Each day, one of every two people on the planet quenches his thirst with water that originates in mountains. And as the world population swells to an estimated 9.6 billion by 2050, the worldwide demand for freshwater will continue to soar.
More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life. The ten largest rivers originating in the Hindu Kush Himalayas alone supply water to over 1.35 billion people. Some of the world’s largest cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Tokyo and Melbourne, are dependent on freshwater from mountains.
Climate change is already causing more than 600 glaciers to disappear, resulting in springs and rivers drying up. Greater frequency of extreme weather events, droughts and floods, including flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), are also expected to increase in mountains, causing imbalance between current water supply and demand.
Given the importance of mountain water resources worldwide, the careful management of mountain water resources is a global priority. Water management practices need to be adapted to different climatic zones, using locally adapted soil and water management techniques. Most importantly, watershed management must take into account the needs of all those who depend on mountain water, including those who have the greatest stake in preserving healthy mountain ecosystems – people who live in mountain areas themselves, who are often marginalized from the decision-making processes.
![]() Workshop: The Impact of Retreating Glaciers in the Andes - Multidisciplinary International Network for Adaptation StrategieseventThe workshop, organized by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme of UNESCO, with the support of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO, the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN), the Andean Climate Change Interamerican Observatory Network (ACCION), the Working Group... Read more » |
![]() World Environment Day 2012: UNEP calls for actionnewsWorld Environment Day 2012 will be celebrated on 5 June 2012, under the theme "Green Economy: Does it include you?". World Environment Day 2012, hosted by Brazil, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Day. The celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles... Read more » |
![]() Mountain Voice for change that mattersnewsOver 200 delegates from Indian eleven mountain States at Gangtok in Sikkim deliberated on mountain issues related to water, livelihoods and Communities & forests of the Indian Himalayan region at the Indian Mountain Initiative summit II, held from 25 to 26 May 2012 at Gangtok, Sikkim in India. In his... Read more » |
![]() Sustainable land and water resources management – empowering dryland populationsnewsExecutive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Luc Gnacadja released an important message on water and land sustainable use. The Millennium Development Goal to halve the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water has been met. Between 1990 and 2010, over two billion... Read more » |
![]() New Zealand's natural heritage threatened by 20 years of environmental inactionnewsLess than a month before world leaders meet at a major environmental summit, a WWF’s report warns that New Zealand is falling short on important commitments made at the Earth Summit 20 years ago on greenhouse gases, water quality, land and marine biodiversity, fisheries and education for sustainability. “While it... Read more » |
![]() 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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