Partenariat de la montagne

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03/05/2012

Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate Change

The Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate Change, organized by the International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Sewalanka Foundation, will be held in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, from 23 to 27 September 2012. The Conference is one component of a larger programme identified for Asia and other regions on religion and climate change. Other components include: theological work, hard science and action planning at the same time. The Inter-Religious Dialogue on Climate Change, connecting Buddhist environmental activists across Asia for the first time, aims to increase active participation and knowledge on climate change among the religious leaders. More ...

24/04/2012

Experience Sharing and Planning Workshop on Payment Mechanisms for Ecosystem Goods and Services Provided by Rangelands – Testing and Piloting: Call for Papers

The Planning Workshop on Payment Mechanisms for Ecosystem Goods and Services Provided by Rangelands, will be held from 18 to 20 Jun 2012 at the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in Sichuan, China. The workshop is organized by CIB, CAS and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), with the support of the Sichuan Grassland Society (SGS). The main objectives of the workshop are to discuss and update understanding on ecosystem services and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), the benefits and risks of an ecosystem services approach to rangeland conservation and development, how policy makers can be sensitized about ecosystem services programmes to achieve environmental and economic benefits for pastoral development, share Chinese experiences on rangeland protection and PES mechanisms with ICIMOD’s Regional Member Countries, to develop clear recommendations for a future programmatic intervention. The Call for Papers is addressed to development and conservation practitioners, representatives of local and international NGOs and scientists. The deadline for abstract submission is 30 April. More ...

24/04/2012

Workshop on monitoring the effects of climate change in protected mountain ecosystems

Through REDPARQUES and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and with support from GIZ, FAO organized a "Workshop on monitoring the effects of climate change on mountain protected ecosystems" together with the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University for International Cooperation and the Development Bank in Latin America, The workshop was held in Santiago (Chile) from 19 to 21 March 2012. The overall objective was to analyze the current forms of monitoring existing protected areas in mountain regions (APZM) in order to improve environmental management so as to ensure the conservation of biodiversity, water, glaciers in the face of climate change as well as to promote joint activities related to monitoring the effects of climate change and facilitate cooperation between managers of protected areas in the mountains. Summary and final reports of the workshop are available in Spanish. More ...

23/04/2012

Bhutan+10: Gender and Sustainable Mountain Development in a Changing World

Bhutan+10 is organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Bhutan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, and the National Commission for Women and Children. The conference will be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 15 to 19 October, at the Taj Tashi Hotel and will focus on a comprehensive stock-taking on research and knowledge, as well as opportunities for gender and sustainable mountain development. Bhutan+10 will bring together mountain women and men, researchers, policy makers, and development practitioners from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and around the world for a comprehensive update, and a new agenda setting. ICIMOD has also launched a “Competitive Call for Papers”. The abstracts should be centred on rigorous analyses integrating gender, sustainable development and natural resource management issues in mountain contexts. The deadline for abstracts is Friday, 4 May 2012. More ...

23/04/2012

The Role of Science Technology and Innovation in Emerging Economies

The conference will be held on 26-27 April 2012 at New Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, by the Nigerian Association of Science Journalists (NASJ) in collaboration with Science Development Network (SciDev.Net). The aim is to strengthen the relationship between journalists, public relations officers and scientists in order to improve the quality of science reporting in Nigeria. It will also feature a capacity building workshop for science journalists across the country and Africa alongside media and information officers in the science and technology ministry, agencies and departments as well as research institutions among similar organizations. More ...

19/04/2012

Forests: the Heart of a Green Economy

Holding a forward-looking side event on 18 June, FAO and other international organizations will join forces with the private sector to make the forest sector more visible at Rio+20. This Rio+20 side event, will highlight the role of forests in enhancing local livelihoods and leading forward product transitions to low-carbon bio-economy among consumers. The programme will illustrate examples of climate-smart forest products into new applications, lessons learned from countries on deploying forest supply chains in bio-economy, and associated benefits to local livelihoods, rural development and environmental services. More ...

18/04/2012

International conference on sustainable living and innovative solutions: Stockholm+40

The Partnership Forum for Sustainable Development - Stockholm+40 - will be hosted by the Swedish Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, on 23-25 April 2012, to commemorate the first UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. Stockholm+40 aims to join actors from the international community for a dialogue on sustainable development and its challenges, in the areas of technology, production and living. The business sector, civil society, researchers, decision-makers and young people will bring together their different perspectives to try to figure out what we can do to achieve sustainable development. The results and dialogue from Stockholm+40 will provide important input for Rio+20. More ...

18/04/2012

Let's save the World's Forests!

On April 22, we celebrate the next Earth Day. People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection. Eduardo Rojas–Briales, the FAO Assistant Director-General (Forestry Department), outlines the strategy of the UN in the vital area of forest resources management. In view of the Rio +20 Conference, Mr Rojas calls on Governments to give a key role to forest policies in future plans. He also calls on people around the world: keep planting, maintaining and preserving forests for mankind and the environment. More ...

17/04/2012

Climate change scientists look back 3 million years to look to the future

To figure out what global warming could bring to Earth, scientists are looking 3 million years into the past. They have concluded that it is Pliocene Epoch, a warm and wet period between 3.15 million and 2.85 million years ago, the slice of time in which the world probably looked and felt much as it does now. Global temperatures and the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere were similar to today's climate, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Knowing more about the Pliocene is useful for climate modelers around the world who create sophisticated computer programs to simulate future temperature patterns. More ...

16/04/2012

International Virtual Congress on Green Economy and Socio-productive Inclusion: The Role of Family Agriculture

The International Virtual Congress on Green Economy and Socio-productive Inclusion, will be held up to the 30th April. The Virtual Congress is organized by Brazil's Ministry of Agricultural Development, with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and it is available at the follow link: http://www.congressorio20.org.br/sitio/ . The Congress aims at providing a platform for civil society and the general public to discuss sustainable development issues related to family agriculture with experts, researchers and public sector managers. The discussions will be summarized in a special report that will be presented at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). More ...

15/04/2012

Matterhorn disintegrating in the face of global warming

The University of Zurich reported the negative effects climate change is having on the Matterhorn in the Geophysical Research journal. The 14,690 foot high Matterhorn sits on the border between Switzerland and Italy and is one of the most majestic and best known and most inspirational mountains in the world. The study found that not only are the Matterhorn’s glaciers melting at an alarming rate but the mountain itself is crumbling because of the constant dangerous cycle of frost and melt, set on by warmer temperatures. Experts warn that all the cable runs transporting people to and from the mountain are in danger of collapsing as well. “We have shown the importance of icy crevices and the melting water entering them, in the process of rock falls,” lead researcher Stephan Gruber said. “Unlike rock itself – changes to which take place over a very long period of time – just a few decades of temperatures rising by a degree or so are enough to affect the ice and water on the mountains.” The investigation, which relies on sophisticated monitoring devices situated on 17 key parts of the mountain, was prompted by a huge rock fall from the Hörnligrat part of the mountain in July 2003, when more than 50 climbers had to be airlifted off the mountain in the one of the big- gest rescue operations ever mounted in the Alps. “It’s reasonable to expect the same processes are widespread elsewhere in the Alps at the same altitude,” Gruber added. More ...

13/04/2012

EEA Report No 1/2012: Towards efficient use of water resources in Europe

According to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), Europe needs to redouble efforts in using water more efficiently to avoid undermining its economy. The report highlights how inefficiently using water impacts hard on the resources needed by ecosystems and people, both vital assets for European productivity and security. For example some estimates calculate that approximately a quarter of water abstracted for irrigation in Europe could be saved, just by changing the type of pipe or channel used. Authorities are urged to set clear environmental targets for water use, within the limit of what is sustainable, according to the report. More ...

12/04/2012

USD 100,000 Patel Grand Challenge: deadline extended to 25 May 2012

The USF Patel School of Global Sustainability launched the Patel Grand Challenge at the International Water Association's Development Congress in Malaysia in November 2011. It is a challenge to inventors in developing nations to create a low-cost and easy-to-use water purification device that could save millions from the threats of contaminated drinking water. Due to numerous deadline extension requests, the new deadline for pre-proposals has been extended to 25 May 2012. Five finalists will be awarded up to USD 8,000 and invited to prepare full proposals. The winning research proposal will receive up to USD 100,000 to develop the “Smart Pot” with the Patel Center’s research team. More ...

11/04/2012

Indo-French project to study effects of climate change on farming

On 9 April, the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) launched a multi-disciplinary Indo-French research project titled ‘Adaptation of Irrigated Agriculture to Climate Change (AICHA). The study aims at developing an integrated model for analysing the impact of climate change on ground water-irrigated agriculture and for identifying available actions for climate-smart agriculture in South India. Sekhar Muddu, IISc Associate Professor (Department of Civil Engineering) involved in the project, said the study would extend up to three years and involve regular interaction with farmers in the region. The Indian and French governments are jointly funding the project. The research looks into all three fields pertaining to farming, namely, agronomy, hydrology and economics. More ...

10/04/2012

Fourth IDSAsr Seminar: The Water Energy and Food Security

The fourth seminar of Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies Society (IDSAsr), will be held from 2 to 4 November 2012, at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. Recognizing a clear need for new approaches addressing the inter-connections within the water, energy and food security nexus, the seminar will focus on identifying enabling conditions which may facilitate the achievement of the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG): to end poverty and hunger. Sustainable and equitable management of water resources, agricultural productivity increase, and the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity will be the main topics. The seminar will also provide for a space for discussion, interaction, and information to policy-makers, water managers, academics, and the public in general. More ...

10/04/2012

10,000 simulations show warming range of 1.4-3 degrees by 2050

A study project running almost 10,000 climate simulations on volunteers’ home computers, using a complex atmosphere-ocean climate model, has found that a global warming of 3 degrees Celsius by 2050 is ‘equally plausible’ as a rise of 1.4 degrees, if emissions continue unabated. The forecast range is derived from models that accurately reproduce observed temperature changes over the last 50 years. The model used in the project was supplied by the UK Met Office and the work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the European Union FP6 WATCH and ENSEMBLES projects, the Oxford Martin School, the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and Microsoft Research. More ...

10/04/2012

A new system of waste disposal in the Everest Valley

The EvK2Cnr committee, in partnership with Eco Himal and Sagarmantha Pollution Control Committee, is already working to solve the "Everest waste issue". One of the first results will be the installation of a new waste management facility in Namche Bazaar, Khumbu Valley, Nepal. In open huge holes nearby several villages, right now, the climbing expeditions waste are burning in the Valley, producing unhealthy fumes. More ...

09/04/2012

Earth Debate: Food Security – How Do We Feed 9 Billion People in 2050?

The Earth Debates, organized by the Museum of Natural History of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future and the British Council, will be webcast live from the UK's MSN, on 9 April. A panel of leading experts chaired by Richard Black, the BBC's environment correspondent, will tackle key issues at the heart of the green economy agenda of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio +20). Four debates will discuss the future pressures on sustainable development, arising from the projected increase in world population and the unequal distribution of resources. The aim is to identify the available options that can lead toward a balance between the demands of a growing population and maintaining an environment that can provide the essential resources for a sustainable future.

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09/04/2012

'Kathmandu Call for Action' pledges for separate fund to help mountain countries cope with the impacts of climate change

Representatives from about 30 mountain countries attended the “International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change” organized by Nepal’s Ministry of Environment from 4 to 6 April 2012. The International Conference recently concluded in Kathmandu with a Call for Action pledging for specific funding for adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts in mountain countries. The fund is to be set up under Green Climate Fund pledged during the climate summit agreements at the Conference of Parties (CoP 15) in Cancun, Mexico in 2010. The international community had committed to mobilise USD 100 billion annually for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries. However, the fund proposed for the mountain countries is yet to be decided. The document also called for concerted action to effectively integrate mountain issues into the global climate change and development agenda including the Rio+20 process and beyond.
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04/04/2012

Electronic Forum: Adaptation to climate changes in Amazonian Andes - from 16 to 20 April 2012

The Electronic Forum “Adaptation to climate changes in Amazonian Andes” will be held from 16 to 20 April 2012, by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), CARE Perú, the Consortium for the Sustainable Development of Andean Ecoregion (CONDENSAN), the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Forum aims to increase the opportunities for cooperation, at national as well as regional level, among the Andean countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Perú and Bolivia) toward joint strategies for climate change adaptation. More ...

30/03/2012

New study on Nature Climate Change Journal builds link between weather extremes and warming

Extreme weather events over the past decade have increased and were "very likely" caused by manmade global warming, a study recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change says. Scientists at Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Research used physics, statistical analysis and computer simulations to link extreme rainfall and heat waves to global warming. Indeed the past decade was probably the warmest globally for at least a millennium. Severe floods, record-breaking heatwaves and hot summers were devastating in their impacts and affected nearly all regions of the globe. The link between storms and hurricanes and global warming is less conclusive but at least some of recent rainfall extremes can be attributed to human influences on the climate. More ...

29/03/2012

Mountains, a priority for a planet under pressure and for Switzerland

Mountains make up two thirds of Switzerland’s surface area. They played a decisive role in creating the national identity of Switzerland and also – owing to Alpine tourist destinations and the watchmaking industry based in the Jura mountains – its worldwide reputation. Up to now Switzerland has successfully integrated its mountain regions in the political and economic development of the country. However, their sustainable development is endangered by various megatrends, such as globalisation and urbanisation. Six governmental and non-governmental organizations produced a factsheet on global and Swiss challenges for sustainable mountain development until Rio+30. More ...

28/03/2012

Yosemite’s Alpine Chipmunks Take Genetic Hit from Climate Change

Global warming has forced alpine chipmunks in Yosemite to higher ground, prompting a startling decline in the species’ genetic diversity, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. The novel study, recently appeared in the online publication of the journal Nature Climate Change, also shows that the genetic erosion occurred in the relatively short span of 90 years, highlighting the rapid threat changing climate can pose to a species. With low genetic diversity a species can be more vulnerable to the effects of inbreeding, disease and other major problems for species survival. “Climate change is implicated as the cause of geographic shifts observed among birds, small mammals and plants, but this new work shows that, particularly for mountain species like the alpine chipmunk, such shifts can result in increasingly fragmented and genetically impoverished populations,” said study lead author Emily Rubidge. “Under continued warming, the alpine chipmunk could be on the trajectory towards becoming threatened or even extinct.” More ...

28/03/2012

Side event at the 3rd intersessional meeting | The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter

The side event on "The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter" took place on 26 March 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, back to back with the 3rd Intersessional meeting. Key for renewable energy, safe and reliable water, food security - but also sustainable tourism and green jobs, as already highlighted in the "Call for Action" launched at the Lucerne World Mountain Conference, mountains are crucial for "the future we want". As Chair of the meeting, Ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya, Nepalese Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized the need to take up the issue of mountains in a holistic manner from the perspectives of the people living there. High-level representatives from Switzerland, Italy, Peru and Kyrgyzstan intervened on the various benefits of what Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 Brice Lalonde defined as "the mountain package". ICIMOD's Director General Dr David Molden underscored the need for transboundary cooperation and international partnership for mountains as a global resource. In his closing remarks, Olman Serrano, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, presented communication materials aiming to support the process of having mountains included in the Rio+20 outcome. More ...

27/03/2012

Technical Experts – REDD+ and Climate Change Adaptation – application deadline: 31 March 2012

Tetra Tech ARD, an international development consulting firm based in Burlington, Vermont and Washington, D.C., is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified regional and local technical experts for anticipated USAID-funded climate change adaptation and REDD+ projects in South East Asia and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The projects will focus on policy and implementation of efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), as well as efforts to build the resilience of vulnerable populations to adapt to the impacts of climate change that will be felt in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure; as well as geographies, such as coastal zones, river basins, and mountainous areas. Please find out the vacancies on the Tetra Tech ARD website. More ...

26/03/2012

The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter

Together with the Government of Nepal and ICIMOD, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has organized a side event on "The water-energy-food nexus: why mountains matter". The side event will take place on Monday 26 March 2012 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, back to back with the 3rd Intersessional meeting. High-level representatives from Switzerland, Italy, Ethiopia and Peru will explore opportunities for creating global, regional, national, and local mechanisms that can not only reduce vulnerability and poverty for close to 800 million mountain communities, but also help to ensure the globe’s future water, food, and energy security. Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 Brice Lalonde will participate in the discussions and Olman Serrano, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, will give closing remarks on how a common understanding among key stakeholders can positively contribute to the Rio+20 outcome document. More ...

23/03/2012

Paragraph 94 on Mountains, “a model for others”

At the recent UNCSD Informal consultations, delegates continued their first reading of Section V of the “Zero Draft” (Framework for Action and Follow-up). Below is IISD’s press coverage on the discussions on paragraph 94 on Mountains (Thursday, 22 March 2012):

Mountains: SWITZERLAND proposed text on, inter alia, integration of mountain-specific strategies in national sustainable development strategies and poverty reduction plans and programmes. The US said this section was a model for others. The US suggested moving references to payment for ecosystem services into a cross-cutting provision on the subject, while the G-77/CHINA proposed deleting them. NEW ZEALAND, CANADA, the EU and SWITZERLAND proposed moving a G-77/China call for support from developed countries to the MOI section, which the G-77/CHINA opposed.

