Water
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.
Central Asia’s Water TowernewsAccording to an analysis published in October 2012, Tien Shan's glaciers have retreated in recent decades due to changing climate conditions, reducing significantly the availability of water for the people of the region. Tien Shan's glaciers play a crucial role in Central Asia's hydrological cycle. An estimated 15 percent of...
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Ecuador presents National Strategy on Climate Change 2012-2025newsThe Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Marcela Aquiñaga, has presented the National Strategy on Climate Change. The strategy proposes, among other things, to step up efforts to conserve forest resources, mangroves and paramos, supporting and promoting energy efficiency, improving environmental practices and reducing consumption of resources. Please see complete information in...
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FAO's Current Engagement in Sustainable Mountain Development (FAO)publicationMountain ecosystems and watersheds are essential for long-term sustainable global development and poverty alleviation and can make an important contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Freshwater, rich biodiversity, and other natural resources provided by mountains are vital for the livelihood of billions of people. However, recent environmental, economic, and... Download » |
Producción orgánica de cultivos andinos (FAO)publicationEste manual es el producto de la sistematización de los saberes ancestrales que aún se practican en el área de la Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas del Norte de Cotopaxi (Ecuador) y de la revisión de otros valiosos trabajos realizados en los Andes ecuatorianos, donde la FAO, contando con...
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Payment for Ecosystem Services: Update from Central AsianewsDevising the country and site specific, on-going sustainable schemes for rewarding people to protect or enhance environmental services beneficial to an even wider population remains as a challenge. Nevertheless, sharing stories of success, trial and errors on application of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) concept is considered to be...
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Оплата за экосистемные услуги: опыт Центральной АзииnewsВнедрение практикуемой в различных странах системы оплаты за экосистемные услуги (ПЭУ), трудно назвать успешно реализуемым делом в Центральной Азии, хотя это позволило бы местным сообществам извлекать для себя немало выгод. Тем не менее, распространение существующего опыта лучших практик и внедрение нового опыта, пусть и методом «проб и ошибок», остается ключевым компонентом...
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