Established in 1966, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy (IMHE) was listed in the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program (PPKIP) of CAS in April 2002 and entered the 3rd Project in 2006.

Since its foundation, IMHE has undertaken and completed more than 1000 items of national and local scientific research projects, solved a series of key problems in economical construction and social development, and made outstanding contributions to the mitigation of mountain hazards, recovery of vulnerable eco-environment, as well as sustainable development of mountainous areas. So far, IMHE has obtained more than 120 awards, published nearly one hundred monographs and over 2800 pieces of scientific papers. In addition, more than twenty technique reports have been adopted by the central government of PRC to help decision-making. The state leadership, including the Premier Wen Jiabao, Zeng Peiyan, Huang Ju, has issued important instructions on 16 of these reports.

IMHE has 246 staffs in number, consisting of 136 as innovation system faculties, 42 researchers, and 38 associate researchers. It has 1 post-doctoral station in physical geography, 2 doctor-degree specialties (physical geography and geotechnique engineering), and 7 master-degree specialties (physical geography, human geography, cartology and GIS, environment engineering, geotechnique engineering, hazards mitigation and prevention engineering, and agrology). There are 27 doctorial supervisors and 28 master supervisors, and 85 doctor candidates and 66 master candidates every year.

IMHE has 3 research centers: Mountain Hazards and Mitigation Center, Mountain Environment and Development Center, Application of Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Center. Under centers there are 8 divisions and 2 laboratories, including the CAS key laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Surface Processes There are centers of Mountain Construction and Environment Engineering and chemical analysis. IMHE is also the trustee for many professional institutions and societies, including the Secretary Office (China) of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, the Mountain Branch of the Geography Society of China, Debris Flow and Landslide Professional Committee of the Society of Water and Soil Conservation of China, Application Profession Committee of Society of Quaternary Society of China, and the Sichuan Geography Society.

IMHE has edited two technical periodicals, Journal of Mountain Science (Chinese Ed.), and the English journal, Journal of Mountain Science.