The US concluded his statement saying he thought this section could be fairly easily negotiated. This type of statement has not accompanied the discussion on any other section, from any delegation. More ...

22/03/2012

Water, mountains’ “blue gold”

It’s our planet’s most precious resource and our cities our powered by it: it’s water! And water comes from mountains. It flows from the watersheds at higher altitudes creating life along its course, all the way down to the river deltas. The sustainable management of water is the single most important priority for all mountain regions. Water is a true mountain service and all other services depend on it. That is why mountains are rightly called water towers. In fact they are a lot more – they are Towers of Life. All of the major rivers rise in mountain regions, providing about 50 percent of all freshwater to downstream users. Without water, there is no food to feed growing populations. Without water and mountains, there are no solutions to meet the growing demand for clean energy. Without water, biodiversity and ecosystem integrity cannot be sustained. Without clean and reliable water, human and global well-being is jeopardized. More in the March issue of “Peak to Peak”! More ...

21/03/2012

2nd Nordic International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, Helsinki, 29-31 August 2012

The Second Nordic International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation: "Adaptation Research Meets Adaptation Decision-Making" will be held from 29 to 31 August 2012 in Helsinki, Finland. The conference is jointly organized by the NordForsk TFI Network initiative on Effect Studies and the Adaptation to Climate Change network (NORDCLAD-Net and NONAM), with support of the Swedish Mistra-SWECIA research programme, the Academy of Finland’s Finnish Research Programme on Climate Change (FICCA) and the City of Helsinki. The Call for Abstracts (deadline Friday 30 March 2012) and Registration details can be found at the Conference website. More ...

20/03/2012

Gender and Climate - Launch of FAO and CGIAR Training Guide

The Training Guide “Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development” is now available online. The guide was jointly developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The manual provides users with resources and participatory action research tools for collecting, analyzing and sharing gender-sensitive information about agricultural communities, households and individuals who are facing climatic changes. The guide is aimed at sensitizing users to the links between socio-economic and gender issues and promoting gender-sensitive adaptation and mitigation activities in agriculture. It has been tested by researchers in Bangladesh, Uganda, and Ghana. More ...

19/03/2012

IUCN engaging local communities to restore water flow in the Himalayan region

Across the Himalayan region in India springs are drying up, owing to changes in precipitation patterns and decline of the watershed’s forests. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with the support of mobile phone company Nokia, launched a project to restore water flow in the Balkila watershed, in India's Uttarakhand State. The Forest Department of the Uttarakhand State is also responding by promoting soil and water conservation with local farmers, and communities are replanting local species, like the deodar (cedar) and oak lost in past decades. “Coping with change will mean that communities in the Balkila, as in all high mountain regions around the world, will have to ensure they organize themselves to adapt,” says Dr Mark Smith, Director of IUCN’s Water Programme. More ...

18/03/2012

"Himalaya Water Tower" Highscrapers to solve access to water?

Chinese designer/engineers Zhi Zheng, Hongchuan Zhao and Dongbai Song have put forth a tantalizing proposal that combines human scientific ingenuity with a practical, prescient vision for a sustainable future. The approximately 55,000 icy glaciers in the Himalayan region hold 40 percent of the world’s fresh water and together act as the main water source for 7 of the world’s great rivers… and hundreds of millions of people who depend on them. The local hydrological cycle has generally been a self-sustaining mechanism for millions of years. Lately, however, the Himalayan glaciers (along with those in other parts of the world) have been retreating at an alarming rate under the influence of Global Warming. The prototypical "Himalaya Water Tower" is certainly tall: the expected temperature differences between each tower’s upper, central and lower portions are critical to its proper functioning as a water storage and dispersal device. Like the mighty Himalayas themselves, the towers will store ice in their heights and liquid water in their roots.

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18/03/2012

Monitoring the Effects of Climate Change in Protected Ecosystems - 19, 20 and 21 March 2012, Santiago de Chile

The Workshop “Monitoring the Effects of Climate Change in Protected Ecosystems” is going to take place on 19, 20 and 21 March 2012 at the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, in Santiago de Chile. Ranging from Mexico to the Land of Fire in Argentina, the mountains in Latin America are home to millions of people, living in big cities and rural areas. Climate warming is particularly affecting the extremely fragile and interconnected mountain ecosystems. This workshop aims to produce scientific information which will feed into the formulation of policies and strategies in the region. Experts from the region are taking part, including a representative of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, Dora Arévalo. More information including the agenda of the three days is online. More ...

17/03/2012

European Mountain Convention - 2-4 October 2012, Chambery, France

The European Mountain Convention will take place this year from 2 to 4 October 2012 in Chambery, France. The Convention is organized by the European Association for Mountain Areas (Euromontana) in cooperation with the French region Rhône Alpes. The three-day conference will feature discussions on several topics related to mountain development and people. The focus of this year will be on how to attract young people and inhabitants in general in mountain regions. Click here to see the provisional programme. More ...

15/03/2012

China signs hydropower expertise deal with Nepal

China has signed a US$1.6 billion agreement to develop the 760-megawatt (MW) West Seti Project hydropower plant in Nepal. The deal marks the Asian giant's entry into a sector in the Himalayan nation — water and power — that has been dominated by India for years. Water-rich Nepal has an estimated 83,000MW of hydropower potential, but actual production is only 1 to 2 percent of that. Power sales to India would potentially add billions to Nepal's strained budget resources, while helping the energy-short South Asian giant power up factories required to provide jobs for the burgeoning numbers of its young. Next door, Bhutan has one of the highest per capita incomes in South Asia, partly because of electricity sales to India. The West Seti Project will be purely for domestic consumption, and “as such we need not go for a power-purchasing agreement with India, Nepal's only assured market at the moment”, said an official with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).



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14/03/2012

China Focus: Nature-Based Solutions To Climate Change

With the world´s largest population and second largest economy, China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, but also the emerging leader in the use and development of clean energy technology. China is arguably the most important country to successfully address climate change. In the face of unparalleled economic growth China´s Mega Diverse ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable. At the same time however, the existence of such a diverse ecological base means there is great potential to implement nature-based solutions to climate change in China. More ...

13/03/2012

If Cutting Carbon Emissions Isn’t Working, What’s Next?

What if it is too late to save the climate by cutting greenhouse gas emissions? What if the amount of carbon dioxide already added to the atmosphere by human activity is so great that it is going to produce big temperature changes no matter what, with big shifts in rainfall and in ocean chemistry? Options remain, according to a new book, “Suck It Up,” by Marc Gunther, a journalist, blogger and speaker who specializes in energy and climate issues. If it is too late for zero-carbon electricity generation like wind, solar and nuclear to save us, then we should be exploring radical next steps, he writes. Those include tinkering with the atmosphere by injecting tiny droplets that will reflect some of the sun’s energy back into space and scavenging for carbon dioxide in ambient air.
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12/03/2012

Asia needs $40 billion a year for 'climate proofing': Asian Development Bank

The Asia-Pacific region needs to spend about $40 billion a year to "climate proof" its economies against the impact of global warming, Asian Development Bank vice president Bindu Lohani said at the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum on Monday. The Forum in Bangkok was cancelled last year after Thailand suffered its worst floods in half a century, which killed more than 800 people and deluged hundreds of thousands of homes. "As the region's economies become increasingly linked through commercial supply chains... the impacts of such disasters are no longer confined to the place of occurrence but have wider regional and local impacts," Lohani said, noting that the Thai floods disrupted supply chains for Japanese automakers. "Although developed countries have agreed to mobilise up to $100 billion by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation, this impressive figure, actually we need to have it today and I think we may even need more," he said.

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12/03/2012

The Countdown has stared: 100 days to Rio+20

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, described by UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon as a "once in a life time opportunity" will take place in 100 days. It is the chance to make a difference and realize “The Future We Want”, theme of the conference, in particular focusing on the creation of a Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Despite all results achieved in the past two decades more has to be done in order to meet the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals. The involvement of all citizens is needed, from women and indigenous peoples to farmers, youth, city fathers and mothers, political leaders and captains of industry. Join the debate and share your ideas on Rio+20 at http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=117. More ...

11/03/2012

Retreating Ice Leaves Glacial Species On The Rocks

The rapid retreat of glaciers is one of the most visible signs of Earth’s changing climate, but the disappearance of the ice is altering far more than physical landscape. An analysis suggests that species that live in the streams and rivers that flow from melting glaciers could begin to vanish when just half of the glacial cover in a region is lost. “We had no idea that so many small invertebrates were restricted to this kind of environment,” says Dean Jacobsen, a freshwater biologist at the University of Copenhagen and one of the authors of the study, published in Nature Climate Change. The finding comes from a team that looked at the diversity of insect larvae in water at 103 sites fed by glaciers in the Ecuadorian Andes, the European Alps and Alaska’s coastal mountains. The researchers compared the number of species to the percentage of glacier cover in the catchment area. In areas with high glacial cover, they predict, several species will start to disappear when cover drops to 50%. If the glaciers in all three regions were to disappear, between 9 and 14 species would be totally lost, representing 11% of the diversity in Ecuador, 16% in the Alps and 38% in Alaska.

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08/03/2012

The gender dimensions of climate change

By empowering women, practical and sustainable climate change solutions can be found while contributing to the transformation of gender inequalities. BRIDGE has recently finished a two year Gender and Climate Change Programme, in collaboration with partners based in Paraguay, Nigeria, Kenya, India, Colombia and Germany – and a global community of practice. The key output, a Cutting Edge Pack, shows that there is much to learn from innovative, gender-aware approaches to climate change that are already happening at the local level, led by non-governmental organisations, communities and individuals. In some cases, these are leading to transformations in gender and social inequalities. More ...

05/03/2012

COMUNIS conference – 8 March 2012 – EURAC research, Bolzano

The International Final Conference of the “COMUNIS” Project will take place on 8 March 2012 in Bolzano (Italy), on the premises of the EURAC Convention Centre. The event is organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea in cooperation with the institute for Timber Plants and the Environment, and with the logistic support of EURAC research. Having recognized the economic competition existing among adjacent municipalities in the Alpine Space, the COMUNIS Project (Alpine Space Programme) aimed at developing cooperative strategies for inter-municipal Commercial Location Development (CLD) in mountain areas. More information, including the programme and registration form, is available online. More ...

02/03/2012

City of Aspen (US) moved into warmer climate zone

New national climate designations released this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirm that winter is getting warmer around the city of Aspen. The mountain city of Aspen, member of the Mountain Partnership since 2010 is, for the first time, in the same climate zone of warmer and lower-elevation towns. Auden Schendler, vice president of sustainability at the Aspen Skiing Co. noted that the USDA zoning is only the latest piece of mounting evidence that the American West is warming faster than the rest of the world. Milder winters in the mountains pose increasing threats to the territory, including the decline of the ski industry and spread of invasive plants and insects nationwide such as the mountain pine beetle, which has killed millions of acres of lodgepole pine trees in the Mountain West.
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29/02/2012

UNEP to implement EUR 2.3 million project rehabilitating the water towers of Kenya

A new three-year intervention to rehabilitate the Northern Mau Forest at the cost of EUR 2.3 million is set to deliver multiple benefits for Kenya and the region. The Mau Forest isn’t just the largest mountain forest in Kenya. It is the largest in all of Eastern Africa. In Kenya, it is also the largest water catchment area, meaning it is the habit that collects the most rainwater. The strategic importance of the Mau Forest lies in the ecosystem services it provides to Kenya and the region, including river flow regulation, flood mitigation, water storage, reduced soil erosion, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, carbon reservoir and microclimate regulation. It forms the largest closed-canopy forest ecosystem and covers over 400,000 hectares. The project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Kenyan Government and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to support the rehabilitation of the Mau forest ecosystem and to create a sustainable basis for its long-term conservation and management.


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28/02/2012

Turkey’s First Wildlife Corridor Links Bear, Wolf and Lynx Populations to the Caucasus Forests

Turkey’s first wildlife corridor is the biggest active landscape conservation project ever undertaken in Turkey and the reforestation of the corridor will take close to a decade. The area of the corridor is bigger than the protected area it is connecting, a rarity in corridor projects. If the wildlife corridor were a national park, it would be the 15th largest of Turkey’s 40 national parks. The GDNCNP of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs recently declared the corridor area a “Protected Forest”. Two thirds of this area is already forest, which makes the corridor an ideal candidate for reforestation. The General Directorate for Combating Desertification and Erosion will reforest the remaining third of this area to connect the forest patches. The General Directorate of Forestry will hire local park rangers for the protection of the forest corridor. More ...

27/02/2012

Climate change may push Andean species skyward

A new study led by researchers at Duke University has identified and mapped hundreds of endemic plant and animal species across 17,000 miles of east-facing Andean uplift, a section ranging through Bolivia and Peru. It found that only 20 percent of areas with the highest levels of biodiversity are protected by government regulations. Warming temperatures have accelerated a process of upslope migration, begun at the close of the last ice age, that threatens to push the region's biodiversity into increased competition, nutrient-poor soil conditions and, finally, thin air, according to forest ecologists working in the region. Home to nearly one-sixth of the world's plant species, as well as hundreds of kinds of mammals, birds and amphibians, the Andean cloud forests are one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth. They are also among the most vulnerable.
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26/02/2012

Can We Construct Urban Communities That Conserve Biodiversity?

For the first time in our history, more people live in urban vs. rural areas and humans continue to move into cities. Cities have huge impacts on our natural resources. Urban dwellers consume vast amounts of energy, produce waste, and alter landscapes to the point where native plant and animal populations decline precipitously. As cities grow, people have pondered -- can we develop land without destroying our natural heritage?

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25/02/2012

Rare wheat from the mountains of Tajikistan at Arctic seed vault

Rare wheat collected from the “Roof of the World” in the Pamir Mountains in Tajikistan; amaranth, barley and once-forgotten forage crops that could sustain livestock in these climatestressed times are among the seed samples arriving this week for the fourth birthday of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV). The Global Crop Diversity Trust maintains the seed vault, in partnership with the Norwegian government and the Nordic Genetic Resources Center, as a back-up to the living crop diversity collections housed in “genebanks” around the world. The seeds are the first from the former Soviet Republic to be deposited in Svalbard. Wheat grows in abundance on Tajikistan's remote mountainsides, across varying elevations and amid hot summers and blistering, snowy winters. And while Tajikistan is the poorest country in Central Asia, experts say it hosts a rich diversity of a food crop that 2 billions of people depend upon for survival. Such diversity is particularly important today, as scientists are scouring genebanks in search of wheat that is resistant to a resurgent and virulent strain of wheat stem rust that can devastate yields. More ...

24/02/2012

CIPRA received the Dutch sustainability award

The International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) was awarded the 2012 Sustainability Organization of the Year by the Royal Dutch Mountaineering and Climbing Club (NKVB). In an on-line ballot, Dutch mountaineers from NKVB, the biggest mountaineering club outside of the Alps, voted CIPRA. CIPRA is a non-governmental umbrella organization including more than 100 associations and organizations from seven Alpine states. A member of the Mountain Partnership, CIPRA works towards achieving sustainable development in the Alps. According to CIPRA President Dominik Siegrist: “This award is priceless for us; it shows that we are on the right track.” 2012 is the first year of the Dutch Sustainability Award. Other nominees included the new Monte Rosa Hut in the Swiss Canton of Valais and the outdoor clothing company Patagonia.
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23/02/2012

Global Change and the World’s Mountains: Supplement Issue of Mountain Research and Development

Mountain Research and Development is pleased to announce the publication of a Supplement Issue containing keynote papers, a synthesis paper and policy papers that emerged from the 2010 “Global Change and the World’s Mountains” conference, which took place in Perth, Scotland, from 26 to 30 September 2011. The peer-reviewed keynote papers address issues ranging from mountains as a global common good to mountain communities’ alternative responses to economic globalization, a clearer understanding of mountain ecosystem services, and interactions between climate change, mountain hydrology, and water resources. The synthesis paper presents the results of intense pre-conference assessment of the abstracts and the systematic appraisal of all conference sessions in light of ICSU's five “Grand Challenges.” The two policy papers present an overview of past and present attempts to bring mountains into international processes such as the Rio conferences, and discuss future actions. Read about the journal’s section policies, guidelines and submission procedure at:
http://www.mrd-journal.org/
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21/02/2012

Conference: Planet Under Pressure 2012 - 26-29 March 2012, London, UK

The 2012 international Planet Under Pressure conference will take place from 26 to 29 March 2012 in London, UK. The conference aims to provide a comprehensive and scientific update on the pressure that planet Earth is now under. Global sustainability scientists, decision-makers in policy, development, business and the wider non-government sector will discuss solutions at all scales to move societies on to a sustainable pathway. The conference outcomes are intended to feed into the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20. More information on the conference is available online. More ...

