NASA's web-based environmental management system for Himalayas

Washington, Oct 6 (ANI): NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched an innovative, web-based environmental management system for the Himalayan region.

SERVIR-Himalaya features web-based access to satellite imagery, decision-support tools and interactive visualization capabilities, and puts previously inaccessible information into the hands of scientists, environmental managers, and decision-makers.

SERVIR was developed in coordination with the Group on Earth Observations, more than 80 nations working together to build a Global Earth Observing System of Systems to benefit the needs of society.

The Earth observation information is used to address threats related to climate change, biodiversity, and extreme events such as flooding, forest fires, and storms.

NASA and USAID are expanding SERVIR to the Himalayas to address critical issues such as land cover change, air quality, glacial melts and adaptation to climate change.

The countries in the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya region have unique needs related to their extreme mountain environments. The region is known as Earth's "third pole," because of its inaccessibility and the vast amount of water stored there in the form of ice and snow.

"I am very pleased that through the partnership with USAID and NASA on SERVIR-Himalaya, ICIMOD will be able to augment its capacity and its network of cooperative partners in the region to use Earth observation for societal benefits of the mountain communities," said Basanta Shrestha, division head of the Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information System for ICIMOD. (ANI)