Human activities are profoundly affecting the world’s climate, and mountains are a sensitive indicator of that effect. Because of their altitude, slope and orientation to the sun, mountain ecosystems are easily disrupted by variations in climate. Many scientists believe that the changes occurring in mountain ecosystems may provide an early glimpse of what could come to pass in lowland environments.
As the world heats up, mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive over ever diminishing areas, and mountain peoples, already among the world’s poorest citizens, face even greater hardships.
Changes in the volume of mountain glaciers and in their seasonal melting patterns have an impact on water resources in many parts of the world. Changes in water availability due to climate change are taking place at a time when pressure on water resources for irrigation and food production, industrialization and urbanization is increasing.
Understanding how climate change affects mountains is vital as governments and international organizations develop strategies to reverse current global warming trends, elaborating treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, local community empowerment can be an essential step towards building climate change resilience in mountains.
![]() Plateau Perspectives documentary showing on TVnewsA documentary film about the Mountain Partnership member Plateau Perspectives’ work in the Sanjiangyuan Region of China is now showing on the television network Hong Kong Television. Developed over the last few years, the 24-minute video presents the rich experiences and the beautiful natural and cultural landscapes of... Read more » |
![]() Malawi forms national mountain committeenewsMalawi will form a national committee on mountains, decided the participants of an inception workshop on sustainable mountain development (SMD) held on 29 September 2017. The participants also agreed that there is a need to develop a national strategy on SMD to address the challenges facing the country’s mountain ecosystems... Read more » |
![]() #MountainsMatter contest deadline extendednewsThe deadline to enter the #MountainsMatter video contest has been extended from 20 October to 3 November 2017. From Brazil to France, Nepal to Tanzania, people around the world are responding to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s call for one-minute videos on the... Read more » |
![]() 8th International Meeting of Rural Andean PeopleseventThe eighth International Meeting of Rural Andean Peoples will be held in San Pedro De Atacama, Chile on 12-15 October 2017. Organized by the village of Lickanantay, Red de Agroindustria Rural del Perú (REDAR Perú), the Programme for the Development of Rural Agricultural Production of the Peruvian Ministry... Read more » |
![]() 1st West African Mountain ForumeventWest Africa is a sub-region that has an abundance of ecosystems, including - among others - mountains. Although not necessarily impressive in terms of altitude, West African mountains are high in biodiversity, and they play an important role in the overall sustainable development of the sub-region. Many West African communities... Read more » |
![]() Enter the #MountainsMatter video contestpeak to peakIssue 109 – Month 10 – Year 2017 The October issue of Peak to Peak launches the #MountainsMatter video contest, to bring attention to the plight of mountain peoples and ecosystems for International Mountain Day 2017. The newsletter continues with stories about the University of the Mountains’ initiative to... Download » |
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