G.2054Page1GlobalResearchjournalofNaturalScience&Technology(GRJNST)Volume:04-Issue2(2026),2054ISSNP:2790-7643ISSNE:2790-7651www.grjnst.nethttps://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06GlofImpact,CausesandMitigationStrategiesinBilhanzandBadswatVillagesinIshkoman,DistrictGhizer,Gilgit-BaltistanReceived:19February2026.Accepted:1March2026Published:31March2026MariaBatoolDepartmentofAnimalSciences,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitFarhadSikandarKhanPhDScholaratDepartmentofEnvironmentalSciences,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitAmeeqaNadirDepartmentofAnimalSciences,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitShaziaBatoolDepartmentofAnimalSciences,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitJunaidAbbasMSscholaratDepartmentofEconomics,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitAbidaShahMSScholaratDepartmentofEnvironmentalSciences,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitLubnaHabibDepartmentofChemistry,KarakoramInternationalUniversity,GilgitGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06Copyright©2026GRJNST.ThisarticleispublishedunderanOpenAccessmodel.ItismadeavailabletothepublicunderthetermsoftheCreativeCommonsAttribution4.0International(CCBY4.0)license,whichpermitsunrestricteduseanddistributionG.2054Page2ABSTRACT:Duringthecurrentstudy,thecauses,impacts,andmitigationeffortsrelatedtoGlacialLakeOutburstFloods(GLOFs)inBilhanzandBadswat,IshkomanValley,werethoroughlyexaminedbetweenJulytoSeptember2024.Theseeventsledtosignificantlandscapealterations,transformingoncefertileagriculturalandforestlandsintodebriscoveredareas,asevidencedbysatelliteanddigitalcameraimagery.AlargelakeformedinBadswat,destroyingextensiveagriculturalandforestland,whichforcedtherelocationofmanyresidents.MostdisplacedindividualsreceivedhousingsupportfromtheAgaKhanAgencyforHabitat(AKAH),whilethegovernmentprovidedlimitedassistance.TheSaudigovernmentalsomadenotablecontributions.Between2018and2021,successiveGLOFeventsdamaged186hectaresofagriculturallandinbothvillagesinadditiontodamagesandlossestolivestockandotherlifesupportingsystems.Climatechangeanddeforestationwereidentifiedastheprimarydriversofthesedisasters.Amultivariateanalysisrevealedthatgender,age,andeducationhadsignificantimpactsonawarenessandperceptionsofenvironmentaldegradationandclimatechange.Olderrespondents,particularlythoseaged50-60,werethemostinfluentialinshapingfuturedisasterpreparednessandmitigationefforts.Althougheducationhadasmallereffectsize,itstillplayedacrucialroleinraisingenvironmentalawareness.Mitigationstrategiesproposedincludeafforestation,carboncapture,renewableenergy,andwastereduction.Manyrespondentsemphasizedtheimportanceofcommunityinvolvementandeducationinaddressingenvironmentalissues.However,opinionsvaryonthemosteffectivemethodsforcontrollingsoilpollutionandimprovingoverallenvironmentalhealth.Keywords:GLOF,EnvironmentalDegradation,MitigationStrategies,MultivariateAnalysis.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054INTRODUCTIONPage3Environmentaldegradationismostlycausedbyhumanactivityandresultsfromchangesintheenvironmentbroughtaboutbyurbanization,populationincrease,andeconomicdevelopment(Choudhary,2015).Humaninterventionsthatmodifynaturalsurfacecharacteristicsarewidelybelievedtodirectlycausesignificantclimaticchanges(Elagib,2000).Everythingthataffectsanorganismandaffectsitssurroundingsisconsideredpartoftheenvironment.Ecosystemsarestrainedbythefasturbanizationandpopulationincrease,whichcausesresourceinequality,foodshortages,andenvironmentalproblemslikedesertification,erosion,andwaterpollution(Qasim,2014).ThePakistaniHimalayas,particularlytheKarakoramRange,arewitnessinganincreaseinglacier-relatedhazardssuchasflashfloods,GLOFs,snowavalanches,anddebrisflowsduetoclimatechange-inducedglacierretreat(Rehman,2014).WehaveobservedanincreaseinGlacialLakeOutburstFlood(GLOF)eventsacrosstheregioninrecentyears.LandslidesinGilgitBaltistan,particularly,thedistrictofGhizerhavebeensignificantlyaffectedbyclimatechange-inducedGLOFevents.Theseeventscausedegradationinhabitatandbiodiversity(Rahim,2018).Ecosystemservicesareadvantagingthatpeoplecanobtainfortheirphysical,social,andfinancialwell-beingfromnaturalecosystems(Millenniumecosystemassessment,2005).Ecosystemservicesinhigh-altituderegionsareoftenundervalued,leadingtoenvironmentaldegradationandbiodiversity(Ali,2023).Forestsregulatetheearth'stemperature,hydrologicandcarboncycles,protectsoilnutrients,andmitigatefloodsanddroughts.Tominimizeecologicalfootprintsandenvironmentaldegradation,emergingnationssuchasPakistanmustregulategreenhousegasemissions,nitrogenouswaste,andcarbondioxideemissionstomaintainsustainableenvironmentalquality(Yousaf,2022).Pakistanhaslostaround$18billioninthelasttenyearsduetothehighriskofnaturaldisasters.Thenation,whichisrankedninthonthe2019ClimateVulnerabilityIndexisvulnerabletoextremeweather,especiallyinitsnorthernregions(Baig,2021).Thisregion,whichincludesportionsoftheHimalayan,Karakoram,andHinduKushranges,ispronetoavalanches,mudflows,floods,andlandslidesbecauseofitsgeology,seismicactivity,glaciers,andglaciallakes.Inadequatedisasterpreparation,unstableglacierlakes,andatmospherichazardsexacerbatethethreatstoGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page4alpinetownsdownstream(Baig,2021).TheGilgitBaltistanregioninnorthernPakistan,covering72,971km²,isstrategicallylocatedatthecrossroadsofChina,SouthAsia,andCentralAsia,butremainedisolateduntiltheKarakoramHighwaywascompletedin1978(Ullah,2020).Itishometosomeoftheworld'slargestglaciersandtallestmountains,andisincreasinglyvulnerabletonaturaldisastersduetoshiftingweatherpatternsandrisingtemperatures.Pakistan'sNationalClimateChangePolicyhighlightsGLOFsasakeyhazard,emphasizingtheneedformonitoring,evacuationplanning,andadaptationstrategies(Aslam,2023).Fordisastermanagementanddevelopmentagenciesintheresearcharea,climatechangeandcatastropheriskmanagementprovidesignificantproblems.Topreventthecatastrophiceffectsofdisastersbroughtonbyclimatechange,wemustassumeresponsibilityfordetecting,assessing,andreducingtherisksconnectedwithclimatechange(ShahS.S.,2023).Thegovernment,non-governmentalorganizations,andGilgitcivilsocietydo,however,encounterdifficultinstitutionalobstaclesintheireffortstocomprehendthedangersofclimatechangeanditseffects.Thishasincreasedthesurroundingcommunities'susceptibilitytonaturaldisasters.Thismeansthatinstitutionsmustbechangedimmediatelytoaddressthefast-changingclimateandextremedisasters(ShahS.S.,2023).Pollution,whichisbroughtaboutbyurbanizationandindustrialization,isoneofthemajorcausesofenvironmentaldegradationindevelopingcountries,especiallyconcerningdeforestationandindustrialpollutioninwater,air,andsoil(HussainA.K.,2022).DeforestationinPakistanhasincreaseddramaticallywithagriculturalactivities,urbanexpansion,andovergrazing,whichhaveresultedinsoilerosionandlowlandproductivity(Anjum,2010).GLOFsareamajorthreattomountainousregionsasfrequentlyencounteredinGilgit-Baltistanduetotheimpactsofclimatechange.GLOFshappenwhentheicedambursts,whichitcandofrequentlyastemperaturesincreaseleadingtomoreicemelt(Emmer,2017).MeltwaterlakesareformingonlowerglaciersduetoatmosphericwarmingintheHimalayanregions.ThistrendislikelytoexacerbatewithclimatechangeandrisethepotentialofGLOFactivitythatposesserioussocialandeconomicdamagethreatstothemillionsofpeoplelivingdownstream.TheKarakoramRangealsohashad35devastatingGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page5GLOFsinthelast200yearsthereforeincludingtheareasofpossiblemost-outputofGLOFs(Ashraf,2021).ItisaffirmedthatinGilgit-BaltistanGLOFshaveledtothelossofhabitats,infrastructuralloss,andanegativeimpactonagriculturalyields(AslamA.B.,2022).Since2018to2021,experiencingfrequentGLOFsinIshkomanValleyaffectinghumanandecosysteminfrastructureheavily(ShahS.A.-3.,2019).ItemphasizedreducingtherisksofGLOFissomewhatproblematicduetothegeographicalcharacteristicsoftheareainwhichlarge-numberedhigh-altitudestructuressuchasdamsandfloodbarrierscannotbeconstructedefficiently(Setiadi,2010).underscoredGLOFsalsoadverselyaffectlivelihoodsandpeopleentirelyintheirlivesaredisplacedandemotionalproblems(Hussain,2024).StudiesrevealthatemissionsfromindustriesremainuncontrolledindevelopingcountriessuchasPakistan:Theconsequenceisincreasedamountsofpollutantsthatcontributetoglobalwarming(Ilyas,2010).Industrialwasteisoftenreleaseddirectlyintoriverswhichworsenswaterqualityandendangersaquaticlifeandthegroupsthatbenefitfromthesesourcesforirrigationanddomesticwatersupply(KhanA.S.,2021).Themeasurestocontrolenvironmentaldegradationcallformulti-sectoralapproachesthatseektoaddressfactorsthatpredisposetheenvironmenttodegradationandimpactsofthesame(Brancalion,2017).Afforestationandreforestationprocessesplayimportantrolesintherehabilitationofdegradedecosystems.Thestatedpracticeshelptoimprovethecohesivenessofsoils,stockuponcarbon,anddiversifyspecies(Dignac,2017).ThehazardousGLOFcanbeminimizedbyusingearlywarningsystems,includingremotesensingandgeographicalinformationsystems(Wang,2022).ItexpressesthatregionalcooperationinclimatechangeadaptationiscrucialtoimprovingtheabilityoftheregiontocopewiththeeffectsofclimatechangeandGLOFs(Karki,2009).TheaimofthecurrentstudyistoevaluatetheimpactofGLOF-relatedeventsintheremoteareasofGilgit-Baltistan(GB),astheseeventshaveasignificantanddrasticeffectonthelivelihoodsofcommunitiesintheregion'sfar-flungareas.MethodsStudyareaThisstudywasconductedinthewesterndistrictofGhizer,whichisoneofthetendistrictsinGB.IndistrictGhizerthestudywasdoneinBadswatandBilhanzvillagesbecausetheseGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054twovillageshadasevereGlOFeventin2018and2021.BothGlOFeventhasadrasticeffectontheecosystemandlivelihoodoftheresidentsinbothvillages(Fig.1andFig.2).Page6Figure1.GeographicrepresentationofthestudyareainIshkomanValley,Gilgit-Baltistan,highlightingthelocationsofBadswatandBilhansvillagesimpactedbyGLOFevents.Theupperpanelincludes(a)adetailedmapoftheGhizerdistrictwithmajorriversandstreams,(b)theregionalcontextofGilgit-BaltistanwithinPakistan,and(c)administrativeboundariesofGhizerdistrict.ThelowerpanelshowsaGoogleEarthimageoftheBadswatregion,illustratingtheextentoftheglaciallake(bluearea)formedduetoglacialmelting.DatacollectionFielddatacollectionactivitywasdoneinJulyandSeptember2024.WecollectthedatafromBadswatandBilhanz,ofIshkomanGhizer.ThedatawascollectedrandomlyfromtheGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page7respondentsavailableonthesurvey’sdaysinbothvillages.Therespondentswerefurtherclassifiedintomale,female,aged,andyoungfromdifferentprofessions(farmers,professionals,andstudents).Wetraveledtovariouslocationsandcollecteddatafromtheparticipantswhowerewillingtoparticipateinthestudyandselected196participantsfromdifferentplacesinthestudyarea(IshkomanGhizer).Datawascollectedthroughin-personinterviewsandsurveys,allowingforpersonalizedinteractionandaccuratedatacollection.StatisticalanalysisWeusedtheverylatestversionofR.4.4.1.Asurveydatasettitled"Questinaire.csv"wasutilized.Thedatasetincludesdemographic,environmentalimpact,awareness,andmitigation-relatedvariables.DatacleaningandpreparationInitialdatacleaninginvolvedloadingthedatasetwithoutmodifyingcolumnnames,convertingcategoricalvariablestofactors,andcapitalizingthefirstletterofeachwordincategoricalcolumns.Tosummarizecategoricalvariablesandunderstandtheirdistributions.CalculatedcountsandpercentagesforeachcategorywithinthecategoricalvariablesToexaminetheimpactofdemographicfactorsondifferentgroupsofenvironmentalandawarenessvariables.Combineddemographicdatawithgroup-specificdatatoformacomprehensivedatasetforMANOVA.ConductedMANOVAwithdemographicfactors(Age,Gender,Education,Occupation,andLocation)asindependentvariablesandgroup-specificdataasdependentvariables.Extractedp-valuestoassessthesignificanceofeachfactorininfluencingthegroupvariables.RESULTSThisstudywasdesignedtoinvestigatethecauses,effects,andmitigationstrategiesfollowingtheGlacialLakeOutburstFlood(GLOF)eventsinBilhanzandBadswat,locatedintheIshkomanValley.BothareasexperiencedseveredamageduetoconsecutiveGLOFevents.(Fig.3aandFig.3b)illustratesBilhanzvillagebeforeandaftertheGLOFevents,highlightingitsoncelushgreenlandscapecomprisingfieldsandforests,whichisnowcoveredwithflooddebristhatisreflectedincapturedimagesofdigitalcameraandsatelliteimages.Similarly,theGLOFeventcreatedasignificantlakeinBadswatvillage,damagingagriculturallandandforestedareas(Fig.3cand3d).AsaresultofthesemassiveGLOFGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page8events,residentsofbothvillageswerecompelledtomigratetohigherareaswithinthesamevillagesortootherpartsofGilgit-Baltistan(Figures3eand3f).Thehousesdepictedin(Figures3eand3f)wereconstructedbytheAgaKhanAgencyforHabitat(AKAH)withminimalcontributionsfromtheaffectedindividuals.Table2presentstheGPScoordinatesofthenewlybuilthousesfortheaffectedresidentsinBilhanzvillage.Uponinquiry,somerespondentsindicatedtheyownedinheritedland,whilemostreportedpurchasinglandbeforetheconstructionoftheirprototypehouses.Theaffectedresidentsexpressedseriousconcernoveralackofgovernmentsupportduringthischallengingtime.TheyacknowledgedthecontributionsoftheSaudigovernmentandtheAgaKhanAgencyforHabitat(AKAH)fortheirtirelesseffortsduringthesedifficultcircumstances.