18/02/2012

Conference on Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountain Areas - Stuttgart, Germany, 16-18 April 2012

A Conference on Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountain Areas will take place from 16 to 18 April 2012 at the Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. The conference is organized by the Uplands Program, with funds from the German Research Foundation. The conference will focus on a number of themes related to sustainable land use and rural development: soil care in mountain landscapes; supplying, using, sharing and cycling of matter and water; linking highland farmers to modern food chains; land use and land cover change; sustainable and competitive livestock systems; people participation in natural resource management. Scientists, government officers, development practitioners and graduate and post-graduate students are encouraged to register by 15 February 2012. More ...

17/02/2012

New publication online - Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Highlands of Eastern Africa

The book “Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Highlands of Eastern Africa” has been recently published and is available online for free download. This publication collects research, methodological innovation, and lessons learned in the African Highlands Initiative (AHI), an eco-regional research-for-development program operating in the eastern African highlands. The editors summarized the experiences of farmers, research and development workers and policy and decision-makers who worked together to implement an integrated approach to natural resource management (NRM) in the humid highlands. The book also features examples and case studies from five benchmark sites in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. More ...

16/02/2012

Are the world's glaciers threatened by climate change?

A surprising finding comes from a study published in Nature, which claims that the world's largest mountain chain, stretching from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, has lost no ice between 2003 and 2010. The study is the first to survey all the world's icecaps and glaciers and is based on satellite data. More information for understanding climate change in the Himalayan region may be found in the three reports recently published by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Despite this finding, the rest of the data presented in the Nature paper show clear evidence that all regions of the world, including Greenland and Antarctica, recorded a significant loss in ice mass over this same period. The general tendency that, globally, glaciers are retreating is confirmed. More ...

14/02/2012

Help shape the profile of mountains in the "Zero Draft"

The 9 Major Groups of Agenda 21 (Business & Industry, Children & Youth, Farmers, Indigenous Peoples, Local Authorities, NGOs, Scientific & Technological Community, Women, Workers & Trade Union) can give their comments on the Text of the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document. Comments can still be given on the entire document. Comments must be emailed by 17 February to Ms Chantal Line Carpentier, CSD Major Groups Programme Coordinator: carpentier@un.org. More ...

13/02/2012

Adaptation to Climate Change with a Focus on Rural Areas and India

The Indo-German project Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Areas of India (CCA RAI, www.ccarai.org), funded by GIZ, is pleased to announce the launch of the book “Adaptation to Climate Change with a Focus on Rural Areas and India“. The publication provides an overview of the main issues in current adaptation discussions and suggests adaptation options in six different fields related to rural areas: Agriculture, Forests, Biodiversity, Water resources, Coastal zones and Disaster risk management.

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12/02/2012

USAID funds project to study water reosurces in Asia mountains

A University of Colorado Boulder team is partnering with the United States Agency for International Development to assess snow and glacier contributions to water resources originating in the high mountains of Asia that straddle 10 countries. The four-year study aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic assessment of freshwater resources in the so-called "High Asia" region, which encompasses five mountain ranges and watersheds totalling roughly 1 million square miles. While about one-third of the world's population depends to some degree on fresh water within the High Asia hydrological system, not enough data exists on river and stream flows and the contribution of seasonal snow and glacier melt to paint an accurate picture of the water resources there, said Armstrong, a senior research scientist at CU-Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center, or NSIDC.

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11/02/2012

Young Scientists Award - Best work on policy relevant to Alpine issues

The Alps are a “living space in change”. In order to manage and develop natural and human resources in a sustainable way, creativity is fundamental both in daily life as well as in science and research. The Alpine Convention will award young scientists for their work (diploma, dissertation, and master’s thesis) on topics closely related to the objects of the Convention.
Three prizes, each of 1,000 Euros, will be awarded at an international public event to be held at the end of 2012. Submit the documents by 30 August 2012 using the form available on the Alpine Convention website: http://www.alpconv.org/themes/YSAward_en . More ...

10/02/2012

Side event at Delhi Sustainable Development Summit calls for a new agenda to sustain mountains as global commons

More than 100 participants from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region called for a new global mountain agenda in a special event held at the 12th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. Focusing on "Sustainable Mountain Development in the Context of Rio+20", the event was held on 3 February 2012. The meeting participants included environment ministers, policy makers, development experts and scientists. Dr David Molden, Director General, ICIMOD emphasized the need to address more than environmental issues, noting that mountains face multidimensional problems but also offer solutions. The more than 100 participants called for stronger political commitment and recognition of mountain resources in supplying the globe's water, food, and energy needs. Organized annually by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), this year the DSDS summit focused on “Protecting the Global Commons: 20 Years Post Rio”. More ...

07/02/2012

Innovation in tackling climate change

Sharing research-based knowledge and promoting innovation are unprecedentedly critical for effective climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes worldwide, particularly in developing countries. This was the focus of the two-day conference (23-24 January) convened in Kathmandu by the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), supported by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Scientists can significantly help advance policies to promote best and environmental practices in all socio-economic spheres including agriculture, livestock rearing, irrigation, water management, environmental-friendly drainage and sanitation. More ...

06/02/2012

Landscape Blog launched on 30 January 2012

As part of the three-year collaborative Landscape for People, Food and Nature Initiative, the new Landscapes Blog has now been launched. The Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative, which officially commenced in November 2011, aims to scale up successful strategies for integrated landscape management that simultaneously support, improve food security, and conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. The blog includes three thematic series, Voices from the Field, Landscape of the Week, Exploring the Evidence. If you are interested in contributing to one of these, please contact Rachel Friedman at rfriedman@ecoagriculture.org. For more information on the Landscape Initiative, please visit the website http://landscapes.ecoagriculture.org, or contact Erik Nielsen, Senior Manager, Knowledge Sharing and Policy Advocacy, Ecoagriculture Partners at enielsen@ecoagriculture.org. More ...

04/02/2012

Ban Ki Moon on the perspectives for Rio+20 at the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF) held its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from 25-29 January 2012, gathering industry, business, government and other world leaders to discuss current issues. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon participated in two panels, on ending energy poverty and on the perspectives for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), warning “we cannot build a green economy on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable people.”

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03/02/2012

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) increases high-altitude rice yields in Madagascar

The SRI method was developed in the 1980s by the French Jesuit priest Henri de Laulanié. Challenging traditional rice production, SRI farmers transplant young seedlings with greater spacing on soil that is moist but not flooded. Proponents of SRI claim this system uses 25-50 percent less water, requires 80-90 percent fewer seeds, and can sometimes double or even triple the yields. The Better U Foundation, funded by the Canadian actor Jim Carrey, has assisted in SRI’s implementation and dissemination at grassroots, institutional and policy levels. According to a report citing results from the Vakinankaratra highland region of Madagascar, the average yields with SRI were 3.28 tons per hectare, compared to 2.87 tons per hectare prior to the project’s implementation. With increased yields and improved incomes, there is less pressure for farmers to cut down forests for agriculture purposes. SRI also contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gases, especially methane, because the rice fields are not continuously flooded as in traditional rice cultivation. More ...

02/02/2012

WWF's top 2012 endangered species

The numbers of mountain gorillas, Sumatran orangutans, wild tigers and snow leopards are gradually declining - with hunting and habitat loss just some of the reasons that these animals are endangered. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. Help protect their future by visiting www.WorldWildlife.org/how. More ...

01/02/2012

Need to Rewrite the Mountain Perspective

Fragile, remote and marginal. These three adjectives are commonly used to address mountains in the so-called ‘mountain perspective’, said Indian development analyst Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma on chimalaya.org. For two decades, this self-deprecating approach has been the leitmotif of most research/development on mountain issues in the Himalayan region. And what if this narrative would be rephrased with positive expressions such as rich, robust and exquisite? According to Dr. Sharma this would allow mountain people to play to their strengths and set the agenda for their own development. Read the full issue online on chimalaya.org. More ...

31/01/2012

40 years of UNESCO World Heritage Convention

UNESCO is one of our most prestigious members, and we have asked Marc Patry from the World Heritage Centre what the Convention envisages for mountains.How is UNESCO ensuring protection of mountain sites? Could you highlight any mountain-related initiatives? The World Heritage Convention was adopted in 1972. We have 188 countries that have ratified the Convention. Although we have a Marine Programme, a Forest Programme, a Tourism Programme – to this day we don’t have a specific Mountain Programme. Mountains are dealt with as distinct cases, as issues arise. So, we are not doing anything specific for mountains in the context of the 40th anniversary. Perhaps that’s where we could be doing something together with the Mountain Partnership! Many of our sites are, in fact, mountains sites – such as Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. They do raise the flag on global concerns such as climate change. More ...

30/01/2012

Mountain Nimba, Cote d'Ivoire awarded emergency relief grant

The Côte d’Ivoire component of the transboundary Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, inscribed onto the list of UNESCO World Heritage in Danger, has been awarded a Rapid Response Facility (RRF) small grant. This site has a unique geography, rising above the surrounding savannah and consisting of dense forest and mountain pastures. Important fauna here includes endemic viviparous toad species and tool-using chimpanzees. For many years Nimba has been under threat from the bushmeat trade and removal of medicinal plants. The grant will help repair and reequip vital park protection infrastructure. More ...

29/01/2012

India: Climate change takes malaria to the hills

Due to climate change, malaria and other diseases may shift to higher altitudes, says a draft Action Plan for Climate Change recently compiled in India. Warming climate and variable precipitation offer newer sites of breeding to vectors, pathogens, and bacteria. Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) are the main pathogens responsible for malaria and the positivity rate of the latter has been found to be more than 25 percent over the past three years. Meanwhile, dengue is spreading silently with a sharp rise in the number of cases possibly owing to global warming. The report presents the results of research conducted by the State Public Health Engineering Department, School of Oceanographic Studies in Jadavpur University, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Disease, School of Tropical Medicine, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, research division of SSKM Hospital and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. More ...

28/01/2012

China: Forest fire at the foot of the Dongshan Mountain

Forest fire spread on Thursday 26 January in Lijiang city, a UNESCO Heritage Site at the foot of the famous Dongshan Mountain, in southwest China's Yunnan Province. As of Thursday at 4 p.m., the fire had engulfed 45 hectares of mountain forests. Almost 2,500 people strove to put out the fire on the north eastern front before dawn, Friday, including fire fighters, police officers, soldiers and volunteers, aiming to prevent it from spreading to Yulong Snow Mountain. While flames have been put out, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. More ...

27/01/2012

How can women’s land rights be secured - online discussion from 23 January to 6 February 2012

The International Land Coalition (ILC) Secretariat in Rome (Italy) and the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum) are facilitating an online discussion on “How can women’s land rights be secured”. The discussion will be open to contributions in English, French and Spanish from 23 January to 6 February 2012. Participants are describing the obstacles preventing women in different countries from accessing land rights. The aim is to collect examples of policies and tools that promote women's land rights and information on the role women’s organizations can play. These inputs will feed into the side event organized by ILC, FAO and IFAD at the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) CSW on 1 March 2012. More ...

26/01/2012

Highlights from the World Future Energy Summit (16-19 January 2012, Abu Dhabi)

The fifth World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2012 opened in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 16 January 2012. The first day of this four-day event was organized around the theme “Policy and Strategy Forum,” and comprised opening statements from Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO Masdar, Wen Jiabao, Premier, China, Kim Hwang-sik, Prime Minister, South Korea, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and other dignitaries, followed by special addresses and ministerial panels. The WFES program also includes roundtable discussions, an exhibition hall, and numerous other side events and activities. More ...

25/01/2012

2012 International Conference on Geological and Environmental Sciences (ICGES 2012)

2012 International Conference on Geological and Environmental Sciences(ICGES 2012) will be held from 29 to 30 June 2012 on Jeju Island (South Korea). ICGES 2012 is the premier forum for the presentation of technological advances and research results in the fields of Geological and Environmental Sciences. ICGES 2012 will bring together leading engineers and scientists in Geological and Environmental Sciences from around the world. Abstract submissions are invited. The deadline is 10 March 2012. For more information please write to: icges@cbees.org. More ...

24/01/2012

DISCCRS VII Interdisciplinary Climate Change Research Symposium

Since 2003, DISCCRS has hosted symposia for early-career researchers to catalyze formation of interdisciplinary collegial networks, while fostering skills to better prepare graduates to conduct collaborative research and respond to the myriad challenges posed by climate change and its impacts. Participants will share their research; engage in discussions with peers, mentors, and funding agency representatives; and participate in communication and team training. Thirty early-career scholars will be selected through a review process with the expectation that invitees will become leaders in their chosen fields. Airfare and on-site expenses are supported through grants from NSF and NASA. Application deadline: 29 February 2012. More ...

23/01/2012

1 February 2012, India: Enhancing Participation of Women in the Green Economy

On February 1, 2012, Earth Day Network, in partnership with The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), will host a day-long WAGE forum in Delhi, India. To accelerate and provide the new thinking and creative power for a global post-carbon economy, Earth Day Network is engaging women business, government and NGO leaders in its “Women and the Green Economy” (WAGE®) Campaign. WAGE® is working today to create a policy agenda for Rio+20 and generate relevant national initiatives that will promote the green economy, secure educational and job training opportunities for women and channel green investment to benefit women. Launched at the UNFCCC 16th Conference of the Parties in Cancun, Mexico in December, 2010, the WAGE® Campaign is actively creating a road map for women to aggregate their power and promote their leadership in creating a sustainable green economy and mitigating climate change. More ...

22/01/2012

Earth Child Institute: Nepal’s Green School Campaign 2012

Looking to collaborate with 200 schools around the country and reach out to around 1,000,000 students is the first initiative of Nepal-based ECI (Earth Child Institute). Launched on 21 January, the “Global School Campaign” aims to inform and empower children on global environmental issues, and encourage them to adopt green, healthy and sustainable lifestyles in their schools and communities. More ...

21/01/2012

Better scientific understanding of agriculture role in climate change needed

A team of scientists led by Sir John Beddington, Britain’s chief scientific advisor, is urging that agriculture be a top priority in climate change negotiations, saying it’s vital for global food security and for reducing carbon emissions. Following the latest United Nations climate conference in December, the recommendations appear in the 20 January issue of Science magazine. In the article, "What Next for Agriculture After Durban", the scientists say negotiations there made "incremental progress" in helping farmers adapt to climate change while reducing agriculture’s contribution to global warming. More ...

18/01/2012

Position of Director General and other Vacancies offered at CIFOR

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) is looking for a Director General to work at the headquarters based in Bogor, Indonesia. CIFOR is conducting research on a broad range of forest-related issues with the aim to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. With offices in Asia, Africa and South America, CIFOR is one of the 15 Centers within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Lead Center of the CGIAR Research Programme on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (CRP6). For further information and to apply to this and other vacancies, please visit the CIFOR website. More ...

18/01/2012

EU-DFID programme helps Nepal

This joint EU-DFID programme should help the Government of Nepal to integrate climate change considerations into its development planning, as well as in its implementation of concrete measures at the local level to help rural communities adapt to the consequences of climate change. The programme will also support vulnerable communities and help them benefit from access to cleaner energy technologies such as solar/wind energy, biogas, improved cooking stoves, small micro-hydro projects. The programme also includes an important component (about 20%) of capacity development for government ministry staff on climate change, in particular to carry out detailed economic and social appraisals, as well as governance and fiduciary risk assessments, with the aim of identifying public finance management-related weaknesses and paving the way for possible future interventions of donors through future sector-wide support. More ...

18/01/2012

New molecule could help cool planet

A new molecule in the earth's atmosphere which could help produce a cooling effect has been detected by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Bristol together with the U.S.-based Sandia National Laboratories. According to the paper published in the journal Science on Thursday, the new molecules, called Criegee biradicals, can convert pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide into compounds which can lead to cloud formation, helping to shield the earth from the sun, the researchers said. However, it remains to be seen whether the new molecules can play a major role in tackling global warming. More ...

17/01/2012

EUROMONTANA is looking for an ERASMUS trainee – apply by 25 January 2012

The Brussels-based European Association of Mountain Areas (EUROMONTANA) is looking for a communication and event organisation trainee. The candidate must have applied for an ERASMUS ‘mobility’ placement at his/her home university and be available to start the internship on 1 March 2012 at the latest. His/her main tasks will be related to the preparation and organisation of a major European event on the theme of youth in mountain areas, taking place in October 2012 in Chambery, France. He/She will deal with practical tasks related to event communication, paper and digital product development and animation of working groups on the topic of youth. Please note that the deadline to send CV and letters of motivation is 25 January 2012. More ...

