The South Asian monsoon is critical for the Hindu Kush Himalaya. It provides much needed water for our rainfed farming systems and recharges our hydrosphere, replenishing the blue arteries that bind our region together. We owe much to this annual weather system for our food-water-energy security, the health of our ecosystems, and the livelihoods of mountain communities.

But the monsoon also has its destructive side. Heavy rains cause floods and landslides that lead to the loss of lives and destruction of property and infrastructure every year. This year has been no different, perhaps even relatively worse than an average year.

Land cover change is a significant contributor to environmental change. The degradation of forests and conversion of natural areas, forests, and farmlands to other land use impact ecosystem services and biodiversity significantly. Using multiple methodologies and input data sources, national agencies in different countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region have conducted land cover mapping at various times. Due to the differences in classification schema, methodologies, and input data sources used, currently available land cover data is not suitable for analysis of land cover changes over time.