Abstract ID: 3.11390 | Accepted as Talk | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Glaciers in the Hindukush- Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) region are the lifeblood of those who live downstream through water provisioning, hydropower generation, agricultural purposes and ecosystem stability. These glaciers moderates streamflow, guaranteeing their availability for irrigation and domestic purposes year-round, and hold great cultural and spiritual significance for the peoples living in their vicinity. However, climate change-driven glacier retreat is rapidly modifying such services, representing monumental threats to water security, food production, and biodiversity in high-altitude and downstream zones alike. This study scrutinizes projected impacts of glacier loss on Glacier Ecosystem Services (GES) in the region with a focus on changes in meltwater availability, hydrological changes, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Adopting an integrated methodology involving remote sensing, hydrological modeling, and qualitative assessments of local adaptation strategies, we analyze the cascading effect of glacier retreat on livelihoods, agriculture, and regional economies. Case studies introduced from glacier-dependent communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral elaborate how traditional water-sharing systems and indigenous adaptation strategies have been altered in tandem with the changing dynamic of glaciers. With glaciers at unprecedented melting rates, the growing desperation emphasizes the need for developing adaptive and transformative responses that allow the enhancement of resilience in glacier-fed systems. The study will contribute to interdisciplinary dialogues on sustainable water resource management, climate adaptation policies, and the role of indigenous knowledge in mitigating the socio-economic impacts of glacier loss. Understanding this ever-changing interaction is imperative for enhancing the long-term sustainability of glacier-dependent socio-ecological systems from the Himalayan-Karakoram region.