16/01/2012

Thawing permafrost reduces river runoff, say Chinese researches

Researchers at the Chengdu-based Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have revealed that the amount of water entering the Yangtze River near its source on the Tibetan plateau has fallen by 15 percent over the past four decades, despite a 15 percent increase in glacial melt and increased rainfall over the same period. The research highlighted the complexity of permafrost hydrology and its importance as a headwater source. Researchers found that runoff increased if the 'active' ground layer — the part that freezes and thaws every year — was less than 60 centimetres deep, but decreased if the thaw went deeper. In degraded wetland with more of the permafrost thawed, runoff was up to 40 percent less than in healthy wetland. More ...

14/01/2012

Climber Apa Sherpa to take climate message on "unique" Himalayan trek

Apa Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest a record 21 times, together with two-time Everest climber Dawa Steven Sherpa, will trek 1,700 km along some of the world's highest mountains to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas. In their 120-day walk, they will pass along the length of Nepal's Himalayas, including the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) Mount Everest. "During this trek we will try to find out how the mountain people are adapting and what they need to fight the impact of climate change," Apa Sherpa said. Global temperatures increased at a fast pace in the Himalayas, according to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and shrinking Himalayan glaciers threaten the lives of 1.3 billion people living downstream. More ...

12/01/2012

Mechanism at the basis of avalanches discovered

Researchers at Brandeis in collaboration with Duke University have revealed the mechanism at the basis of avalanches. Their study, published in the Journal Nature, explains how granular materials are transformed from a loose state to a solid state when force is applied at a particular angle, in a process known as shearing. Resulting from the breakdown of snowflakes, avalanches follow the same process. This information could potentially be used not only to further understand avalanches but also earthquakes and erosion, increasing possibilities for catastrophe prevention. More ...

12/01/2012

Mountain Plants Disappear as Climate Warms

A new study says that a warming climate is having a more profound effect on the world's mountain
vegetation than previously believed and that some alpine meadows could vanish altogether within a
few decades. More ...

11/01/2012

CIPRA report "Water in climate change" now released

The latest CIPRA background report on "Water in climate change" has been released. The publication includes reports showing the effects from climate change to water utility, as well as political instruments and good practice examples. Water streaming down from Alpine rivers supplies more than 170 millions of people. Due to the effects of climate change, water availability in the Alps and in other regions is being reduced. This will result in increased competition between different stakeholder groups. The report, published in English, French and in Italian, is now available for free download. More ...

10/01/2012

Zero-draft for Rio+20 – paragraph n. 94 on mountains

The zero-draft of the outcome document for Rio+20 Conference is now online with a paragraph (n.94) dedicated to mountains. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) Conference will take place on 20-22 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). This zero-draft document has been prepared based on inputs submitted by countries, major groups, United Nations and other intergovernmental agencies. With 71 of the 677 submissions related to mountains, the benefits provided by vulnerable mountain ecosystems have been recognized together with the important role played by local communities in the appropriate management of these landscapes. The zero-draft document will form the basis for further discussions and for the outcome document which will result from the Rio+20 Conference. More ...

09/01/2012

Fort William Mountain Festival - 15 - 19 February 2012, Lochaber, Scotland

Organized by the Highland Mountain Culture Association Limited, the Fort William Mountain Festival will take place from 15 to 19 February 2012 in Lochaber, Scotland. An advanced version of the programme is now online on the related website. The festival features various winter sports activities and films. In addition, the winner of the 2012 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture will be announced during the festival. The 2011 winner was Ian Sykes, founder of the outdoor clothing and equipment shop Nevisport. Fort William Mountain Festival is also on Youtube and Facebook. More ...

06/01/2012

Everest must be put on United Nations danger list

Mount Everest must be put on the United Nations endangered list because of the impacts of climate change, say campaigners urging the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The initiative is organised by Pro Public (Friends of the Earth Nepal) and the Climate Justice Programme, and supported by Friends of the Earth International and notable individuals including Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Chris Bonington, and Reinhold Messner. The Everest (Sagarmatha) National Park is on the World Heritage List since 1979 and the World Heritage Convention legally requires all countries to pass this Park intact to future generations. According to campaigners this will not happen unless urgent action is taken to stop the melting of the Himalayas and to prevent many glacial lakes from bursting, threatening the lives of thousands of people and destroying a unique and irreplaceable environment. More ...

04/01/2012

Going green: Top 10 bilateral climate change donors in 2010-2012

The world’s major bilateral donors continue to invest in climate change programming, primarily to comply with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change US $30 billion Fast Start Finance mechanism for enhanced action on mitigation, adaptation, REDD+, technology development and transfer and capacity building. The top financier of climate change initiatives for the period from 2010 to 2012 is Japan, which disbursed half of its pledge of $15 billion in 2010, followed by the US ($ 3 361 billion) and the U.K. ($2 357 billion). Climate change is also a central aspect in the development cooperation policy of Norway, France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and the European Union. Notwithstanding its budgetary constraints, Spain is also in this top list as it provides multilateral banks and initiatives with significant monetary contributions. More ...

02/01/2012

MRD issue on Mountains and Energy

The current issue of the Mountain Research and Development (MRD) journal (Volume 31 No 4) is devoted to sustainable production and use of energy in mountain areas. It aims at contributing to the debate about how mountains are affected by the global energy crisis and whether the crisis might offer opportunities for mountain communities. The 6 papers devoted to the energy theme in this issue cover a broad range of topics, thus reflecting the multidimensional challenge faced by mountain communities. The papers also highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the human–energy–environment nexus and for approaches that take into account the increasing connectedness between energy situations at the local, national, and global levels. MRD released other two issues on the same themes (see also vol 26 no 2 and MRD vol 21 no 1). More ...

31/12/2011

International Mountain Day 2011: Mountains and forests, "living together"

“Millions of people in the big cities are drinking water coming from these Central Asian mountains. And most of them, they don’t know where the water is coming from.” .
Olman Serrano, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, delivered his message on the occasion of International Mountain Day 2011, noting that this year, IMD coincides with the International Year of Forests. “A mountain without trees is like a house without electricity or without drinking water,” he said, explaining: “Forests and mountains, they live together.” The video message was recorded in the Rasht valley of Tajikistan, where pilot projects on solar power seek to avoid further deforestation.


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29/12/2011

Dolomite mountains: "crumbling down" in winter caused by climate change?

A few days before Christmas, the eastern slope of the Sass Maor has fallen to pieces.
Known as one of the major peaks in the Dolomites, the Sass Maor had never been considered as rock prone to instability. According to Antonio Calgaro from the Geoscience department of the University of Padua, "The phenomenon is uncommon in the winter months."
Recently, the 3D terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technique has been proposed as an alternative technique to perform rock instability analysis in a remote way. The researchers based at the University of Padua are sanguine that the data provided by the TLS survey can be used to obtain information aimed at landslide prevention.
The Dolomites are famous for skiing and mountain climbing. One national park and many other regional parks are located in the Dolomites, declared a natural heritage site by UNESCO in 2009.
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23/12/2011

Working together to make mountains shine

Dear Members and Friends,

If you click on the link below, you will find a few particular moments of our work together this year that I would like to share with you.
I believe that together, we have demonstrated our commitment to work for sustainable mountain development.
Thank you all for your hard work. Let us continue with the same dedication, to improve the lives of mountain people and protect their environment.

Olman Serrano, Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat
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22/12/2011

Publication Launch: “SWOMM 2010 – Transport & Environment in Mountain Areas”

The proceedings of the Scientific Workshop on Mountain Mobility and Transport “SWOMM 2010 - Transport & Environment in Mountain Areas” were launched during the SWOMM 2011, on 13 December 2011. The SWOMM 2010 Workshop was held last year at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in the framework of the AlpCheck2 Project (Alpine Space Programme). The publication was developed by Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea of Italy with the assistance of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (FAO). It compiles contributions on transport impacts, environmental benefits and policy tools, aiming to serve as an input to build a diverse and comprehensive approach to mobility management in mountain areas. More ...

21/12/2011

UHI research warns of snow-free 'black Christmases'

By 2050 more snow-free ‘black Christmases’ are likely to affect Rovaniemi, capital of the Finnish Lapland and official hometown of Santa Claus, a study led by the Centre for Mountain Studies - University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) says. The case study was conducted in the context of the Clim-ATIC Project, funded by the European Union Northern Periphery Programme. Clive Bowman, a research fellow at the Center for Mountain Studies, warned that “winters with little snow will become more common in the future” but “there will still be winters with large amounts of snow, and the variation between years will increase". This scenario represents the trend for Northern Europe, where the disrupting effects of climate change will outweigh the potential advantages (i.e. decrease in the demand for heating energy, increase in crop yields and forest growth). More information is available on Clim-ATIC website. More ...

16/12/2011

The State Government of Rio de Janeiro promotes the creation of the State Park of Pedra Selada

To coincide with the International Mountain Day, the State Institute for the Environment, Brazil (Instituto Estadual do Ambiente - INEA/SEA-RJ) promoted on 7 December 2011 a public meeting in the Municipality of Resende aimed to discuss the creation of the State Park of Pedra Selada (PEPS). The park will encompass around 8.100 hectares, including the Pedra Selada Peak, 1,755 metres high, one of the most astonishing natural sceneries in the region. With PEPS, the state government of Rio de Janeiro aims to ensure on the one hand, the preservation of an invaluable natural patrimony, and secondly, to reinforce the primary economic vocation of the region, that is the tourism, by offering numerous attractions to the visitors. More information is available in Portuguese on the INEA website. More ...

15/12/2011

SHARE GeoNetwork – data and information on high altitude

SHARE GeoNetwork, a catalogue including metadata, spatial data and geographic information on high altitude environments, is online. SHARE GeoNetwork has been developed by Ev-K2-CNR with the support of Italian and international research institutions, in the context of the programme Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment (SHARE). As stated by negotiators during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, more data on climate change related effects are needed, which could lead to a better understanding of the phenomena and to the creation of sound environmental policies. SHARE GeoNetwork is intended to contribute to this end, by compiling data and information coming from the network of stations at high altitude set up by the SHARE programme as well as from other sources. To have a try please visit: www.geonetwork.evk2cnr.org or www.evk2cnr.org. More ...

14/12/2011

Adding mountain-related language to Rio+20: meetings of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in New York

From 14 to 16 December 2011, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat participated in meetings in New York looking to forge a common understanding on including mountain development in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) preparatory process and the Conference itself. The first meeting was the Mountain Focus Group. The second meeting was the United Nations Workshop on Partnerships. More ...

13/12/2011

New information on mountain ecosystems highlights need for investment, adaptation and resilience

As the world celebrated UN International Mountain Day on 11 December, new information released by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), a global mechanism of 14 international organizations, institutions and secretariats, called for greater investment in fragile mountain ecosystems and attention to adaptation issues. More ...

08/12/2011

Celebrations of the IMD in Austria - 16 December 2011

To mark the celebrations of the International Mountain Day (IMD), UNEP Vienna – Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention is facilitating the organization of the event “Why we care about mountains – from the Alps and the Carpathians to the Hindu-Kush Himalaya region”, which is taking place on 16 December 2011, 12.00 – 3.00 pm in the Vienna International Centre, Austria. Held in the context of the Mountain Partnership, the event will feature successful experiences of cooperation from the Alps, the Carpathians and other mountain regions. Keynote speeches by high-level representatives including the Austrian Development Agency, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management will be followed by a multi-media presentation of the Austrian mountaineer Theo Fritsche. Please note the deadline for registrations is by 14 December 2011. More ...

07/12/2011

`Mountain Day’ at COP17 Calls for Urgent Actions to Save the World’s Mountain Ecosystems

A ‘Mountain Day’ event was held on 4 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa on the sideline of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is the first time that a Mountain Day was held in the framework of a UNFCCC COP. The event was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in close collaboration with global and regional partners, including GIZ, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). With more than 100 participants from all the mountains of the globe, the day was intended to highlight the need to preserve mountain ecosystems, which play a critical role in climate adaptation and sustainable development. A draft ‘Call for Action’ was prepared to convey this message of mountains regions to a broader audience. More ...

06/12/2011

SWOMM 2011 – 13 December 2011, Ministry for Infrastructures and Transport of Italy

The seventh Scientific Workshop on Mountain Mobility and Transport (SWOMM) will be held on 13 December 2011 at the EUR headquarters of the Ministry for Infrastructures and Transport of Italy in Rome. SWOMM 2011 is organized by the Italian Ministry for Environment and Transport with the support of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and EURAC Academy. This year, it will focus on rail transport in mountains and in particular in the Alps, with reference both to freight and passengers’ traffic. SWOMM 2011 is promoted in the context of the Project of TRANSITECTS, co-funded by the European Territorial Cooperation Programme “Alpine Space”. More information, including the agenda and registration form is available online. More ...

05/12/2011

Mountain Research and Development, Volume 31, Issue 4 available online and open access

The “energy crisis” has been defined as one of the key issues of a “green economy” and is therefore on the agenda of the Earth Summit Rio +20. This issue of MRD is the third in 10 years that is devoted to sustainable production and use of energy in mountain areas (see also MRD 26.2 and MRD 21.1). It aims at contributing to the debate about how mountains are affected by the global energy crisis and whether the crisis might offer opportunities for mountain communities. The 6 papers devoted to the energy theme in this issue—1 MountainDevelopment, 3 MountainResearch, and 2 MountainNotes papers—cover a broad range of topics, thus reflecting the multidimensional challenge that mountain communities face today in light of the global energy crisis. The papers also highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the human–energy–environment nexus and for approaches that take into account the increasing connectedness between the energy situation at the local, national, and global levels. Apart from these papers on the ‘‘global energy crisis,’’ this issue of MRD contains several other articles dealing with issues of relevance to mountains and mountain communities. More ...

05/12/2011

Partnering to Protect Mountain Ecosystems from the Vagaries of Climate Change (UNFCCC COP17, Durban, South Africa)

Seeking to highlight the critical role mountain ecosystems play in climate adaptation and sustainable development, Mountain Day was held on 4 December 2011 during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Durban, South Africa. Two high-level panels of ministers and decision-makers advocated the value and role of mountains. In the afternoon, parallel working sessions were held on: Mountains, Climate Change from Scientific Evidence to Policy and Adaptation; and Mountains and Adaptation – Challenges and Opportunities with a Vision of Rio+20. Mountain Day 2011 was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS). More ...

02/12/2011

Mountain Partnership Coordinator attends UNFCCC COP17 in Durban

Dear Mountain Friends,

I will be attending the UNFCCC COP17 in Durban from 2 to 7 December 2011

On 4 December, I will participate in International Mountain Day delivering a presentation on "Climate Change Adaptation in Mountains" at the Breakers Resort in Durban

You are welcome to contact me, as I will be available for meetings. Please send me an email at Olman.Serrano(at)fao.org


Warm regards,

Olman Serrano
Mountain Partnership Coordinator More ...

22/11/2011

Climate Summit for a Living Himalaya

Climate change poses severe threats to Himalayan nations. With 24 of its 2674 glacial lakes considered unstable, the Kingdom of Bhutan alone is preparing for an increase in "mountain tsunamis", as the phenomenon is often referred to. The one occurred in 1994 caused dozens of people dead. Further to the Climate Summit for a Living Himalaya held in Bhutan’s capital Thimpu on 19 November, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan agreed to cooperate on energy, water, food and ecosystem and disaster management. Members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calculate that the melting of the Himalayan glaciers will cause water supply problems for some 750 million people.
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18/11/2011

Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Development in Mountain Regions

There is still very limited awareness, let alone concern, at the global-level of the impacts caused by climate change in mountain ecosystems. The information available generally focuses on retreating glaciers. While the perception may be one of regions with low population density in a harsh environment, the reality is magnitudes of people are affected directly and indirectly by changes in mountain environments. Within the framework of the “Strategic Initiative for Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Development in Mountain Regions”, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has organized three regional meetings in Chile, Tajikistan and Uganda with support of the World Bank. Click to find all the relevant material. More ...

25/10/2011

Towards Rio+20 - contributions about mountain issues for the compilation document - Deadline Reminder!

Join the Mountain Partnership community in the campaign to ensure that mountain issues receive their strongly deserved attention in the Rio+20 agenda. An important World Mountain Conference recently concluded in Lucerne, Switzerland. Its Call for Action could provide important elements to ensure mountains be included in the Rio+20 Summit. The Mountains for the World Call to Action is available online in English, French and Spanish. On the Road to Rio+20, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat urges its Members and Friends to include, in your submission to the UNCSD Rio+20 Summit, a message emphasizing the importance of mountain regions and highlighting how your efforts relate to the Green Economy, public-private partnerships and/or food security. The aim of this campaign is to give voice to each mountain region and to assure that sustainable mountain development is endorsed within international negotiations. Don't miss... the 1 November 2011 deadline for the submission of inputs and contributions to the compilation document. This will serve as basis for the preparation of a zero draft of the outcome document for Rio+20. Submissions must sent electronically to the Rio+20 Secretariat. More information is available at http://www.uncsd2012.org/inputs.

