The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
The HKH Snow Update 2025 highlights a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence 23.6% below normal — the lowest in 23 years. This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people. All twelve major river …
Mountains are home to a variety of ecosystems that provide vital services directly to 1.1 billion people and billions of others living in connected lowland areas. Half of humanity depends on mountains for the provision of freshwater alone. Mountain ecosystems cool local temperatures, increase water retention, provide carbon storage, and …
While mountain tourism has become an increasingly relevant motivation for travel, data on its size and impact remains scarce, a new report from the UN agencies the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Mountain Partnership (MP) makes clear. Mountain tourism …
This volume aims to widen the discussion about the diversity of human-nature relationships and valuation methods and to stimulate new perspective that are needed to build a more sustainable future, especially in face of ongoing socio-environmental changes. Conceptual and empirical approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies have been used …
Mountainous areas are at the forefront of climate change. This working paper presents approaches to strengthening the resilience of human and natural systems in mountainous areas against the impacts of climate change. Chapter 1 provides an overview of climate-related hazards to ecosystems and communities in mountainous areas, especially in developing …
Women play a key role in nature conservation, yet they often lack the inputs, technologies, training and extension services, and various enablers and linkages that can enhance the effectiveness of their efforts. Evidence indicates that gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive conservation practices have far-reaching multiplier impacts. This report brings out gender-specific knowledge …
The International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP) aims to support capacity development for biocultural heritage, climate change adaptation and sustainable food systems through community-to-community exchanges. It currently includes communities from 11 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is coordinated by Asociación ANDES (Peru).
The bottom of the ocean and the roof of the world have something in common other than being extreme and inhospitable environments—they’re also polluted. Recent reports in Chinese and international media have highlighted the problem of litter on Mount Everest, particularly on the southern Nepalese side of the mountain. But …
Mountains directly contribute to the lives of much of the world’s population through the provision of freshwater or irrigation for agriculture; they are the source of rivers, along which human settlements are able to flourish. While acting as the lifeblood for many communities, these fragile landscapes are under threat from …
However, a few decades ago witnessed gradual changes, with ice caps at the Mount Kilimanjaro starting to decrease due to environmental degradation and the recent climate change effects. Kilimanjaro that used to be one of the greenest and coldest regions (specifically Moshi Rural District) started to experience unusual heat. Recently, …
This brief makes the case for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) by presenting how it can generate multiple environmental, social and economic benefits. Research shows that benefiting from a wide range of ecosystem services is closely correlated with communities’ degree of resilience to challenges. It presents case studies from Peru, Nepal and …
This brief provides an introduction to ecosystem-based adaptation to climatic risks and hazards. It presents the concept and principles of ecosystem-based adaptation, the environmental, social and cultural benefits, as well as case studies from Nepal, Peru and Uganda. Further, it proposes a framework for holistic ecosystem-based adaptation. This guidance document …
Construction of venues and snow-making may damage mountains that help protect city from dust, smog and drought, concern group says Outdoors enthusiasts have expressed concern that alpine sports venues might be built inside a nature reserve in suburban Beijing after the city was named host of the 2022 Winter Olympics. …
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Climate Change is implementing a project to promote conservation of biodiversity and strengthen existing conservation efforts by using an innovative market-based mechanism, according to official sources. The project called “Mountains and market biodiversity and business in northern Pakistan” aims to develop community and institutional capacity for …
Scientists have taken a closer look at the glaciers on the top of the world in order to better understand what changes they may undergo in the coming decades. It turns out that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, glaciers in the Everest region may experience severe melting. "The …
SYDNEY: Growing sea ice surrounding Antarctica could prompt scientists to consider relocating research stations on the continent, according to the operations manager of the Australian Antarctic Division. Rob Wooding said that resupplying Australia's Mawson Station -- the longest continuously operated station in Antarctica -- relied on access through to a …
"Coping with Climate Change”, an e-book from Gene Campaign edited by Suman Sahai, is an information resource which deals with impact of climate change on sectors relevant to rural communities in India. It covers aspects like agriculture, food, forests, biodiversity, water, ecosystems, soil and water management; the book also reflects …
The mountains of Africa provide water and food, rich biodiversity, recreational areas and serve as important centres of cultural integrity and heritage. However, Africa faces growing challenges in ensuring the sustainable development of mountain areas, such as poverty and climate change and addressing the feat of transboundary co-operation. Through use …
International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on Wednesday announced the title of its upcoming conference: "Mountain people adapting to change: solutions beyond boundaries bridging science, policy and practice." The conference is part of the organization´s annual flagship event on mountain people and climate change adaptation and will be held …
The latest report of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has calculated that on an average a mountaineer left behind 65 kg of burnable trash in the Everest region in 2013. In 2012, trash per Everest climber was 48.5 kg. “Up to 25.6 metric tonnes of burnable waste and 2,241 non-burnable …