(Figures3band3d)illustratethetotalareasdamagedbyfloodsinBadswatandBilhanz.Inthesefigures2,thered-markedboxeshighlightthedamagedareas.During2018,123hectares(or2,431.52kanal)oflandwereaffected.OnJuly17,2021,anotherfloodeventcauseddamageto63hectares(or1,254kanal)ofland.ThetotaldamagerecordedbetweenJuly17,2018,andJuly16,2021,amountedto186hectares(or3,677kanal)ofland.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page9Figure2.TemporalanalysisofglaciallakedevelopmentandassociatedlanddamageinBadswatandBilhansvillagesofIshkomanValley,Gilgit-Baltistan,between2016and2021.Satelliteimageryhighlightssignificantchangesinglaciallakes(blueareas)anddamagedland(redpolygons).Theyellowcirclesidentifythemostimpactedregions.Inthesefigures,thered-markedboxeshighlightthedamagedareas.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page10GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page11Figure3.showsthepicturesofthestudyareabeforeandaftertheGLOFevent.(A)showsthevillageBilhanzpaien.(B)showsthedamagescausedbytheGLOFeventtoBilhanzPaien.(C)showsBadswatbeforetheGLOFeventand(D)showsthelakeemergedaftertheGLOFevent.(AandB)illustratethetotalareasdamagedbyfloodsinBadswatandBilhanz.During2018,123hectares(or2,431.52kanal)oflandwereaffected.OnJuly17,2021,anotherfloodeventcauseddamageto63hectares(or1,254kanal)ofland.ThetotaldamagerecordedbetweenJuly17,2018,andJuly16,2021,amountedto186hectares(or3,677kanal)ofland.Demographyoftherespondents:Thedatahighlightsthedemographiccomponentsofthepopulation,focusingongender,age,occupation,education,andlocationoftherespondents.Outofatotalof196respondents,158weremale(81%)and38(19%)werefemalerespectively(Fig.4a).Distributionanalysisfurtherdepictsthatoutofatotalof196respondents,67were50-60-yearagegroupand54were30-40years(54)(Fig.4b).DuringthissurveydatawaspreferablycollectedfromsenioragerespondentsbecausetheyhavestrongobservationandvastexperiencedGLOFeventsinthepronearea.TheeducationalbackgroundofmostoftherespondentsisPrimarySchoolpassing(90),someoftherespondentshaveFSc(30)whilesomeoftherespondents’educationalqualificationisPostGraduate(12)(Fig.4d).Theincomelevelisalsosomewhatmediocre,andeducationmayplayaroleincausingdifferencesintheopinionsofpeopleonenvironmentalandsocialproblems.Mostrespondentsarefromtheprivatesector(75.6%),whilethesmallestproportionofrespondentsisfarmers(54.3%).Thevarietyofoccupationsmeansthatthedataisrepresentativeofabroadworking-classpopulationandtheirviewsonenvironmentalandeconomicfactorsmightbeaffected.ThelargestnumberofrespondentscomesfromBadswatwith111followedbyBilhanzwith35andBorthwith9(Fig.4c).Thismakesitpossiblethatthedataobtainedismorerelevanttoagivenregionandthisinfluencesthegeographicalapplicationoftheoutcomes.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page12Figure4.Showsthedemographicvariablesofrespondentswhoparticipatedinthisstudy.(A)male(81%)and19%werefemale.(B)50to60-yearagegroup30to40-yearagegroup(54).(C)respondentscountfromBadswatandBilhanz(D)Basiceducation(Primarypassed)(E)respondentsfromtheprivatesector.DamagescausedbyGLOF:Themajorityoftherespondents(128respondents)estimate1to20kanaloftheirlandhasbeendamagedwithfewpeoplereportinglossonlargerareasbetween21to40kanal(26individuals).10respondentswerethosewhoseareasweredamagedmorethan60kanalwhile30respondentswerethosewhosaidnotdamaged.Thismeansthatnaturaldisastershaveaffectedagriculturalandresidentiallandsinaproportionalthoughvaryingmanner(Fig5a).Themajorityofrespondents78respondedthatmorethan60plantswereaffectedbynaturaldisasterswhile38claimedthatalmost20treesweredamaged.while18individualsrespondedthat41to60plantsweredamagedduetonaturaldisastersand30respondentsGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page13respondedasnotdamagedThisshowshowsuchoccurrencesaffectvegetation,andthismaynotbeverygoodnewsforotherspecieswithinthatparticularregion(Fig5b).168respondentsrepliedthatnoanimalwasinjured,althoughafewpeoplementionedunusualdamagelike27respondentsclaimed1to20animalsweredamaged.Only1personsaidmorethan60animalsweredamagedduetothedisaster.Thiscouldalsobeduetovariationsintheimpactthatnaturaldisastershaveonfauna,withsomeregionsbeingmoreresistantand/orshielded(Fig5c).Figure5.showsthedamagescausedbyGLOFinthestudyarea(A)Themajorityoftherespondents)estimate1to20kanaloftheirlandhasbeendamaged.