers and the source of Asia's major river systems, the Himalayas sustain billions of lives across the subcontinent.
The Scale of Glacial Retreat
Scientific evidence indicates that Himalayan glaciers are retreating at an accelerating pace. The consequences extend far beyond mountain communities — downstream flooding, altered river flows, and reduced water availability threaten agriculture and urban water security across multiple countries.
Indigenous Communities on the Frontline
Indigenous peoples of the Himalayas are the first and hardest hit. Their traditional knowledge systems, developed over centuries of coexistence with mountain ecosystems, offer invaluable insights for both adaptation and mitigation.
ARPA's Approach
ARPA Opportunity Foundation conducts rigorous scientific assessments of climate impacts in the Himalayan region while simultaneously working to document and integrate indigenous knowledge into modern conservation practices.
