The Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape (HKPL) Initiative is one of the transboundary initiatives of ICIMOD that aims to enhance cooperation for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development among Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. The landscape is a treasure trove with its rich history and diverse cultures and languages. It is a hotspot endowed with some of the highest mountain ranges and peaks, glaciers, beautiful valleys, high-altitude wetlands, alpine pastures, and flora and fauna of global significance.
The HKPL Initiative is organizing the Bam-e-Dunya photo contest to offer an opportunity for entrants to not only capture, share, and showcase powerful imagery of the landscape’s beauty and importance but also promote the potential, perspectives, and creativity of both professional and amateur photographers. The ultimate aim of the contest is to raise awareness about the need to protect and promote ecosystems along the lines and principles of sustainable resource use while showcasing the treasured wealth of the region.
The photos submitted and accepted for the contest are eligible for two categories of prizes:
Category 1: The “Jury’s choice award”Category 2: "Public choice award"
USD 250
The generic theme of the contest is "people and environment" of the HKPL. Sub-themes are divided (though not limited to) the following:
Biodiversity (local flora and fauna) and ecosystems
On- and off-farm activities, cultural attractions, ethnic diversity, traditional cuisines, food crops, festivals, dress, sports, music, folklore
Markets, handicrafts, utensils, artisans, products for local use, supply chains of products , women enterprises, design innovations, motifs, production and consumption of herbal medicine and other specialized local products
Landscapes, monuments, markets, protected areas, and adventure and nature tourism sites
Infrastructure, roads, irrigation channels, community conservation projects
Read the eligibility and submission guidelines carefully before entering your photo(s) for the contest.
| Countries | Province | District/prefecture | Village/town/protected area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Badakhshan | Wakhan | Wakhan, Big Pamir, Little Pamir, Sarhad-e-Wakhan, Kandkhun, Panja Wakhan National Park |
| China | Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region | Kashgar | Taxkorgan, Mazar, Daftar villages Taxkorgan Nature Reserve
|
| Pakistan | Gilgit-Baltistan | Hunza, Ghizer | Hunza, Nagar, Shimshal, Ghizer, Ghujerab, Dhee, Gojal, Misgar, Chirpusan Khunjerab National Park, Qurumbar National Park |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral | Broghil Valley, Yarkhoon Valley, Booni, Laspur Mastuj, Chitral Broghil National Park |
|
| Tajikistan | Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region | Darvoz, Vanj, Rushon, Shughnon, Roshtqal'a, Ishkashim, Murghab | Ishkashim, Murghab, Big Pamir, Small Pamir, Wakhan Pamir, Khorog Zorkul Nature Reserve |
Photo entries will be judged on creativity, quality, originality, clarity of the visual story, shot composition, and resonance with the photo contest theme. ICIMOD will shortlist 15 entries before announcing the top three prizes selected by the jury (comprising ICIMOD staff and an external independent professional photographer). The shortlisted photos will be shared through ICIMOD’s official Facebook channel. Out of these, the photo with the maximum likes (by 17:00 NST, 30 November) will also receive a "Public choice award".
The copyright of all the submitted photos belongs to the author, and by participating in the photo contest, the entrant grants ICIMOD and its media partners a nonexclusive right to use for non-commercial and educational purposes such as display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries and texts, in whole or in part, in any media currently existing or subsequently developed, for any educational, promotional, publicity, exhibition, archival, scholarly, or all other standard purposes of ICIMOD.
Due credit will be given to the entrant each time his/her photo is used, wherever feasible. ICIMOD will provide a digital or print copy to the entrant (upon request) of any publication that includes his/her image(s).
ICIMOD reserves the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to tamper with the spirit of the digital photo contest; violate the above terms and conditions and exclusionary provisions; or infringe on the rights of third parties. ICIMOD’s decisions are final.
For any queries on the contest in general and for any difficulties in submitting the entries from the online submission form, please write to hkpl@icimod.org, clearly mentioning the nature of the problem. However, once the submissions are made, any queries regarding the status of the application and results announcement will not be entertained.