(B)Themajorityofrespondentsrespondedthatmorethan60plantswereaffectedbynaturaldisasters.(C)respondentsrepliedthatnoanimalwasinjured,althoughafewpeoplementionedunusualdamagelike27respondentsclaimed1to20animalsweredamaged.EffectsandCausesofanEnvironmentalDegradationOurstudyshowsthat101respondentssaiddeforestationisthemaincontributortoGLOFeventswhile81individualssaiditisclimatechange.Only5individualssaiditwasduetotheincreasingpopulation9respondentsthoughtduetourbanization.Theyareallpointingtokeyenvironmentalissuesthatinfluencethelocalandglobalenvironment(Fig6a).Respectively112individualsagreedthatclimatechangeisthemaincauseofenvironmentaldegradation,GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page1458peoplesaiditisduetonaturaldisasterswhile22peoplesaidthemaincauseishumanactivities.Only3individualsagreeditisdeforestation.Thisindicatesasignificantlevelofawarenessthatclimatechangeisoneoftheescalatingenvironmentalissues(Fig6b).Respectively71individualsbelieveitworsenshealthwhile61saiditdependsonthetypeofdegradation.41individualssaiditdoesnotaffecthealthwhile22respondentssaiditimproveshealth.Thisinturnsuggeststhatthereishighawarenessofthehealthconsequencesresultingfromdeteriorationoftheenvironment(Fig6c).Respectively100individualssaidclimatechangeistheenvironmentaleffectofGLOFwhilesoilerosionisconsideredby35respondentsand22individualsfollowedlossofbiodiversityandlossofagriculturallandistheenvironmentaleffectofGLOF.GlobalenvironmentalchangeshaveestablishedGLOFsasanimportantissuesupportedbythedata(Fig6d).Regardingtheeffectsofsustainablepracticesonthehealthofthesoil,asplittingoftheopinionscouldbeobservedas66respondentsclaimedthatthelatterisdamagedbythesepracticeswhile61explainedthatitwasbeneficialand16individualssaiditdependsonthetypeofsustainablepracticeswhile53individualsaiditdoesnotaffectsoilhealth.Thisleadstothequestionthat,thereseemstobeadivideinsustainabilityeffortsmanagementdownthemiddle(Fig6e).GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page15Figure6.Showseffectsandcausesontheenvironment.(A)DeforestationastheprimarycontributortoGLOFevents.(B)climatechangeisthemaincauseofenvironmentaldegradation.(C)environmentaldegradationworsenshealth,suggestingahighawarenessofitshealthconsequences.(D)climatechangeastheprimaryenvironmentaleffectofGLOF.(E)Regardingtheimpactofsustainablepracticesonsoilhealth.MitigationStrategies:Thesurveyshowsthat71respondentsclaimthatafforestationandreforestationwhile32personssaidcarboncaptureandstoragearethemostefficientwaysofmitigatingtheeffectsofgreenhousegases.While52individualsclaimthatrenewableenergyand22saidminimizingwasteproductionisthebestway.Only19respondentsclaimthatallofthesearegood(Fig7a).Regardingrenewableenergyreduction,ED84respondentsareneutral,30peoplestronglyagreed,and63areinfavorofitsutilizationforavoidingenvironmentaldeterioration.19respondentsdisagreewiththisstatement.ItalsodemonstratesageneralGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page16acceptanceoftheutilityofrenewableenergysources,butthelevelofsupportextendsinacontinuum(Fig7b).Anoverallimpressionisthatpracticesformitigatingsoilpollution57individualsclaimthatsoilconservationand48saidsustainablesoilusepracticesarebestpractices.46individualssaidreforestationcanmitigatesoilpollutionwhiletheremainingclaimalltheseareessential(Fig7c).Itisnoteworthy,however,thatcommunityengagementandeducation(119respondents)areperceivedmuchmorefavorablycomparedtotechnologicalinnovation(50).While21individualssaidsustainableagriculturalpracticesarethemosteffectivestrategiesformitigation.Thisgoestounderscoretheneedforformativesocialandeducationalinterventionstrategiestowardsthesustenanceofenvironmentalhealth(Fig7d).Figure7.showsthevariablesrepresentingthemitigationstrategies(A)afforestationandreforestationarebeststrategiesforgreenhousereduction.(B)renewableenergyreducestheenvironmentaldegradation.