The GIIS Research Fellow (Natural resources and the Environment) Dr. Shiva Devkota attended the ‘Regional experts’ symposium on ecosystem-based adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ in Chengdu, China from 17-19 December 2019. The symposium brought 55 participants, including experts, young researchers, policymakers, was organized by The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with the Chengdu Institute of Biology (under the Chinese Academy of Sciences). It aimed at sharing research and experience on the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region to develop concrete recommendations on various facets of EbA. It also intended to identify opportunities and challenges in implementing the EbA approach in this region.

Dr. Devkota presented a talk entitled ‘Mushrooms in the Mountains: Assessing the role of fungi on the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices in Nepal Himalaya’ highlighting his research on fungi (mainly on wild mushrooms, lichens, and caterpillar fungus). He presented the status of fungi, issues of their sustainable management in the context of global change, and the potential of using fungi as an option for Ecosystem-based Adaptation. Dr. Devkota has been conducting multidisciplinary research on the globally undervalued and underrepresented fungal species at the GIIS.