The Himalayas represent one of the most diverse landscapes in terms of biological and cultural diversity on the planet. The rapid variation in environmental gradients allows a wide diversity of ecosystems to coexist in a relatively small spatial area. The region represents the transitions between multiple biogeographic regions and provides vital ecosystem services to the Indian subcontinent. Biological surveys in the Himalayas are particularly challenging because of the untamed and mostly uninhabitable terrain. Large tracts of virgin forest remain mostly uncharted. As a result, the actual level of biodiversity is probably underestimated and many taxonomic groups of plants and animals are understudied. Even with the limited knowledge, estimates suggest that the Himalaya represents one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Despite its immense size and complexity, this region is highly vulnerable and faces significant threats due to rapid climate change, growing human population and land use change. Human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, the introduction of invasive species, and the large-scale conversion of forested land for agriculture now pose a severe threat to the delicate ecological balance in the region. In this review, we briefly overview the pressing issues and threats to biodiversity in the Himalayas, one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. We discuss possible solutions, including the role of policymakers and public participation in managing biodiversity resources in the remote parts of the region.