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.
![]() How NGOs can apply for UNFCCC observer statusnewsFor representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to attend any sessions or meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), they must first be admitted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) as observer organizations. If your organization is interested in being admitted as an observer organization, you... Read more » |
![]() July issue of eco.mont journal now availablenewsThe July 2016 issue of “eco.mont – The Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management” is now available online. The journal was founded as a joint initiative of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR), the Read more » |
![]() IPROMO 2016 Summer School: Managing mountain resources and diversities - the role of protected areaseventThe ninth International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO), organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and the University of Turin, will focus on “Managing mountain resources and diversities: the role of protected areas”. It will focus on several aspects that contribute to the productive... Read more » |
![]() Journalists blog about their Alpine tournewsThe first blog entries of the journalists who participated in the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention’s ‘We are Alps’ tour are now online. On 29 June - 5 July 2016, ten journalists crossed the Alps with the aim of raising awareness on the challenges and opportunities of... Read more » |
![]() Mountain communities call for climate actionnewsAs half of the world's population relies on mountains for their water, 18 indigenous mountain communities call for support to strengthen traditional natural resource management systems. Mountain communities are among the most vulnerable to climate change, with many communities already suffering due to erratic rainfall, drought, increased temperatures and pests, as... Read more » |
![]() Call for mountain photographs for IMDpeak to peak Issue 94 – Month 7 – Year 2016 Download » |
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