Ziraat Times Team Report
Srinagar: Glaciers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions are melting at an accelerated pace, posing serious threats to the region’s water security, agriculture and ecological balance, noted ggeologist and vice chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology, Prof Shakeel Romshoo said a special event to mark the first World Day for Glaciers here.
This global event, coordinated by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as part of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP 2025), aimed to raise awareness about the accelerating retreat of glaciers worldwide and its cascading effects on water, energy and food security, and as well as the livelihoods.
The seminar, held at IUST, was organised jointly by the Department of Planning & Geomatics, IUST
CoE for Glacial Studies, University of Kashmir; Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG), India and the Indian Meteorological Society (IMS), brought together leading scientists, researchers, policymakers, and academicians to discuss the critical state of the Himalayan cryosphere under changing climate conditions. The event featured keynote addresses by Head, National Cryosphere Lab, KU, Prof. Anil V. Kulkarni, Distinguished Scientist at the Divecha Centre for Climate Change, IISc Bangalore and and Arjimand Hussain, a noted Development Economist.
Prof Romshoo said the glaciers play a critical role in the region’s economy and ecosystem.
“Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are home to around 20,000 glaciers, which are vital water sources supporting agriculture, horticulture, hydropower and several other key sectors. Almost every sector of the economy in J&K depends on glacier-fed water, making their preservation essential,” he said.
He called for collective action, saying governments, people, academics and individuals must collaborate to protect these natural resources.
“There is no doubt that glaciers have been melting at an increased rate over the last 10-12 years. We are also witnessing a rise in winter temperatures and reduced snowfall, both of which accelerate glacier melt,” Romshoo said.
He revealed alarming statistics, saying, “We are losing nearly one metre of glacier ice every year, which has led to glaciers receding by about 20 metres annually. This is a grave concern, and immediate action is needed to mitigate the effects.”
Prof. Anil V. Kulkarni, in his address, elaborated on the scientific insights into climate change and its impacts on snow melting and stressed the importance of national and international collaborations to preserve and monitor the rapidly depleting cryosphere. He highlighted the vulnerabilities of mountain regions associated with climate change, particularly in high-altitude communities that depend on glacier-fed resources for agriculture, energy, water, and daily sustenance.
Arjimand Hussain, in his talk, provided a socio-economic perspective on glacier retreat and its far-reaching consequences on regional development, livelihoods, and food security, especially on the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Indus basins. He further emphasized the need for inclusive climate policies, sustainable economic planning, and community-driven adaptation strategies to build resilience against the socio-economic challenges posed by glacial melt.
He also called for a review of the J&K State Climate Action Plan and the National Action Plan of 2008 to align them with the new priorities and changes in the contexts.
The discussion session at the seminar covered critical themes, including: the impact of glacier melt on water and food security, the role of black carbon and climate change in accelerating glacial retreat, strategies for sustainable water management in glacier-fed river basins, and a roadmap for glacier conservation and climate resilience in the Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas.
Experts have called for eco-friendly tourism to reduce environmental stress on glaciers. “Encouraging responsible waste disposal, limiting visitors in sensitive areas and raising awareness are crucial steps,” they said.
They said the challenges posed by melting glaciers require a multifaceted approach—one that integrates traditional knowledge, innovative solutions and strong policy support to safeguard the region’s future.
The seminar was coordinated by Dr. Tariq Abdullah, Head, Dept. of Geomatics and Planning, IUST and participants from government, academia and other segments of the society joined both in-person and virtually, reflecting the widespread interest in glacier preservation.
—(With KNO inputs )
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