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24/10/2011

Natural Hazards Mitigation: Prediction and Assessment: Call for Papers

The Kamla Raja Girls Government Post - Graduate College, Gwalior (Madhya, Pradesh in India) has opened a Call for papers to contribute to a book titled 'Natural Hazards Mitigation: Prediction and Assessment'. The frequency and intensity of natural hazards are increasing at an alarming rate due to climate change and man-induced activities. Meanwhile, mitigation measures are still lagging behind. It is a high time to work together and to bring a draft on mitigation measures - predictions and preventions for natural hazards for the larger interest of humanity. Highly scientific articles (of case studies) will cover all aspects of natural hazards terrestrial, atmospheric and manmade. The noble deed behind this publication is to provide detail descriptions of natural and manmade hazards and measures for its mitigation. Submissions are requested for article(s) on the following theme and sub-themes terrestrial hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, tectonic movements, atmospheric hazards: avalanches, landslides, debris-flow, mass movement, flash-floods, cloudbursts, droughts, cyclones, typhoons, tornadoes and so forth; manmade hazards: forest fire, pollution, slums and health hazards, desertification, etc; mitigation: prediction, assessment. Contributions should be submitted as soon as possible for review by email to sati.vp@gmail.com.
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21/10/2011

Green Economy for Sustainable Mountain Development: A Concept Paper for Rio+20 and Beyond

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has released a new publication titled ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Mountain Development: A Concept Paper for Rio+20 and Beyond’. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20), to be held in June 2012, will have green economy as one of its two main themes. This paper was prepared to strengthen arguments for discussing mountain issues at Rio+20 and in other global discourses. The aim is to ensure renewed efforts and commitment by the global community at Rio+20 to prioritise mountain issues in development agendas and processes dealing with poverty reduction, food security, climate change, and other issues that are critical to sustainable development in mountain areas. The paper is the outcome of three day deliberations among key stakeholders at the International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development, jointly organised by the ICIMOD and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Kathmandu, Nepal from 5 to 7 September 2011. Printed copies are available from ICIMOD's Distribution Unit and the full publication can also be downloaded from ICIMOD Books Online.

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19/10/2011

2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development

Today during the 37th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy the “2012 World Development Report on Gender Equality and Development� key findings were presented and followed by an open debate with a Q&A. The authors of the Report use a conceptual framework to examine progress to date, and then recommend policy actions. The Report finds that the lives of girls and women around the world have improved radically over the past quarter century, but gaps remain in many areas. The pace of change has been astonishing in some areas, but in others, progress toward gender equality has been limited — even in developed countries. Improvements in women’s education and health have been linked to better outcomes for their children in mountainous countries such as Nepal and Pakistan. In India giving power to women at the local level has led to increases in the provision of public goods, such as water and sanitation. Reduction in fertility in developing mountainous countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia and the Islamic Republic of Iran contributed to the increase of women participation in paid works. This year's Report argues that gender equality is a core development objective in its own right. It is also smart economics. Greater gender equality can enhance productivity, improve development outcomes for the next generation, and make institutions more representative. The Report also focuses on four priority areas for policy going forward: (i) reducing excess female mortality and closing education gaps where they remain, (ii) improving access to economic opportunities for women (iii) increasing women's voice and agency in the household and in society and (iv) limiting the reproduction of gender inequality across generations. The full report and related materials are available online. More ...

17/10/2011

World Food Day 2011: Global Hunger Index and the hunger situation in mountainous countries

The 2011 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report was recently released. This report, prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) presents a multidimensional of global, regional and national hunger, calls for action to build resilience and mitigate the effects of volatility, particularly in countries where hunger is most severe. Of the 59 countries with serious, alarming and extremely alarming GHI scores, around 28 are characterized by mountainous territory. According to the report, since 1990 a dramatic increase in hunger has occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moreover, mountainous countries such as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Yemen are concerned by an alarming level of hunger. The GHI report also reveals a serious hunger situation in Bolivia, Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The full report is available online. More ...

16/10/2011

Food Prices - From Crisis to Stability - World Food Day 2011

Taming food prices. Millions of people around the world live in chronic hunger. When food prices fluctuate wildly as they have in recent years, it's the poor who are hit the hardest. World Food Day 2011 calls on the global community to do what's needed to stabilize food prices. More ...

14/10/2011

Lucerne World Mountain Conference: Closing and Call for Action

The Lucerne World Mountain Conference closes with a "Call for Action" to bring a conjunct strong message to Rio+20 in June 2012. Twenty years after the Rio 1992 meeting, over 100 participants joined to meet in Lucerne, Switzerland to make a compelling case for mountains in international development discussions. A source of fresh water for half of the earth’s population, mountains open the way for concrete means to reduce poverty, overcome food insecurity and enhance international - often transboundary - cooperation with benefits for all. “If the Earth was one country, would we accept such pollution? If the Earth was one country, would we accept such inequalities? If the Earth was our country: that is the Rio spirit.” Brice Lalonde, former Minister for Environment in France and Executive Coordinator for Rio+20, thus inspired the two-day discussions in Lucerne. “At an international level, Rio+20 will provide a great momentum for the world to share common aspirational goals and visions”, explained Mr Lalonde. “Since mountains are transboundary and interdisciplinary, the key entry in Rio+20 could be about cooperation in mountain regions at all scales”, he said. As shown in a number of regional reports - ranging from the Andes to the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya - presented at the Conference, mountains could fuel the debate in all the relevant sectors of Rio+20: water, energy, food security, planet monitoring, social issues (with employment, education and culture) and disaster risk preparedness. Read the full Call for Action on the conference website. More ...

13/10/2011

Bhutan's Royal Wedding

The tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has been experiencing royal wedding fever. On 13 October 2011, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck was married to his commoner bride, Jetsun Pema. The lavish ceremony took place in front of a giant Buddha statue and began with a procession of red-robed monks, the chants of welcome, the clanging of drums and the drone of long trumpets. Celebrations, which were broadcast live on state television for the country's 700,000 inhabitants, began at 8:20am local time (2:20am GMT) - a moment deemed auspicious by royal astrologers. Amidst colorful ceremonies showcasing the rich Buddhist culture and tradition, His Majesty the King crowned Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck making her his bride at the Puna Dewai Chenpoi Phodrang in the 17th century Punakha Dzong. The wedding celebrations took place in the presence of His Holiness the Je Khenpo, His Majesty the Fourth King, Their Majesties the Queen Mothers, other members of the royal family and the Yab and Yum of the Royal Bride. While there were no heads of state or other royal families present, thousands of members of the public attended. The wedding has been keenly anticipated in the tiny mountainous kingdom. Posters, commemorative plates and a badge were produced and widely available across Bhutan for the occasion, according to reports. Moreover, as part of activities to celebrate the royal wedding, the agriculture machinery centre travelled around the entire length and breadth of the country providing free repair and maintenance service for farm machinery. More ...

13/10/2011

Lucerne World Mountain Conference: Closing and Call for Action

The Lucerne World Mountain Conference closes with a "Call for Action" to bring a conjunct strong message to Rio+20 in June 2012. Twenty years after the Rio 1992 meeting, over 100 participants joined to meet in Lucerne, Switzerland to make a compelling case for mountains in international development discussions. A source of fresh water for half of the earth’s population, mountains open the way for concrete means to reduce poverty, overcome food insecurity and enhance international - often transboundary - cooperation with benefits for all. “If the Earth was one country, would we accept such pollution? If the Earth was one country, would we accept such inequalities? If the Earth was our country: that is the Rio spirit.” Brice Lalonde, former Minister for Environment in France and Executive Coordinator for Rio+20, thus inspired the two-day discussions in Lucerne. “At an international level, Rio+20 will provide a great momentum for the world to share common aspirational goals and visions”, explained Mr Lalonde. “Since mountains are transboundary and interdisciplinary, the key entry in Rio+20 could be about cooperation in mountain regions at all scales”, he said. As shown in a number of regional reports - ranging from the Andes to the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya - presented at the Conference, mountains could fuel the debate in all the relevant sectors of Rio+20: water, energy, food security, planet monitoring, social issues (with employment, education and culture) and disaster risk preparedness. Read the full Call for Action on the conference website. More ...

11/10/2011

Publication Launch - Highlands and drylands: Mountains, a source of resilience in arid regions

During the tenth session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP10) - scheduled to convene from 10 to 21 October in Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea - an event will be held to launch a new publication entitled "Highlands and Drylands: Mountains, a source of resilience in arid regions" published by FAO, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, UNCCD, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern (CDE), with the support of an international group of experts. The publication launch event will take place in the Main Committee Room (Plenary of the High-level Meetings) on Monday, 17 October from 13:30 to 15:00. The event will be opened by Mr Luc Gnacadja -Executive Secretary, UNCCD. The other speakers include Nora Berrahmouni (FAO), Sergio Zelaya (UNCCD), Hanspeter Liniger (CDE/WOCAT), and Thomas Schaaf (UNESCO) as well as several other High-level Ministers and NGO/CSO representatives. Dryland Mountains are of great strategic value to regional and global development. They provide 90% of the freshwater supply to surrounding dry lowlands. More than a quarter of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and six out of eight Vavilov Centres of Diversity are found in Dryland Mountains. Yet these mountain regions are under increasing threat to climate change and unsustainable forms of land use, including mining and tourism. The UNCCD and the Mountain Partnership both provide important frameworks to mobilize governments, international agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders for greater attention and support. This publication presents the socio-economy and environment of Dryland Mountains, the current threats they face, and good practices in sustainable development. In concludes with key messages for policy- and decision-makers. More ...

11/10/2011

Lucerne World Mountain Conference (11-12 October 2011): Identifying challenges and opportunities for the future of global sustainable mountain development

Lucerne, 11 October 2011 – More than 100 participants representing governments, non-governmental organizations, academia, civil society, politics, business and the United Nations system will look to sharpen the profile of mountains on the international agenda during the Lucerne World Mountain Conference, a two-day meeting starting today in Lucerne (Switzerland). More ...

11/10/2011

Conferencia Mundial de Lucerna sobre las Montañas (11-12 de octubre de 2011): Determinación de los retos y oportunidades para el futuro del desarrollo sostenible mundial de las montañas

Lucerna, 11 de octubre de 2011 – Más de 100 representantes de gobiernos, organizaciones no gubernamentales, universidades, la sociedad civil, la política, negocios y el sistema de las Naciones Unidas tratarán de destacar la presencia de las regiones de montaña en la agenda internacional durante la Conferencia Mundial de Lucerna sobre las Montañas, una reunión de dos días que comienza hoy en Lucerna (Suiza). More ...

11/10/2011

Conférence internationale sur les régions de montagne à Lucerne (11-12 octobre 2011): Identifier les défis et les opportunités futurs en matière de développement durable dans les régions de montagne dans le monde

Lucerne, le 11 octobre 2011 - Plus de 100 participants représentant les gouvernements, les organisations non gouvernementales, le monde universitaire, la société civile, les politiques, le monde des affaires et le système des Nations Unies vont se rencontrer pour affiner le profil des montagnes sur l'agenda international lors de la Conférence de Lucerne sur les montagnes du monde entier, une réunion de deux jours qui débute aujourd'hui à Lucerne (Suisse). More ...

07/10/2011

Nepal launches Great Himalayan Trail: An arduous trek stretching 1,700 kilometres (1,050-miles)

Nepal has officially opened its section of the Great Himalaya Trail, one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) spans the entire length of the country - from Kanchenjunga in the East to Humla in the West - and will provide a significant boost to the tourism industry and its associated support sectors by channeling tourists and investment into under-developed regions. "This is a completely new product and we hope that it will help boost the tourism industry," said Sharad Pradhan, a spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board. Winding beneath the world’s highest peaks and visiting some of the most remote communities on earth, it passes through lush green valleys, arid high plateaus and incredible landscapes. Nepal’s GHT has 10 sections comprising a network of upper and lower routes, each offering you something different, be it adventure and exploration, authentic cultural experiences, or simply spectacular Himalayan nature. Requiring relatively low levels of capital investment, tourism can yield high levels of employment and income for the poor, particularly in rural areas where biodiversity and indigenous cultures have not yet been significantly eroded. The living standards of these communities can be enhanced by infra-structure development, social mobilization, institutional development, education, skills training and support for entrepreneurs. Adventurers who complete the 1,700-kilometre (1,050-mile) trek will encounter a huge variety of cultures from the mainly Buddhist Tamang people of the central Langtang region to the ancient animist practices that mix with Hinduism in the far west. It will take experienced trekkers around five months to complete, although it can also be broken down into smaller sections. Find out how the trail will bring economic opportunities to poor and marginalized communities across Nepal's scenic mountain districts by taking a virtual tour of the trail at the official GHT website. More ...

05/10/2011

Lucerne World Mountain Conference (11-12 October 2011)

Participants at this conference will discuss regional and global experiences in mountain development since Rio 1992. The results of the Conference will produce insights that will feed into initiatives and events such as the UN Secretary General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP), the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20), and the CSD biennal cycle 20/21 in 2013 and 2014, where mountains will be one of the five priority themes, as well as into other global sustainable development processes. Among the themes debated will be the role, in mountains, of green economy and institutional frameworks for sustainable developement and poverty alleviation. More ...

04/10/2011

Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change

Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change is an exhibit being held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Indian (NMAI) in Washington DC (USA) from 22 July 2011 to 2 January 2012. It is a premiere installation of Conversations with the Earth (CWE) - an indigenous-led initiative that amplifies indigenous voices in the global discourse on climate change. This exhibition — the first of its kind devoted to indigenous science — provides a Native perspective on global climate change. Through photographs, video and audio of tribal communities from the Arctic to Brazil, the environmental impact of pollution is found in the stories of imposed mitigation and its consequences on local livelihoods. On 4 October 2011, a Webcast symposium entitled "Seeking Balance: Indigenous Knowledge, Western Science and Climate Change" will be held. It will be a special day of events with CWE and indigenous partners from around the world with conversations between practitioners of both indigenous and western science seeking to address climate and environmental challenges facing the planet. The event is being co-hosted by NMAI, CWE, Indigenous Peoples' Climate Change Assessment (IPCCA) and The Christensen Fund and will feature CWE's indigenous partners, climate solutions advocates and representatives from NASA and the US EPA. Conversations with the Earth offers the voices of the Earth's traditional stewards in the search for a viable response to the challenges of climate change. In the words of Inupiat leader Patricia Cochran, chair of the Indigenous Peoples Global summit on Climate Change, "We are a harbinger of what is to come, what the rest of the world can expect". More ...

30/09/2011

Second World Landslide Forum: Putting science into practice

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will be hosting the Second World Landslide Forum (WLF) from 3 to 7 October in Rome, Italy. The Forum has the objective to further develop the outcomes of the First Forum (Tokyo, 2008) by providing a global cross-cutting information and cooperation platform for all types of organizations representing academia, UN organizations, governments, private enterprises and individuals that contribute to landslide research, practice, education and decision-making and are willing to strengthen landslide and other related Earth system risk reduction strategies. The emphasis will be "Putting science into practice" with special attention given to actual implementation of technology and research in everyday applications and procedures with the direct involvement of researchers, engineers, private enterprises, stakeholders as well as policy- and decision- makers. Topical and thematic sessions are envisaged on: Landslides and global change; Emerging technologies in landslide research and practice; Advances in landslide mapping and hazard assessment; Landslide risk assessment and management; Impact of landslides; Landslide awareness; as well as other thematic and general topics. The Landslides, land-use systems and food security session will have high participation from mountainous regions. More ...

28/09/2011

FAO-OECD Expert Meeting on Greening the Economy with Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is collaborating with partners to analyze existing information and develop possible scenarios for Greening the Economy with Agriculture (GEA), including an evaluation of sustainability progress and gaps in the food supply chain to project food supply and demand towards 2050. In order to address these scenarios a joint FAO and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting was held at its headquarters in Paris, France from 5 to 7 September 2011. The participation of select experts, in particular from developing countries, was facilitated by FAO. The meeting’s agenda items included low footprint and productive food and agriculture systems; decent rural livelihoods, green jobs and land tenure; resilience to shocks of low-carbon food systems; quality and health of green food; and policy coherence for GEA. The Mountain Partnership Secretariat also contributed to the meeting by providing FAO experts with a text on mountain systems that was included in the working documents for the preparation of "Food availability and natural resource use in a green economy context" GEA paper. This framework was presented by Ms Nadia Scialabba, Senior Environment and Sustainable Development Officer with FAO during the meeting in Paris. More ...