(C)soilconservationisbeststrategyformitigatingsoilpollution.(D)GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page17communityengagementandeducationisthemosteffectivemitigationstrategyforreducingdegradation.Gender'smultivariateanalysisrevealsasignificantimpactonthedependentvariablesaswell.Genderdifferencesplayasubstantialroleindeterminingindividuals'perceptionsofenvironmentaleffect,awareness,andmitigation,asevidencedbyF-valuesrangingfrom57.36to260.96andp-values<0.001.ThecomparativelyhighF-value(F=260.96)forclimatechangeawarenessandnaturaldisastersindicatesthattheremaybesignificantdifferencesbetweenmenandwomeninthisdomain(Table1).ThehighestimatedF-values(407.70)forthesefactorsindicatethatthecombinedeffectsofnaturaldisastersandclimatechangeawarenesshavesignificantmultivariateimpactsrelatedtoage.Sinceallp-valuesarelessthan0.001,ageisastrongpredictorofchangesacrossallenvironmentalattitudesandperceptions(Table1).Thissuggeststhatdifferentagegroupshavevaryingperspectivesorlevelsofunderstandingregardingspecificenvironmentalfactors.Mostrespondentsbelongedtothe50-60agegroup.Thisindicatesthattheresponsesfromthisagegrouponthecauses,effects,andmitigationofdisastershaveasignificantimpact,whichwillaidpolicymakersinfutureplanning.Althoughtherespondents'levelofeducationisrelativelylower,itstillsignificantlyaffectsthedependentvariables.Educationhasanotableimpactonalldependentvariables,althoughitsmultivariateeffectsizeiscomparativelysmaller,asindicatedbythelowerF-values(e.g.,F=3.42forEnvironmentalImpact).Thissuggeststhatwhileeducationmaynothaveaslargeofaneffectasfactorssuchasageorgender,itstillplaysasubstantialrole(withallp-valuesbeinglessthan0.001)inshapingattitudesandawarenessregardingtheenvironment.Thisanalysishighlightstheimportanceofeducationamongrespondentscomparedtoageandgender.Inthisstudy,therespondentsansweredquestionsregardingthecausesandeffectsofmitigationstrategiesinthecontextoftheGLOFevents.Theirresponsesreflecttheirperceivedknowledge,basedonbothpersonalobservationsandacquiredinformation.Occupationhasasubstantialandnotableimpactacrossallcategories.OccupationshowslargerF-valuesforMitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities(F=38.42).Thisindicatesthatthetypeofworkindividualsengageinsignificantlyinfluencestheirperspectivesonenvironmentaldegradationandmitigation.Peopleindifferentprofessionalsectorstendtoholddiverseviewsontheseissues.Inthisstudy,weprimarilyfocusedonGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page18respondentswhohadexperiencedGLOFeventsandpropertyloss.Theserespondentsbelongedtovariousprofessions,asdetailedinFigure4.ThemultivariateanalysisalsorevealedsignificantdifferencesandhighF-valuesbetweenindependentanddependentvariables.Thelocationhasasignificantbutvaryingimpact,withp-values<0.001,anditalsoexhibitsanotablemultivariateeffectonthedependentvariables.TheF-valuesshowthatlocationexertsthegreatestinfluenceonopinionsregardingenvironmentalstrategiesandresponsibilities(F=41.27).Thissuggeststhatindividualsresidingindifferentgeographicareasmayexperienceorperceiveenvironmentalissuesdifferently,potentiallyduetosocioeconomicorlocalenvironmentalfactors(Table1).Table1showsMultivariateanalysisfordependentandindependentvariablesFactorGroupApprox_FValueAgeEnvironmentalImpact389.80<0.001AwarenessandAttitudes230.17<0.001EnvironmentalDegradationImpactsandMitigation279.30<0.001MitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities231.66<0.001NaturalDisastersandClimateChangeAwareness407.70<0.001GenderEnvironmentalImpact57.36<0.001AwarenessandAttitudes230.20<0.001EnvironmentalDegradationImpactsandMitigation75.58<0.001MitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities105.05<0.001NaturalDisastersandClimateChangeAwareness260.96<0.001EducationEnvironmentalImpact3.420.003GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page19AwarenessandAttitudes24.68<0.001EnvironmentalDegradationImpactsandMitigation14.40<0.001MitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities23.38<0.001NaturalDisastersandClimateChangeAwareness7.30<0.001OccupationEnvironmentalImpact25.59<0.001AwarenessandAttitudes32.61<0.001EnvironmentalDegradationImpactsandMitigation31.05<0.001MitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities38.42<0.001NaturalDisastersandClimateChangeAwareness15.25<0.001LocationEnvironmentalImpact26.25<0.001AwarenessandAttitudes15.93<0.001EnvironmentalDegradationImpactsandMitigation21.46<0.001MitigationStrategiesandResponsibilities41.27<0.001NaturalDisastersandClimateChangeAwareness22.56<0.001DiscussionOnthecause,impactandmeasuresofpreventionoftheGLOFinBilhanzandBadswatvillages,intheIshkomanvalley,thisresearchunveiledthefollowingfindings.ThedatarevealthatGLOFeventshaveasignificantimpactonagricultureland,forestandsometimesinfrastructure.Viewsofrespondentsandcoordinatesalsoreportasevereenvironmentalandsocio-economicconcern.NumerousfactorsthatcontributetoEnvironmentaldegradationandGLOFswithregardstothecausesofenvironmentaldegradationandGLOFsinthearea,themajority112oftherespondentsstatedthatclimatechangewastheleadingfactor.SeveralGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page20investigationsby(Harrison,2018)indicatethattemperaturechangeisrelativetothetimetakenbyglacierstomelthence,contributingtothefrequencyofGLOFevents.Thisissimilartowhathasbeenestablishedby(Bazai,2021)whonotedthatintheKarakoramRange,thefastmeltingofglacialprovidesnaturaldamswhichwhenbreachGLOFsoccur.Anotherquestionwasaskedaboutthecauseofenvironmentaldegradation,thedeforestation,andasmanyas101respondentspointeditout.(Khoso,2024)alsofoundthesameresultshowingthatdeforestationleadstoanincreaseinsoilerosionandlossofbiodiversityallofwhichactascatalystsfortheoccurrenceofGLOFs.TheconnectivityofhumanactivitiesincludingdeforestationandGLOFsarehighlightedinthispaper.Amidthisoverwhelmingconformityastotheexistenceofclimatechangeanddeforestation,only22respondentsidentifiedhumanactivitiesasdirectcontributorstoenvironmentaldepletion.Thereisalmostnoawarenessofthecontributionofsuchfactorsasdeforestationforagricultureandovergrazingtoenvironmentaldeterioration.OnehundredrespondentsfocusedontheenvironmentalimpactofGLOFsencompassingsoilerosionandlossofagriculturallandandpreciousbiodiversity.Thisisinconcordancewith(Lützow,2023)whoexplainedthatmanyGLOFeventsintheHimalayasleadtodramaticdownstreamfloodingandincreasedinfrastructurallossincludingfarminglandandhabitats.Satellitedatagatheredforthisresearch,alongwithfielddataevidenceindicatethatthisconclusionisplausiblegiventheextentof186hectaresofaffectedlandbetweentheyears2018to2021.Thesocioeconomicimpactsareworstoffresultingin128respondentsarguingthatlargeportionsoftheirlandwereravagedandmostofthemhadtorelocatetohighergroundsorotherareasintheneighboringregions.Thisisinconcordancewith(Bhattarai,2021)whosimilarlyobservedsimilardisplacementpatternsaftertheGLOFsinNepal.Insimilarways,thislossratherputspressureonruralcommunitiesthatleavetheseplaceslosingtheironlyresourcesformeansoflife.Thepsychologicaleffectsofsuchdisplacementswerealsopointedoutbytherespondentswhocomplainedofpsychologicaltraumaoccasionedbythelossoftheirhomesandtheirancestrallands.Similarly,(Gul,2024)describedthefirstlineofworkoftheclimatechangecrisisintheareasofPakistanandemphasizedtheneedforthementalhealthofpeopleaffectedbythesedisasters.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page21RegardingthemeasurestopreventtheimpactsrelatedtoGLOFs,therespondents,ofwhom71,statedthatafforestationandreforestationarethebestpracticestolimitgreenhousegasemissionsandtocontainsoilloss.Thisisinlinewith(KhanM.B.,2021),whoalsodiscoveredthatafforestationprogramsinthenorthernpartofPakistanhaveeffectivelycontributedtothemitigationofsoilerosionandenhancedwaterholdingcapacityoftheareasintheglaciatedzonesofthecountry.Likewise,themitigationstrategyofpromotingrenewableenergywasfavoredby63respondentsandpeoplearebeginningtoraiseconsciousnessontheuseofsustainableenergytominimizeresources’impactontheenvironment.