A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed on Thursday between the Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

According to the MoU, both the institutions will collaborate to achieve the environmentally sustainable development in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR) through a mutually agreed mechanism for experience sharing on similar aspects in other parts of the Himalayan region, including other member countries.

The GBPIHED will act as a focal point of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to facilitate effective implementation of ICIMOD- Government of India research and development activities relating to the environment and development in the IHR.

Both the institutions will develop joint research and development projects in identified areas of mutual interest related to Himalayan region and try to cater a wide range of stakeholders including NGOs, community based organizations, national level research institutions, government and organizations.

The ICIMOD will ensure that perspective collaborative organizations from India submit summaries of project proposals to the Government of India, represented by GBPIHED.

The short-term exchange of scientist or young scientists, including their strategic partners will also be promoted within the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by Dr. L.M.S. Palni, Director, GBPIHED and the Director General, ICIMOD, Dr. Andreas Schild.

It shall be valid for a period of five years from today and shall be renewed thereafter for a period on mutually agreed terms and conditions.

The GBPIHED, an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, was established in 1988.

The Institute has emerged as the focal-agency to advance scientific knowledge, to evolve integrated resource management strategies, demonstrate their efficiency for conservation of natural resources and to ensure environmentally sound development in the entire IHR.

The ICIMOD, founded in 1983 and based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is an intergovernmental independent institution that has been established with the objective of promoting the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of its mountain communities by bringing together a partnership of eight regional member countries of Hind-Kush Himalayan region, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, and institutions within and outside the HKH region.

Although the mandate of both the ICIMOD and GBPIHED covers different geographical scales but they have a common vision to contribute to the sustainable development of the mountains, especially the IHR.

Source-ANI
THK/SK