27/09/2011

Establishment of Altai Trans-boundary Reserve

On 15 September 2011, Ministers of the Russian Federation and Republic of Kazakhstan officially signed an intergovernmental agreement regarding the establishment of the Trans-boundary Reserve “Altai” on the basis of Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve in Russia and Katon-Karagaiskiy National Park in Kazakhstan. The signed agreement is based on the six-years of consultations and negotiations with various stakeholders, and finally it designates two protected areas as international trans-boundary protected area (TBPA). This event is considered to be the first practical step towards the establishment of a four-lateral TBPA in the Altai, involving Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. At the same time, the official agreement opens the door to prepare the nomination of the bilateral TBPA into the UNESCO World network biosphere reserves.

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26/09/2011

In Memoriam of the ''Tree Lady" Wangari Maathai

Kenyan social activist and environmental crusader, Wangari Maathai, passed away on 25 September in Kenya. She was the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. The Green Belt Movement, which she founded in 1977, has planted an estimated 45 million trees around Kenya to combat deforestation that often deepens poverty. Professor Maathai worked with women to improve their livelihoods by increasing their access to resources like firewood for cooking and clean water. She became a great advocate for better management of natural resources and for sustainability, equity, and justice. The 71-year-old is seen as a hero for her campaigns to stop deforestation around the capital, Nairobi and across Africa, where she pushed for trees to be planted by schools, church groups, government offices and ordinary citizens. She fought tirelessly against corrupt governments' attempts to grab land and tear down forests. In 2004, Prof Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for such work and her unique forms of brave action. More ...

26/09/2011

Call for submission of Multimedia Materials on Mountains and Green Economy

To raise awareness of the importance of mountainous areas in a Green Economy context, and to provide concrete examples of how the world's mountain regions are contributing to the green economy, several members of the Mountain Partnership have agreed to join efforts to produce the annual issue of the Mountain Forum Bulletin. This issue is dedicated to 'Mountains and the Green Economy' and is being coordinated under the lead of the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andes (CONDESAN). It will include a compilation of contributions covering different aspects related to a Green Economy in various mountain regions from around the world. The publication will include articles and images, as well as video clips. This Mountain Forum Bulletin will be available in its new format by the end of November 2011, (Vol XI Issue 1. As a joint effort of CONDESAN, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, UNEP, ICIMOD, UCA, MRD and MRI, the 2011 issue of the MF Bulletin will be published in Web 2.0 format and mini-CD format for mass dissemination. The deadline for expression of interest is 30 September 2011 and the last day to make a submission of multimedia materials is 12 October 2011. Further details are available on the Mountain Forum website.
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20/09/2011

Powerful quake rocks the Himalayas - India, Nepal and Tibet

A strong earthquake measuring 6.9 on the richter scale shook northeastern India and Nepal on Sunday evening, 18 September 2011. The earthquake, which triggered landslides, wrecking buildings and sent people fleeing into the streets of Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, and other cities, initially struck a remote part of the Himalayas at the eastern tip of Nepal. Its epicentre was in India's mountainous Sikkim state. At least 81 deaths have been reported by the quake, while hundreds were injured besides causing extensive damage to buildings and roads. In India, the quake rattled the entire eastern region of Bengal, the North-eastern states of Jharkhand and Bihar and was felt as far away as New Delhi - more than 700 miles to the west, and Rajasthan. According to R. S. Dattatreyan of the Indian seismology office, the quake was followed by two strong aftershocks of magnitude 6.1 and 5.3. The region has been hit by major earthquakes in the past, including in 1950 and 1897. More ...

19/09/2011

Mountain Research and Development - available online and open access

In the newest issue of Mountain Research and Development (MRD) three papers focus on water resources and water management issues in the Indus Basin—one of the largest watersheds in the world, with well over 200 million people in the lower basin depending on the water from headwaters shared by China, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Further papers focus on other natural resources in mountains around the world, on their dynamics, on the impact of human use and human needs of these resources, and on conservation issues. The full MRD Volume 31, Issue 3 is available online and is open access.

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16/09/2011

Juniper bush - disappearance in the Himalayas discovered by Mountain Institute expedition

During a recent expedition to Imja Lake, Nepal, in the Himalayas, scientists of the Mountain Institute (TMI) discovered evidence that Jupiter bushes are disappearing. This phenomenon is a “disaster in making”, which will cause extreme problems to Himalayan ecosystems. The high terrain surrounding the lake, near the hill behind the village of Dingboche, that is traditionally covered with juniper , is now bare. Juniper bushes are one of the few plants that can thrive at these heights, and, in turn they help hold the soil together. The expedition registered on the trek to Dingboche that several cliffs are scoured by recent landslides. Much of the juniper bushes have been cut down for firewood, due to an increased need for fuel in order to feed the hundreds of tourists passing through Dingboche during the trekking season (in Khumbu, Nepal). Juniper bushes are extremely slow-growing and it will take decades before the slope is covered again, if ever. More ...

14/09/2011

Famous Italian Climber Walter Bonatti dead at 81

The mountaineering world is mourning the death of the legendary Italian climber Walter Bonatti. He died of cancer in Rome aged 81. As one of the world’s most important climbers, Bonatti was a pioneer of little known and technically difficult routes, particularly in the Alps, the Himalayas and Patagonia in the 1950s and 60s. After participating in the first ascent to the summit of K2, the world's second-highest peak, Bonatti was involved in a long-lasting controversy, receiving belated recognition for his essential contribution to the expedition. Following a disaster in the Alps, he was awarded by the French Legion d’Honneur. Bonatti was also an explorer and a journalist who published numerous books about his adventures. More ...

13/09/2011

"Environment for Europe" Ministerial Conference - Kazakhstan

The Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference will take place from 21 to 23 September 2011 in Astana, Kazakhstan, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Environmental Policy. The two main themes for the Conference are Sustainable management of water and water-related ecosystems; and Greening the Economy: mainstreaming the environment into economic development. The “Environment for Europe” process provides a high-level platform for environmental discussions for stakeholders from member States, intergovernmental organizations, regional environmental centres, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other major groups across the 56 countries of the UNECE region. The Astana Ministerial Conference is expected to address identified environmental issues of common concern, with a focus on the Central Asian sub-region. More ...

13/09/2011

Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development: Kathmandu Declaration

The “International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development: Opportunities and Challenges in View of Rio+20,” organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), took place in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 5 to 7 September 2011. Participants, 150 policy makers, scientists and development experts from the world’s mountain region - including Olman Serrano, Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat - contributed to the “Kathmandu Declaration on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development.” The “Kathmandu Declaration” aims to raise the attention on mountain systems, in particular those of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, with a view to the Rio+20 discussions. More ...

07/09/2011

Global research call on Climate Change

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) launched its second global research call. CDKN supports developing countries to deliver climate compatible development, offering advice and technical assistance, cutting-edge research, strategic knowledge sharing and partnership building. CDKN seeks to fund research of the highest scientific standards aimed to provide a robust evidence-base for decision-making. The call will cover two themes: Climate Compatible Development (with a focus on policies and processes) and Climate-related Disaster Risk Management and Resilience. The closing date for applications is Monday, 24 October 2011 by 17:00 (UK time, GMT+1). More ...

07/09/2011

Rio+20 – Share your Mountain pictures!

A call has been launched to upload pictures on sustainable development on the Rio+20 website. Through the Rio+20 process world leaders have the opportunity to create a new paradigm of sustainable lifestyles. Ensuring that our future needs can be met, and balancing our consumption with the environmental limits of the planet, is a collective effort that will impact all levels of society. What do you think that will look like? How would your life be different under a new paradigm of sustainability? What aspects of a sustainable lifestyle would you enjoy? Take this opportunity to share your views and raise awareness on sustainable mountain development by uploading your MOUNTAIN pictures! More ...

04/08/2011

MRD: Call for papers on "Green Economy and Livelihoods in Mountains"

The Mountain Research and Development (MRD) has launched a call for papers focused on how a Green Economy can enhance livelihoods in mountain regions. The papers will contribute to the preparatory process for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD also known as the Earth Summit 2012 or “Rio+20”). The 2012 Earth Summit strives to include ‘Green Economy’ in the broader context of sustainable development. The papers will serve to explore potentials and challenges of a Green Economy for enhancing livelihoods and alleviating poverty in mountains. The deadline to submit abstracts and working titles is 28 August 2011; full papers are due by 31 October 2011. Further details about the call for papers are available online. More ...

02/08/2011

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) call for news

The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) has made a call to for contributions to prepare their next August Newsflashes. These targeted Newsflashes will be sent out to the three MRI networks for Europe, South Eastern European (SEEmore) and Science for the Carpathians (S4C). Brief submissions with information on the latest ideas, proposals, projects, results, sites, networks, events and publications are welcomed. Items for the MRI Europe and for the SEEmore NewsFlash can be sent to astrid.bjoernsen@uibk.ac.at as soon as possible and by latest 19 August 2011. Items for the S4C NewsFlash may be forwarded to Yurii Bihun (shelterwoodsystems@comcast.net) by 15 August 2011. Please include your name, institution and group along with your email address. More ...

02/08/2011

Family Faming World Conference: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth

The IV World Conference of the Association for Development World Rural Forum (WRF) on "Family Farming. Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth" will take place from 5 to 7 October 2011 in Bilbaou, Spain at the Euskalduna Conference Centre. The Conference will gather together representatives of agricultural organizations, associations linked to Rural Development, NGO, food companies and cooperatives, public authorities and research centres. Family Farming is considered a key tool to combat hunger and poverty as well as a means for promoting integral development of nations. In addition to providing a discussion forum, the world conference will also serve as a platform to suggest policies for rural areas based on the explicit recognition of Family Farming, with the final aim to have a specific declaration ratified by the participants. More ...

01/08/2011

UNESCO conference calls for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate change

On 28 June, some 280 high-level experts from 80 countries attending an international conference in Dresden, Germany approved a declaration claiming for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate change. The two-day conference was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the German Ministry for the Environment, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the German Commission for UNESCO. This important event marked the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO programme "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB), which fully endorsed the Dresden Declaration. The UNESCO MAB Programme and the network of "UNESCO biosphere reserves" work towards synergizing ecology, economy and social development. More ...

29/07/2011

Water issues in the Andes - CONDESAN radio broadcasts

Five short radio broadcasts on water issues in the Andes are now on the website of Consorcio para el Desarollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina (CONDESAN). The broadcasts have been developed by CONDESAN with the support of the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and of the Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) in the context of the Programme Diálogo Andino. Each broadcast involves different actors of the Andean basin to discuss water issues from different points of view, with the aim to find common solutions. They examined themes such as water and environmental systems, payment for hydrological ecosystem services, governance and management of the hydrological ecosystem services, forestation and water. The broadcasts are directed to decision makers, communities, NGOs and interested stakeholders in the Andean system of Basins. More ...

29/07/2011

International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development

The International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development – Opportunities and Challenges in View of Rio+20 will be held from 5-7 September in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is a collaborative initiative of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to bring together international, regional and national experts together with policy makers to discuss the relevance and scope of Green Economy in the context of sustainable mountain development. The conference will seek strategies, approaches and options for enhancing the role and prominence of mountain systems in regional and international debates and discussions. The outputs will feed into the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as the Earth Summit 2012 or Rio+20. More ...

26/07/2011

Innovation in mountain areas: 4th European Biennial of Mountain Regions

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vosges is organizing the 4th European Biennial of Mountain Regions, which will take place from 13 to 14 October 2011 in Gérardmer (Vosges), France. The focus will be on "Innovation in mountain areas". Various threats undermine European mountain regions, i.e. climate change, land pressure, demographic deficit and reduction of public funds. Mountain areas must be innovative in order to be attractive in a highly competitive Europe. This international event will bring together key economic players from all European mountain ranges and will organise conferences and round tables offering concrete solutions to mountain representatives. More information, including the agenda and the registration form, is available online. More ...

26/07/2011

Opportunity to collaborate with the ICCA Consortium

The Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCA) Consortium is seeking applicants for the positions of Regional and Global Coordinators. The incumbents will work with the Steering Committee, ICCA Consortium Members and honorary members to implement the 2011-2014 Work-programme of the Consortium, to develop on the outcomes from a side event held at CBD COP1O in Nagoya, Japan and strengthen networking activities. The Coordinator positions involve some fascinating and engaging tasks with minimal financial compensation. The terms of reference, including more detailed information, is available on line. The deadline to receive applications is by 20 August 2011 and activities are to begin in October 2011. More ...

22/07/2011

Vacancies: MSRC at UCA, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – by 10 August 2011

The Mountain Societies Research Centre (MSRC) is seeking a Director and Senior Research Scientist. The MSRC was recently established at the University of Central Asia (UCA) to generate, disseminate and promote the application of knowledge for the development of the countries in Central Asia. Their societies focus on mountain areas of the MSRC’s research agenda and include topics of economy, environmental change and natural resource governance, natural hazards and disaster risk management, health status and services, green energy and cultural heritage. More information about the vacancies is available at the link below. Please note the deadline for applications is by 8 August 2011. The positions will begin in the fall 2011. More ...

21/07/2011

Sun’s rays power Kyrgyz hospitals

From next month, five hospitals in remote mountainous provinces of Kyrgyzstan will start using solar panels to transform the sun’s rays into clean energy and hot water. The pilot project is sponsored by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and is implemented by the World Health Organisation. It is part of a programme called “Protecting health from climate change”, which covers seven countries in Southeast Europe and Central Asia. Hard accessibility (94 per cent of national territory is in the mountains), combined with scarce and old infrastructures cause regular disruptions to power and water supplies. With more than 300 sunny days a year, Kyrgyzstan is in a perfect position to harness solar energy. More ...

21/07/2011

Map reveals UK Land Cover and habitat distributions

A new Land Cover Map in the UK has been launched. It provides a continuous coverage of habitat distributions across the countryside at a 25 m resolution. The map is the third produced by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Land and is based on a combination of satellite images and national scale digital mapping data. The map unveils that the largest habitats are improved grassland and arable and horticulture, covering 25% of the territory. These habitats are followed by semi-natural grassland (13%) and mountain, heath and bog (16%). An interesting figure is that for the broadleaved woodland habitat, which occupies up to 6%, the same space as urban areas. The Land Cover Map data can be obtained from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). More ...

14/07/2011

Call for Proposals: Review of and strategy development for communications and social learning in climate change

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), together with the Earth Science Partnership, has launched a call for proposals for a review of and strategy development for climate change communications and social learning in climate change. The objective of this call is to review both the current approaches to climate change communications and social learning that are applicable to the developing world and to develop a strategy for future CCAFS engagements in this area. Detailed terms of references and instructions for the application procedures are available on the CCAFS website. Please note the deadline for proposals is by 15 August 2011. More ...

13/07/2011

Study on 800-year-old tree rings backs global warming in the North American Cordillera

A study on tree rings in western North America gives evidence of global warming. The study has been carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Washington and published on Science. Scientists sampled thousands trees at 66 sites (including 800-year-old exemplars) in key runoff-generating areas of the Colorado, Columbia and Missouri River drainages. Using tree-rings chronologies, they reconstructed past snowpack levels. They discovered that unprecedented snowpack reductions occurred in the late 20th and early 21st centuries across the cordillera. The increasing role of warming on large-scale snowpack variability and trends foreshadows fundamental impacts on streamflow and water supplies in the Western USA. More ...

12/07/2011

Climate Change Programs and Policy Director at NCSE in Oakland, California, USA – send CVs by 15 August 2011

The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) in Oakland, California, USA, seeks a Climate Change Programs and Policy Director. Candidates must have at least a college degree, while advanced degrees, particularly in climate science or climate science education are pluses. Excellent communication skills, computer literacy (including the use of social media) and the ability to work cooperatively are necessary. The incumbent will be in charge of disseminating climate change related information by developing materials for print and web. He/She also give public speeches, network and maintain contact with journalists. The job includes providing advice and coordination to policymakers, advocacy groups, educators and scientists regarding climate change education. This is a full-time permanent position that will start as soon as possible. The deadline to submit a CV is by 15 August 2011. Further information is available on the NCSE website. More ...

11/07/2011

New book on Biological Diversity in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries now released

A new book titled ‘Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity: A retrospective analysis in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries’ by Bharat H. Desai, Krishna Prasad Oli, Yang Yongping, Nakul Chettri and Eklabya Sharma has been released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The book’s focus is on the progress made in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in the eight countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. The book concludes that all of these countries are making efforts to prioritize conservation while progressive conservation policies and legislation for management of biological resources in a participatory way have been developed. The publication is online and hard copies are available upon request. More ...

11/07/2011

1,190 Trees Planted in Lakhuri Banjyang, Nepal

On 25 June 2011, Asian Trekking and the Hotel Mount Monastery organized the 6th annual tree plantation event in Lakhuri Bhanjyang village (near Kathmandu), Nepal. Lakhuri Bhanjyang lies perched atop the pristine hill of Pokhari Thumko (2000 m) and has panoramic views of mountain peaks. The trail there passes through emerald rice fields and villages not yet touched by modernization. The staff of Asian Trekking and of the Hotel Mount Monastery, Media representatives, locals and school children planted 1,190 new trees. The plantation was carried out in the presence of the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Mr Madav Prasad Ghimire. Since 2003 a total of 4,790 trees have been planted and further plantations activities are planned for the upcoming weeks. This year the tree plantation event is particularly important as the planting coincides with the International Year of Forests (IYF). More ...