(Uyigue,2010)Discussedthattheroleofrenewableenergyincombatingclimatechangeismorecrucial,andthepresentstudyestablishedthattheadoptionofsolarandwindenergyinGilgit-Baltistanhelpsinthereductionofcarbonemissions.Nonetheless,thepoorsupportofalltherespondentsindicatesthatmoreawarenesscreationisneededregardingthebenefitsofrenewableenergy(Irfan,2021).Toaquestionaskingwhichstrategiesarepreferredtoenhanceresilience,119oftherespondentschosecommunityengagement/education.Thisconsiderationfitswellwithinthewithdrawaloftheagency-centricdisasterresponsethatestablishedasviablewithcommunity-basedGLOFriskreductionapproachesinthearea.Likethem,(KhanM.B.,2021)alsonotedthatenhancedcommunityenvironmentalawarenessfacilitatedbetterimplementationandmitigationmeasuresanddifferentresponsestonaturalcalamities.Whentheseresultswerecomparedtoglobaldevelopments,observethesameissues.IntheAndes,whereGLOFshavedestroyedagriculturalsocieties.Forthesetwoscenarios,afforestation,andthecommunitybasedisasterriskreductionprogramswerethemainformsofmitigation.However,thegovernmentsupportintheseregionsdiffersgreatlyoftenabouttheactualneeds.Inthisstudy,therespondentsstatedthatthegovernmentdidnotprovidemuchsupporthowever(Huggel,2020)notedthatthehighandincreasedgovernmentalinterventionenhancedtheimplementationofmitigationmeasuresinPeru.Ashighlightedinthisstudy,theproposedresults,whichfocusonthemobilizationofsupportfromthecommunityaswellasinternationalorganizationssuchastheAgaKhanAgencyforHabitat(AKAH),areeco-friendly.(Lassa,2018)claimthatNGOsareindispensableinmakingupforGRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page22thegapofaccessofthevulnerablecommunitiestotheagenciesasituationidentifiedintheIshkomanValleyaswellasinotherdistrictsaffectedbytheGLOF.ConclusionGLOFeventsinbothvillageshavecreatedasignificantlossoflandforestandagriculturallandandeffectonthesurroundingecosystemandthelivelihoodofthecommunities.Thedataofthisstudyrevealedthatafforestation,soilconservation,andrenewableenergyaresignificantmitigatingsolutions.ThedataalsoindicatedtheprimarycausesthatcontributetoGLOFinthisregionwereclimatechangeanddeforestation.AcknowledgementIwouldliketoexpressmydeepestappreciationtotheUNDPGLOF-IIprojectforprovidingfinancialassistance,enablingthecompletionofthisresearchwork.ReferencesAli,A.S.(2023).EconomicvaluationofecosystemservicesofQurumberNationalParkinGilgit-Baltistan,Pakistan.Anjum,S.A.(2010).DesertificationinPakistan:Causes,impactsandmanagemen.J.FoodAgric.Environ,8(1),1203-1208.Ashraf,A.I.(2021).PrevalentriskofglaciallakeoutburstfloodhazardintheHinduKush–Karakoram–HimalayaregionofPakistan.EnvironmentalEarthSciences,80(12),451.Aslam,A.B.(2022).Climatechangeandglaciallakeoutburstflood(GLOF)riskperceptions:AnempiricalstudyofGhizerDistrict,Gilgit-BaltistanPakistan.InternationalJournalofDisasterRiskReduction,83,103392.Aslam,M.H.(2023).ClimateChange,FlashFloodsandItsConsequences:ACaseStudyofGilgit-BaltistanInDisasterRiskReductioninAgriculture.Singapore:SpringerNatureSingapore,293-310.Baig,S.U.-2.(2021).District-leveldisasterriskandvulnerabilityintheNorthernmountainsofPakistan.NaturalHazardsandRisk,12(1).GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page23Bajracharya,S.S.(2021).GLOFRiskandCommunityVulnerabilityintheHimalayas.MountainResearchandDevelopment,41(3),211–225.Bazai,N.A.(2021).IncreasingglaciallakeoutburstfloodhazardinresponsetosurgeglaciersintheKarakoram.Earth-ScienceReviews,212,103432.Bhattarai,K.C.(2021).TheEnvironment.ContemporaryEnvironmentalProblemsinNepal:GeographicPerspectives,27(1),115-199.Brancalion,P.H.(2017).Beyondhectares:fourprinciplestoguidereforestationinthecontextoftropicalforestandlandscaperestoration.RestorationEcology,25(4),491-496.Choudhary,M.P.-2.(2015).Environmentaldegradation:causes,impactsandmitigation.InNationalseminaronrecentadvancementsinprotectionofenvironmentanditsmanagementissues(NSRAPEM).Dignac,M.F.-D.(2017).Increasingsoilcarbonstorage:mechanisms,effectsofagriculturalpracticesandproxies.Areview.Agronomyforsustainabledevelopment,37,1-27.Elagib,N.A.(2000).ClimateimpactsofenvironmentaldegradationinSudan.GeoJourna,311-327.Emmer,A.(2017).Glacierretreatandglaciallakeoutburstfloods(GLOFs).InOxfordresearchencyclopediaofnaturalhazardscience.Emmer,A.V.(2020).GlobalPerspectivesonGlacialLakeOutburstFloods.Earth-ScienceReviews,201,102973.Gul,S.K.(2024).ImpactofClimateChange-InducedFloodonWomen’sLife:ACaseStudyof2022FloodinDistrictNowshera,KhyberPakhtunkhwa,Pakistan.JournalofAsianDevelopmentStudies,13(2),14.Harrison,S.K.(2018).Climatechangeandtheglobalpatternofmoraine-dammedglaciallakeoutburstfloods.TheCrysphere,,12(4),1195-1209.GRJNST,Volume:04-Issue2(2026)/ISSNP:2790-7643ArticleID:2052https://doi.org/10.53762/grjnst.04.02.06G.2054Page24Huggel,C.C.-C.-H.(2020).Anthropogenicclimatechangeandglacierlakeoutburstfloodrisk:localandgloba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