Mountains are hazardous places. Many mountain communities live under the threat of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions caused by shifting tectonic plates. Gravity pushing down on sloping land compounds the destructive power of storms and heavy rains, producing avalanches, landslides and floods. Population growth, climate change and unsustainable natural resource management practices are putting dangerous pressure on the mountain ecosystems and making mountain communities increasingly vulnerable to disasters.
Women, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to disasters. And in many mountain areas, it is these members of the community that are looking after mountain homesteads, as the men move to lowland cities or abroad to earn a better income and support their family through remittances.
Forces from outside mountain communities, such as commercial logging interests and market-driven agricultural production, also put pressure on mountain ecosystems. All of this can lead to deforestation and environmental degradation. The loss of forest cover deprives mountain communities of a protective barrier against landslides and avalanches and further contributes to increased soil erosion and water run off.
To reduce the risks of disasters in mountain areas it is urgent to increase awareness and to develop integrated strategies and policies on disaster risk management at the national level. Policy-makers involved with disaster risk management cannot afford to neglect mountains, considering the high number of natural hazards in mountain areas and the high vulnerability of mountain communities.
![]() Mountain Pavilion to be presented by Peru during RIO+20blogWith the collaboration of strategic international partners, the Government of Peru is leading the organization of the Mountain Pavilion at Rio+20. The initiative aims to showcase achievements and progress towards sustainable development in mountain regions to representatives of 191 countries and civil society present at the conference. More...
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![]() Study Finds Permafrost Thaw: Glacier Melt Releasing MethanenewsA study, led by scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has found that methane from underground reservoirs is streaming from thawing permafrost and receding glaciers, contributing to the greenhouse gas load in the atmosphere. The study, published online in the journal Nature Geoscience, is the first to document leakage... Read more » |
![]() IUCN: Thomson Reuters Environmental Media AwardeventFor over a decade, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has teamed up with Thomson Reuters Foundation to honor environmental journalism. From 15 May to 15 June 2012, journalists and writers across the world are invited to submit an article on an environmental issue, for the IUCN –... Read more » |
![]() Nepal: Destructive flood hits PokharanewsA destructive flood occurred 20 km north of Pokhara - the famous tourist spot - 200 km away from Kathmandu, in the early morning of 5 May 2012. Thirteen people were killed by the flood, while houses and farms were swept away: 47 people are still missing. Superintendent of Police... Read more » |
![]() United Nations General Assembly Resolution: Sustainable Mountain Development (2012)publicationResolution adopted by the General Assembly on Sustainable mountain development at the 66th Session. A/RES/66/205
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![]() United Nations General Assembly Resolution: Sustainable Mountain Development (2010)publicationResolution adopted by the General Assembly on Sustainable mountain development at the 64th Session. A/RES/64/205
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