04/07/2011

Vacancy: Lead Scientist Oman – applications by 15 July 2011

The Earthwatch institute and Sultan Qaboos University are looking for a Lead Earthwatch scientist for Oman Earthwatch Programme. The incumbent will be working on the woodland research, restoration and regeneration conservation project for the Oman Earthwatch Programme. This role will require an extensive amount of travel. A 12 month rolling fixed term contract will be provided. If interested, please, submit a CV and covering letter to James Burton at smorris@earthwatch.org.uk. The application deadline is 15 July and interviews will be held on 9 and 10 August 2011. More information is available on the website. More ...

01/07/2011

Increased mining threats in World Heritage sites, IUCN warns

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) invites extractive industries and governments that licence their activities to commit to stopping all mining and oil/gas exploration and exploitation activities, which could damage the World Heritage Sites. IUCN states in a new World Heritage Advice Note that threats posed by planned mining and oil and gas projects particularly affect all 37 World Heritage Sites located in Africa. One in four African sites are in danger, which is a trend that has increased from 16 percent in 2009 to 24 percent. These sites included in the World Heritage List cover less than one percent of the Earth’s surfaces and should be considered of outstanding value to humanity, says Tim Badman, Director of IUCN’s World Heritage Programme. More ...

01/07/2011

Climate Change threatens a fragile ecosystem in the Andes

Recent studies by the Antioquia Engineering School in Colombia revealed the Páramo, a fragile ecosystem in the Andes, is extremely threatened by climate change. The Páramo is located above the highest part of the tree belt and the perpetual snow in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It is home to 5,000 species with 3,000 existing only there. The Páramo is also the source of fresh water to the Andean lowlands inhabitants. Climate change continues to pose increased threats to the survival of biodiversity and to the water supply for cities, such as Quito (Ecuador) and Bogotá (Colombia). The Antioquia Engineering School monitored the evolution of Páramo since 2004 and will continue to provide information aimed to develop adaptation measures. More ...

29/06/2011

International Conference on East Africa Mountains – 14 - 16 November 2011, Mbale, Uganda

From 14 to 16 November 2011, the International Conference on East Africa Mountains (ICEAM 201) will be held in Mbale, Uganda. The conference is being organized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the French Institute for Research in Africa (INFRA) Nairobi in cooperation with several universities (Makerere University Kampala, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Busitema University, University of Dar es Salaam). Mountain ecosystems of East Africa are home to many rivers, varied soil types and vegetation and are increasingly threatened by land pressure and climate change. This conference will bring together scientists, practitioners, policy makers and social workers in order to discuss appropriate policy and management issues of these areas. More ...

29/06/2011

UNESCO Educational Resource Kit for Mountainous Regions

An educational resource kit for mountainous regions has been produced by the UNESCO Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences and its Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB). The kit includes a manual for teachers and an activity book to teach pupils (from 10 to 15 years) about mountain environment and its specific issues through a fun and engaging approach. This kit has been designed as part of the activities for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014). Versions are being distributed in English and French by the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), which comprises nearly 9,000 schools in 180 countries. The kit is also available on line and other copies maybe requested by contacting the project team. More ...

27/06/2011

Graziano da Silva elected next FAO Director-General

FAO Members meeting in Rome elected the Brazilian José Graziano da Silva as Director-General on Sunday, 26 June 2011. Currently, FAO's Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean and Assistant Director-General, since 2006, he was involved in relevant programmes and initiatives for food security. After his election, da Silva thanked FAO staff and he spoke of his commitment to the organization renewal. Among his priorities are South-South cooperation, helping quicken the shift to sustainable food production and FAO’s governance for food and nutrition security. Graziano Da Silva will succeed Jacques Diouf, who steps down after 18 years in office. Da Silva will take office on 1 January 2012 and serve until 31 July 2015. He will be eligible for one additional mandate of four years. More ...

27/06/2011

Glacier retreats in Teesta basin, India study says

A study conducted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (India) in association with the Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has revealed glacier retreats in the Teesta basin (part of the Brahmaputra basin. According to the study in 1990, 34 glaciers once covered an area of 305 km2. But in 2004, the Teesta basin glacier was reduced by 4 km2 and 23 of the glaciers showed trends of retreat. The study, titled “Snow and Glaciers of the Himalayas”, aimed to find out the trend of the glaciers in the Indian Himalayan region over a period of four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08. According to experts, the loss of glacial cover may lead to dry rivers or floods in the area and, to prevent the retreat of glaciers, trees should be planted. More ...

23/06/2011

Call for case studies for a report on mountain forests worldwide – by 30 June 2011

Martin Price, UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Mountain Development, launched a request for case studies for a report on mountain forests worldwide he is coordinating. The report has been commissioned to the Institute of Forest Ecology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) and FAO by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to mark the occasion of the International Year of Forests 2011 and to ensure appropriate recognition of the world's mountain areas and their resources and people in the 2012 Rio+20 Earth Summit. More information is available at the link below. If you would like to contribute, please, send an email to forestreport@boku.ac.at by 30 June 2011, only a few days away. More ...

21/06/2011

RomaForest2011 Congress - 23-24 June 2011, Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome

The “RomaForest2011 Congress” will be held from 23 to 24 June 2011 at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy. This event aims to analyze and discuss the present and future role of forest resources within the socio-economic development of rural areas of European Countries. Invited speakers will share best practices, explore the opportunities provided by EU programmes and debate about weaknesses and threats related to the development of rural and mountain areas. Parallel sessions will focus on important challenges such as mitigation of climate change, conservation of biodiversity, energy production, water cycle management, desertification, prevention of natural risks and socio-economic aspects of forest-based rural development. More ...

21/06/2011

Special issue of special issue of Asia Pacific Mountain Courier on ‘Youth and Climate Change’ Vol. 12 No. 1 (2011) now online

A special issue of Asia Pacific Mountain Courier on ‘Youth and Climate Change’ Vol. 12 No. 1 (2011) is now online. The review highlights the significance of use of ‘Art’ in communicating climate change messages. Art in all its forms is a powerful means of communication, helping overcome barriers of language and culture, and providing a creative pathway for discussions on global problems. The arts offer to young people a way to reach out and raise awareness on climate change among their friends, in their communities, and in the world beyond. It builds on the November 2010 issue, which focused on youth views, understanding, and climate change activities as well as on the outcomes from some conferences hold in the region on these themes. More ...

15/06/2011

ICIMOD pilots first Forest Carbon Trust Fund in Nepal

Under the first-ever pilot Forest Carbon Trust Fund in Nepal, representatives from three watersheds in Dolakha, Gorkha, and Chitwan districts received a total sum of US$ 95,000 on behalf of community forest user groups at a ceremony organized at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on 15 June 2011. The pilot Forest Carbon Trust Fund has been created under a project on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) under the Climate and Forest Initiative. More ...

06/06/2011

World Environment Day 2011 - Forests: Nature at Your Service - 5 June

The World Environment Day (WED) has been launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1972 and celebrated every year on 5 June. WED aims to stimulate public awareness on environmental issues and to urge politics to act in favour of these. This year’s theme is dedicated to: “Forests: Nature at Your Service”. Covering 31 percent of total land area (FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010) they play a key role in our battle against climate change by storing more carbon than the entire atmosphere (650 billion tonnes). Close to 1.6 billion people – more than 25% of the world’s population - depend on forests for their livelihoods. Thousands of activities were organized worldwide and in particular in India, global host of this year. More ...

01/06/2011

Dr. David Molden Selected as Future Director General of ICIMOD

Dr. David Molden has been selected by the full Board of Governors of ICIMOD to become the new Director General designate of ICIMOD. He will succeed Dr. Andreas Schild, current Director General of ICIMOD, from 1 December 2011. Dr. Molden, a national of the USA, is currently the Deputy Director General Research of IWMI in Sri Lanka. He is a development specialist with more than 30 years of experience on water management, livelihoods and environment, and ecosystem services. He has worked in several countries in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region and has hold relevant management positions. More ...

26/05/2011

Greenland Glaciers Lose Enough Ice to Fill Lake Erie, Study Says

The rate of ice loss at two of Greenland’s largest glaciers has increased so much over the last decade that, if melted, the amount would be enough to fill Lake Erie, according to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers found that the rate of ice loss from the Jakobshavn and Kangerdlugssuaq glaciers far exceeded the amount needed to balance snowfall in their catchment basins. Jakobshavn had lost about 300 billion tons of ice and it “would have to stop flowing and accumulate snowfall for seven years to regain the ice it has lost,” said Ian Howat of Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar Research Center. However, researchers found that the Helheim glacier had actually gained a small amount of mass over the same period. New techniques has been used to calculate ice loss that include greater reliance on satellite data, as well as airplanes and other sources. More ...

25/05/2011

E-discussion on Sustainable Mountain Development in the Southeast Asian Region: From Rio 1992 to Rio+20, 2012 and beyond - June 1-30, 2011

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) together with experts from the Non-Timber Forest Product-Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP), as a member of the global Mountain Partnership Consortium (MPC), has launched an E-discussion on Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) in the Southeast Asian Region, which will take place on 1-30 June, 2011. The E-discussion will focus on 3 themes related to SMD in the Southeast Asian (SEA) (one per week) and it will serve for the preparation of a Regional Assessment Report to be presented on the occasion of the Rio 2012 conference. To participate, please, join the dgroup at the link here below. More ...

25/05/2011

Mounting Crossfire-Opportunity as Guest Writer at CHI Knowledge Sharing Platform

The Climate Himalaya Initiative launched regular debates at Climate Himalaya Initiative’s Knowledge Web portal, called Mounting-Crossfire,. The July 2011 edition will focus on: Institutions working in Himalayan region have adequately developed Knowledge on Ecology and Sustainable Development on Mountain Ecosystem in Himalayan region! and two guest guests writes are searched, one to argue for this proposition; one to argue against it. Who might be interested in participating in Mounting-Crossfire, could take contact with the organizers and provide a written debate (i.e. two short contributions of about 600 words each) by 30 June. More ...

24/05/2011

ICIMOD Annual Report 2010 now released

The ICIMOD Annual Report 2010 has been released. The Report deals with ICIMOD’s evolution over the years, with a focus on the themes of biodiversity, youth engagement, and remote sensing. ICIMOD's role in support of the Convention on Biological Diversity is highlighted, and especially advocacy for mountain biodiversity and participation in the COP 10 event in Nagoya, Japan. It includes the highlights of the international symposium on Benefiting from Earth Observation and an overview on some initiatives carried out by young people to address environmental challenges and climate and global change. The full publication can be downloaded from ICIMOD Books Online and hard copies are available on request. More ...

24/05/2011

Help requested to find statistical figures disaggregated for mountain areas

FAO is in the process of finalizing a booklet on sustainable mountain development and help to find up-to-date statistics is requested. The focus should be on figures showcasing how many conflicts worldwide are actually fought in mountain regions. Additional statistical figures disaggregated for mountain regions would be highly appreciated, in particular if regarding the effects of climate change, disasters and their impacts in mountain areas, economy, tourism development (e.g. the number of visitors, gross profit etc.), electricity generation (e.g. number of hydropower plants etc.), access to public services in a mountain region. Please send them to Claudia Veith (claudia.veith@fao.org) by the end of June. All sources will be acknowledged. More ...

24/05/2011

Sustainable Mountain Development Summit – 21-22 May, Nainital (Uttarakhand), India

A Sustainable Mountain Development Summit organized by the Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI) was held on 21 and 22 May in Nainital (Uttarakhand), India. The summit covered issues related to hydropower, climate change adaptation, rural tourism and community forestry. Mrs. Margaret Alva, Governor of Uttarakhand State in India pointed out that human kind will increasingly depend on mountain resources like water, biodiversity and recreation, which with growing population are likely to become scarce. She also referred to India’s efforts on the way to Sustainable Mountain Development, which Dr. Andreas Schild Director General of ICIMOD Nepal emphasized also with reference to the upcoming RIO+20. More ...

24/05/2011

Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountain Areas Conference - 16-18 April 2012, in Stuttgart, Germany – abstracts by 1 November 2011

A conference on Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountain Areas will take place from 16 to 18 April 2012 at the Hohenheim University in Stuttgart, Germany. The themes will include soil care, land use and land cover change in mountain landscapes, sustainable and competitive livestock systems, supplying, using, sharing and cycling of matter and water. It will also investigate on how to link highland farmers to modern food chains and people participation in natural resource management. Deadline to submit extended abstracts of oral or poster presentations (400-600 words in length) is 1 November 2011. More ...

18/05/2011

Everest “live” thanks to the new EvK2Cnr webcam installed

The Mount Everest “live” with high resolution images is available, thanks to the new webcam installed by EvK2Cnr Italian and Nepalese technicians on 16 May 2011. The webcam is only 11 km far from the highest mountain in the world (8,848 m), on the top of Kala Patthar (5.600 m). It was installed within the 2011 Share Everest expedition promoted by EvK2Cnr in cooperation with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Dhm). The image is updated every 5 minutes. You can see the EvK2Cnr Everest webcam at the link here below. Please, note that the webcam is active only with daylight, almost between 6 am and 18 pm, Nepali time zone. More ...

17/05/2011

International Conference of the Project “Econnect: Restoring the Web of Life” - 26-28 September 2011, Germany

The Final Conference of the Project “Econnect: Restoring the Web of Life” will take place on 26-28 September 2011 in Kongresshaus Berchtesgaden, Germany. The ECONNECT project, co-funded by the European Territorial Cooperation Programme in the Alpine Space (INTERREG IVB), is an interdisciplinary work on ecological barriers in the Alps carried out by 16 European partners since 2008. The Final Conference will serve to present the main outcomes and results including the Guidelines and Recommendations developed for the actual implementation of measures of connectivity in the seven Pilot Regions. There is no fee to attend the conference. For more information, please visit the website of the project. More ...

17/05/2011

Enlarged Technical Committee of the World Mountain People Association (WMPA) – 27 July 2011, France

The Technical Committee of the World Mountain People Association (WMPA) will take place on 27 July 2011 at the General Assembly in Paris (101, rue de l'Université 7ème - salon Mansart) France. The organization was founded in 2000 to give voice to the mountain populations worldwide. Who might be interested in taking part to the meeting should communicate it in advance to c.stanislas@apmm-wmpa.org. More ...

16/05/2011

Call for Papers for the “Building Sustainable Peace through Tourism and Environment” Conference - 20-21 September 2011, Nepal

A Conference on “Building Sustainable Peace through Tourism and Environment” organized by Global Peace Association (GPA) Nepal and Himalayan Alliance for Climate Change (HIMCCA) will take place on 20-21 September 2011 in Nepal. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, planners, government agencies, international development agencies, civil society organizations and entrepreneurs working on these areas are invited to take part and to submit abstracts. The papers should focus on peace, local, national, regional or global environmental issues and challenges as well as tourism development. The prescribed format is available on the website and deadline for submission is 31 May 2011. Interested attendees are encouraged to early registrations. More ...

03/05/2011

South and Central Asia regional virtual consultation on youth perspectives on Rio +20

From Rio 1992 to Rio+20, 2012 and beyond: Where do we stand – How can we make a difference and promote green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication? To respond to these issues, ICIMOD’s Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) together with the Small Earth Nepal (SEN) and the Environmental Challenge Organization, also known as ECO Singapore, is organiziing a virtual consultation divided into three weeks starting on 9 May 2011. It will include web and email based discussion (e-discussion), dedicated Twitter sessions, Facebook discussions and Skype call among active participants. Join the discussion list: http://dgroups.org/groups/Y4SMD (in case you are unable to join the list, please send your name, country of residence and email ID to youthmedia@icimod.org)
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03/05/2011

CSD 19 – New York

The 19th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 19) opened in New York, US, on 2 May 2011, and will run through 13 May 2011. This session will negotiate policy decisions related to the thematic cluster of transport, chemicals, hazardous waste, mining and the 10-year framework of programmes (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production (SCP). In addition to the policy negotiations, delegates also will convene in a multi-stakeholder dialogue and high-level segment, including a ministerial roundtable. More ...

18/04/2011

Seminar on Water Security and Climate Change: Challenges and Strategies (4-6 November 2011, Guru Nanak dev University, Amritsar)

Ensuring fresh and pure water to every individual is a significant tool of empowerment for the poor and vulnerable society of the globe. However, inadequate knowledge of policy and regulatory framework and its poor implementation, combined with a non-transparent and non participatory water management process is proving to be the root cause of many water related problems. The seminar will address traditional water knowledge and best practices and discuss the possible options available for integrated water resource management.
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13/04/2011

Youth Forum on Climate Actions and Mountain Issues, 8-12 August 2011

On the occasion of the International Year of Youth 2011/12 and the International Youth Day on 12 August, a Youth Forum 2011 on Climate Actions and Mountain Issues is being organized by ICIMOD from 8 to 12 August 2011. The Forum will celebrate the next generation leadership in sustainable mountain development and climate change adaptation in ICIMOD Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and beyond, especially in the context of upcoming UNFCCC CoP 17 and Rio+20 meeting. Young climate change enthusiasts, media persons, youth activists, development professionals of 18 to 29 years of age from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan may apply by 20 May 2011. For further information, please, write to youthmedia@icimod.org putting ‘Youth Forum 2011’ in the subject line. More ...

