The area coverage of the glaciers in the Nepal Himalayas has decreased by nearly 1,266 km due to global warming, raising serious concern for the environmental balance of the region, a study released here said today. The area coverage has been reduced to 3,902 km in 2010 from 5,168 km (RPT) 5,168 km in 1980 due to shrinkage and fragmentation as a result of global warming. However, the number of glaciers in the Nepal Himalayas has increased to 3,808 in 2010 from 3,430 glaciers in 1980, the report said. The report was released at the end of the three-day "Conference on the Cryosphere of the Hindu Kush Himalaya: State of Knowledge."

Around 120 scientists, climate change experts, and officials from 16 countries attended the conference. The participants were from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar. The reduction is mainly due to global warming, though Nepal is not making any contribution in this regard, pointed out Samjwal Bajra.

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