Systematic Review of Multi-Dimensional Vulnerabilities in the Himalayas

Zhan, JY (通讯作者),Beijing Normal Univ, Sch Environm, State Key Lab Water Environm Simulat, Beijing 100875, Peoples R China.
2022-10
The Himalayan region is a fragile high mountain landscape where the population experiences acute vulnerability within a complex coupled human-natural system due to environmental, social, and economic linkages. The lack of significant regional and spatial knowledge of multi-faceted vulnerabilities hinders any potential recommendations to address these vulnerabilities. We systematically reviewed the literature to recommend mitigation interventions based on the region's socio-economic and ecological vulnerability research to date. We applied the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) criteria to search for results from four comprehensive databases. For our assessment, we compiled a final sample (n = 59) of vulnerability research papers to examine the vulnerability types, spatial variation, assessment methodology, and significant drivers of change. Our study represented all Himalayan countries, namely, India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and Bhutan. More than half of the vulnerability studies were conducted in the central Himalayan region, a quarter in the western Himalayas, and a few in the eastern Himalayas. Our review revealed that the primary drivers of change were climate change, land use/land cover, and glacial lake formation. The vulnerability assessments in the Himalayan region primarily used social science methods as compared to natural science methods. While the vulnerability studies seldom assessed mitigation interventions, our analysis identified fourteen recommendations. The recommended interventions mainly included policy interventions, livelihood improvement, and adaptation measures. This study emphasized that sustainable development requires cross-sectoral interventions to manage existing resources and mitigate the confronting vulnerabilities of the region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
卷号:19|期号:19
收录类别:SCIE
语种
英语
来源机构
Beijing Normal University; California State University System; San Diego State University
资助信息
This research was supported by the Second Scientific Expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (2019QZKK0405-05), and additional support from the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences is also appreciated.
被引频次(WOS)
3
被引频次(其他)
3
180天使用计数
11
2013以来使用计数
11
EISSN
1660-4601
出版年
2022-10
DOI
10.3390/ijerph191912177
学科领域
循证公共卫生
关键词
climate change land use land cover change Himalaya PRISMA vulnerability
资助机构
Second Scientific Expedition China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences
WOS学科分类
Environmental Sciences Public, Environmental & Occupational Health