About

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1983, is working to make this critical region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient. The Hindu Kush Himalaya mountain range spans eight countries and stretches 3,500km across Asia. It is vital for the food, water and power security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species. The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is the home of a series of the highest mountains on earth, including the world's highest and prominent peaks, Mt. Everest (8,850 m, Nepal) and K2 (8,611 m, Pakistan). At least more than 30 peaks in the Himalayas exceed 7,620 m.

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is separated for most of its length into two parallel and longitudinal mountain ranges due to the erosive power of the rivers Indus and Brahmaputra, each of which is characterized by mountain catchments of about 160,000 km². The range north of the Indus and Brahmaputra is called the High Himalayas. The southern range is subdivided into three parallel zones: The High Mountains, the Middle Mountains, and the Siwaliks. Finally, the HKH region borders on lowlands in the south.

From north to south, main forests in these regions are Temperate mountains, Subtropical mountains, Tropical mountains, Rainforests, and Moist deciduous forests, each with varying climates and rich biodiversity.

Khumaltar, Lalitpur
Kathmandu, Nepal
G.P.O. Box 3226
Telephone:(977) 1-527-5222, 5275223
Fax:(977) 1 527-5238, 5275239
Email:info@icimod.org