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CHINAR panel focuses on sustainable mountain development and climate resilience

25.08.2020

Sustainable development and climate resilience in mountains was at the heart of a virtual dialogue organized by the Central Himalayan Institute for Nature and Applied Research (CHINAR) and the Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment and Human Wellness. Nearly 100 participants from academia, NGOs and more tuned in to the virtual session on 25 July 2020.

The dialogue was the second in a series that will address various environmental and sustainability issues. This session aimed to stimulate discussion about the importance of mountain environments and communities, and brainstorm solutions to protect these fragile ecosystems from the negative effects of climate change.

The panelists included Dr Peter Jacobs, Chair of the IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Mountain Specialist Group; Mr Sushil Ramola, Founding Councilor and President of the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI); Dr Mustafa Ali Khan, Team Leader for Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation in Himalayas at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); and Dr Nakul Chettri, Regional Programme Manager Transboundary Landscapes at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal.

Dr Jacobs highlighted the importance of Protected Areas for conservation of mountain biodiversity, describing how WCPA is working to identify Key Biodiversity Areas in mountains.

Biodiversity was also central to Dr Ali Khan’s remarks. He emphasized that mountain biodiversity includes not only flora and fauna, but also cultural diversity. Dr Ali Khan also spoke about the link between mountains and lowlands, and how what happens in mountains has long-term impacts downstream.

In Mr Ramola’s remarks, he captured the problems that mountains areas are facing and the interventions IMI is taking to counter these issues in the Himalayas. He highlighted that COVID-19 is making migration in mountain areas even more complicated, but emphasized that there are a number of possible solutions that can boost local livelihoods.

Dr Chettri explained the steps ICIMOD is taking to promote sustainable mountain development at the transboundary level in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. He highlighted that ICIMOD’s efforts have resulted in positive cooperation between countries across the region with potential for future collaborations.

Watch the event video recording