Learning from the Nepal's Earthquake for Preparedness through Transboundary Collaboration among Experts of Himalayan Countries

As a water source for over a billion people and a region of exceptional cultural richness and biodiversity, the Himalayan terrain is a global asset. The young and rising Himalayan Mountains are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and floods. The risk is compounded by low capacities of most Himalayan countries to deal with disasters, remoteness and difficult terrain, and in several cases, political instability. These factors also make scientific research in the region difficult.