11/04/2011

FAO Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study – new reports on line

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has finalised the second Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study. The new publications include "Asia-Pacific Forests and Forestry to 2020", covering major aspects of forestry development across the Asia-Pacific region and "Forest policies, legislation and institutions in Asia and the Pacific. Trends and emerging needs for 2020”. Subregional reports for Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Pacific and the Greater Mekong Subregion focusing on developing trends, future scenarios and priorities are also provided. The reports are available on line, together with materials which the outlook study was based on. For further information, please contact Patrick Durst at Patrick.Durst@fao.org. More ...

11/04/2011

Hindu Kush-Himalaya regional e-discussion on Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) – 4-24 April 2011

An e-discussion on Sustainable Mountain Development (SMD) in Hindu Kush-Himalaya Region (HKH) is taking place from 4 to 24 April 2011. The discussion aims at collecting information on the steps made by the HKH region in promoting sustainable mountain development (SMD) at a human, social and natural level since the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio in 1992. It is intended as a preparation for the HKH regional assessment report on policies, plans, programmes and actions taken by GOs, NGOs, and others to realize SMD by implementing the Agenda 21, especially Chapter 13. Target audience of the E-discussion in the HKH regional Rio+20 Assessment are: policy and decision makers at the international and national level, including multilateral and bilateral development agencies, national governments, private sector, and local and regional administrations. More ...

11/04/2011

Mountain Gorillas at risks of extinction infected by human virus

A study recently published in the review “Emerging Infectious Diseases” has found that gorilla's living in the national parks in Africa are being infected by a RNA virus called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) that is common in humans. It provokes respiratory diseases and has proved to be fatal to some of these wild mountain gorillas, leading to the death of two individuals in 2009 in Rwanda. The diseases have become much more frequent in these gorilla populations in recent years and researchers from the United States and Africa have discovered that they can pass from humans to gorillas. Being less than 800 in the world, each mountain gorillas is critically important to the survival of their species and gorillas having close contacts to humans – such as tourists or local inhabitants - are exposed to risks, even if they live in protected national parks. More ...

06/04/2011

New publication on fodder problem in Indian Himalayan Region - energy dynamics and women labour

The new publication “Energy budget of fodder harvesting pattern along the altitudinal gradient in Garhwal Himalaya” by Shalini Dhyani of G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, R.K. Maikhuri and D. Dhyani has been released in "Journal of Biomass and Bioenergy". Dealing with the fodder problem in Indian Himalayan Region, the article highlights the energy dynamics and women drudgery related to it. More ...

06/04/2011

New Partnership for Mediterranean forests launched at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week in Avignon, France

FAO is part of the new Partnership for Mediterranean forests launched at the Second Mediterranean Forest Week in Avignon, France (5-8 April 2011). Mediterranean forests play a key role for the socio-economic development of the region and they suffer from major threats such as severe wildfires, which are exacerbated by the impact of climate change. Agricultural expansion, tourism, urban development and other land use practices are also contributing to significant forest losses. The new Partnership, primarily focused on six Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey), is intended to integrate national policies and investments, create a joint regional approach and promote local practices for sustainable forest management. More ...

05/04/2011

SERVIR seeking for the East Africa Regional Director

SERVIR seeks to recruit a highly motivated and skilled individual for the position of East Africa Regional Director, to be based at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD), in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded in 2005 by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), SERVIR focuses on integrating satellite observations and predictive models with other geographic information (sensor and field-based) to monitor and forecast ecological changes and respond to natural disasters. The Director reports to the International Programs Director in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. More ...

05/04/2011

New book now released: “Framework for Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Himalayas”

ICIMOD has now released a new book, ‘Framework for Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Himalayas’ by Golam Rasul, Nakul Chettri and Eklabya Sharma. This paper outlines a general framework for economic valuation of ecosystem services focusing on mountain specific situations, which could be applied in the Hindu Kush- Himalayan region. Around half of the world’s population depends directly or indirectly on mountain resources for different products and services. Having a means for economic valuation of these services will help increase recognition of their value and it is necessary for developing payment for ecosystem services schemes. The full publication can be downloaded at the link here below and hard copies are available on request. More ...

21/03/2011

International World Water Day 2011 - 22 March 2011

22 March is the International World Water Day (WWD). Following a decision of the General Assembly in 1993, WWD is held annually on this day as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of this year - 'Water and Urbanization' - provides a good opportunity to discuss about how to tackle urban water and sanitation challenges. To mark this occasion, the UN-HABITAT and UN-Water are co-organizing with the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) celebrations of the event, with presentations and debates to take place at the International Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. More ...

15/03/2011

Dramatic consequences of the most severe earthquake and tsunami in Japan’s history

On 11 March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, decimating villages, agricultural land and infrastructure. Measuring 8.9 (later referred as 9.0) on the Richter scale, the earthquake was the most severe in the history of Japan. BBC reports over 2400 people killed and more than 3000 people as missing. The daunting tsunami - 10 meter high, according to the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI) - struck the north eastern Japanese coastline in the wake of the earthquake, sweeping homes and vehicles inland. Catastrophe modeling firm EQECAT estimates that losses from the quake, tsunami and fires will total at least $100 billion, including $20 billion in damage to residences and $40 billion in damage to infrastructure such as roads, rail and port facilities. The earthquake/tsunami has also provoked explosions at the Fukushima nuclear facility leading to dangerous radiation levels. More ...

14/03/2011

ACP-FLEGT Support Programme - Call for Proposals – by 20 May 2011

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is issuing a call for proposals through its Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Support Programme to African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP-FLEGT Support Programme). The ACP-FLEGT Support Programme, through funding from the European Commission, provides assistance to ACP countries to put the European Union FLEGT Action Plan into practice and supports sharing FLEGT-related information and lessons learned among ACP country stakeholder groups. ACP country government institutions, civil society and private sector organizations are encouraged to submit proposals for either pilot projects or technical assistance by 20 May 2011. More ...

14/03/2011

TILCEPA Social Policy Specialist Group on Mountain Connectivity, mountain Protected Areas & mountainous Transboundary Conserved Landscapes

The Joint Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) – World Commission on protected Areas (WCPA) Theme on Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas (TILCEPA) is looking for experts / specialists / mountain community constituency members interested in joining the new TILCEPA Mountain Social Policy Specialist Group. TILCEPA Mountain Social Policy SG is intended to study and promote effective participation of local communities and indigenous peoples in mountain conserved areas, with particular attention to mountain connectivity landscapes and transboundary mountainous Protected Areas. For further information, please, write to Nigel Crawhall nigel.tilcepa@gmail.com. More ...

10/03/2011

Saving Rwanda forests by 2035 becomes a national priority

At the launch of the United Nations International Year of Forests, the Rwandan minister of land and the environment, Stanislas Kamanzi, announced a forest landscape restoration initiative, being the first developing country making such a commitment nationally. The situation is urgent as in 1994 after the genocide large part of the protected areas, such as the Akagera and the Gishwati national park, were swept away to re-house almost a million refugees. As a consequence, the number of wild animals such as mountain gorillas living in these sanctuaries has plummeted. Wilderness restoration is a difficult task and foreign expertise is needed to build awareness among nationals that Rwanda will only be able to reduce poverty by restoring its environment. More ...

04/03/2011

XIth Alpine Conference - 8 - 9 March 2011, Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia

The XIth Alpine Conference will take place on 8 and 9 March 2011 in Brdo pri Kranju (Slovenia). The Alpine Conference is the political decision-making organ of the Alpine Convention and consists of the Ministers of the Alpine States. Meetings of the Conference are normally held every two years by the Member State holding the Presidency of the Convention (one state holds the presidency for two years). The United Nations, its specialized agencies, the Council of Europe and all European countries may attend the meetings as observers. Cross-border associations of Alpine territorial authorities and relevant non-governmental organizations may also be admitted as observers. The Conference will adopt the necessary financial decisions on the basis of consensus. More ...

01/03/2011

Major Donor Fundraiser Post at CIPRA International – applications by 16 March 2011

The “Commission Internationale pour la Protection des Alpes”(CIPRA) is looking for a Major Donor Fundraiser to be based in Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The incumbent will work with the management and will be responsible for planning and implementing all activities in the area of Major Donors. Several years of experience as Major Donor Fundraising as well as a university or vocational college degree with a bias in economics or social sciences are required. Integration within an existing network would be an advantage. The person should have a service-oriented approach, sensitivity and good negotiating skills, required to understand and combine the expectations of major donors with the interests of CIPRA. The candidate has very good command of spoken and written English and possibly French and/or Italian combined with international experience. Send applications in German by March 16. More ...

28/02/2011

Alpine Climate Change Day - 30 - 31 March 2011, Turin, ITALY

The International Conference "Alpine Climate Change Day" organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment together with the Institute for Timber Plants and for the Environment (IPLA) and the Piedmont delegation of the National Union of Mountain Communities, Municipalities and Authorities (UNCEM Piemonte), in the framework of the MANFRED Project (EU Alpine Space Programme) will take place on 30 - 31 March 2011, at the Regional Museum of Natural Science in Turin (Italy). Relevant initiatives and projects of cooperation regarding climate change adaptation in the Alps will be presented, together with “European State of the Environment Report and Outlook” (SOER 2010) produced by the European Environment Agency (EEA. More ...

28/02/2011

Futures of European Waters: How should policies be adapted – 23-25 March 2011, Budapest, HUNGARY

The Conference “Futures of European Waters: How should policies be adapted”, co-organized by the European Water Partnership (EWP), the Water scenarios for Europe and neighboring countries project (SCENES) and the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, will take place from 23 to 25 March 2011 in Budapest, Hungary. The Conference is directed to policy makers working at international and national levels, water managers, NGOs, and the scientific community. The Conference will serve to discuss EU environmental, social, political, and policy drivers (i.e. global change, population growth, land use change, economical and technological developments) for the future of European water, including the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), which promotes sustainable water use based on long-term protection of water resources. More ...

24/02/2011

International workshop on Indigenous Peoples, Marginalized Populations and Climate Change – Call for papers by 18 March 2011

An international workshop on Indigenous Peoples, Marginalized Populations and Climate Change: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Traditional Knowledgehas will be convened by United Nations University (UNU), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in collaboration with the Mexican National Institute of Ecology (INE) from 19 to 21 July 2011 in Mexico City, Mexico. The secretariat of the workshop invites to submit papers focusing on Climate Change Vulnerability, Adaptation and Traditional Knowledge by 18 March 2011. More ...

24/02/2011

Pre-Doctoral Fellowships in African Climate Change and Political Stability – send applications by 31 March 2011

Deadline for African Climate Change and Political Stability (CCAPS) pre-doctoral fellowship have been extended to 31 March 2011. The CCAPS programme at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin will offer up to three pre-doctoral fellowships for the 2011-2012 academic year to advanced PhD students, with preference given to those who have made substantial progress towards the completion of their dissertation. U.S and international PhD students are encouraged to apply. Suitable topics may include, but are not limited to: climate change vulnerability in Africa; potential impacts of climate change on political stability or security in Africa; and strategies for addressing climate change challenges in Africa. More ...

23/02/2011

Distance learning programme on “Science and Policy of Climate Change” – registrations by 31 March 2011

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) have jointly developed an eight-week blended distance learning programme on “Science and Policy of Climate Change”. The programme targets graduate students, development practitioners, policy makers, corporates, and mid-level professionals in the Asia Pacific region. Registration closes by 31 March 2011. More ...

23/02/2011

ICCC-1 "Clean Energy & Energy Security" Call for Papers – submission by 30 June 2011

The Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) invites to submit papers for the International Conclave on Climate Change (ICCC-1) "Clean Energy & Energy Security" that will take place on 12 -14 Oct 2011. Topics for contributions include Energy Conservation, Clean Technologies, Climate Change and Solar Energy, micro investment in Green Energy in developing countries, International Policy Framework and India National Action Plan on Climate Change. Abstract should be submitted online by 30 June 2011. Please find templates and detailed guidelines on the website. More ...

23/02/2011

Dr Poul Engberg-Pedersen appointed new IUCN Deputy Director General

Dr Poul Engberg-Pedersen has been nominated IUCN Deputy Director General and he will join IUCN on 16 May 2011. During 2005-2010, Poul Engberg-Pedersen was Director General of Norad, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has worked for the United Nations in Africa and for the World Bank. He also headed a Danish government research centre and worked on development and environmental management and development effectiveness for a Danish consultancy company. Poul Engberg-Pedersen is a 57 years-old Danish citizen with a PhD in political science and development studies. More ...

23/02/2011

Reports by the Drylands Coordination Group (DCG) online

Reports based on action research by the Drylands Coordination Group (DCG) are online for free download. DCG is a Norwegian NGO that supports and facilitates mutual exchange of practical experiences between African NGOs and research and policy-making institutions. The reports deal with a range of issues related to food security, climate change, agricultural biodiversity, land, gender. More ...

16/02/2011

UNECE/FAO Regional Forest Information Week - 21-25 March 2011, Geneva, Switzerland

From 21 to 25 March 2011 the UNECE/FAO Regional Forest Information Week will take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. A series of events and meetings regarding information on forests and forest products in the UNECE region will be featured, including a seminar on the State of Forests in the North American and Pan-European region as well as the annual session of the joint FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics. Further information is available online, including the registration form and the schedule programme. More ...

15/02/2011

MRD’s Call for Papers on “Central Asian Mountain Societies in Transition” – abstracts by 31 March 2011

The Mountain Research and Development (MRD) Journal in collaboration with University of Central Asia’s Mountain Societies Research Centre has launched a call for papers regarding practices and systems relevant to the economic, political and environmental changes occurring in Central Asian mountain societies. The articles could cover topics such as sustainable land management approaches and technologies in mountain areas, agro-pastoralism in mountain areas, adaptation to climatic and other environmental change in mountain areas. The deadline for submission of full papers is 30 September 2011, please submit abstracts by 31 March 2011 to guest editor Chad Dear, Coordinator, Mountain Societies Research Centre, University of Central Asia, chad.dear@ucentralasia.org. More ...

14/02/2011

Fourth summer IPROMO course on Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Management in Mountain Areas

The overall purpose of the fourth summer IPROMO course on Natural Hazards and Disaster Risk Management in Mountain Areas is to provide post-graduate students, researchers and technicians with scientific knowledge about natural hazards in mountain areas, the high vulnerability of mountain communities and to enhance their ability to assess potential ecological and social impacts of disaster risk management policies. It is aimed at those coming from areas characterized by degraded and overexploited mountain ecosystems in particular from developing countries. The IPROMO course 2011 will run from 9 to 22 July 2011 and mainly be held in Ormea, North Italy. Lecturers will include university professors, UN officers and professionals from different parts of the world. For applications http://www.mountainpartnership.org/ipromoform/subscription/en/ More ...

14/02/2011

Women at the Center of Climate-friendly Approaches to Agriculture and Water – New IATP Paper

A new paper from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) on women’s contribution to climate-friendly approaches to agriculture and water is now online. The author Shiney Varghese examined proven agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience to climate change through the case study of the Tamilnadu Women’s Collective in India. The author will also present her findings at the United Nations in New York on 22 February as part of a workshop on “Climate Adaptation Challenges from a Gender Perspective”, expected to contribute towards the fifty-fifth session of the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women. For more information, please visit the IATP website. More ...

09/02/2011

Documentary on line on Mawphlang Agrobiodiversity and Food Festival Film

A documentary on the Mawphlang Agrobiodiversity and Food Festival, prepared by iTALK Production, a group of indigenous youth based in Shillong, India training in mass communication and funded by Slow Food International, is now online. The Mawphlang Agrobiodiversity and Food Festival, sponsored by the Indigenous Partnership, was organized by William Boy’s Home of Mawphlang and it took place on 17 November 2010, in Mawphlang, Meghalaya, India. Slow Food International, a partner in the Indigenous Partnership, documented the entire festival and will contribute to the preparation of a Khasi recipe book. More ...

08/02/2011

Graduates' Workshop on Wetlands in Nepal - 2 February 2011, Kathmandu

On the occasion of the World Wetlands Day, Graduates’ Workshop on Wetlands was jointly organized by The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) and the Central Department of Environmental Science (CDES), Tribhuvan University with the support of WWF Nepal, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and National Lake Conservation Development Committee (NLCDC) on 2 February 2011 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Wetlands conservation is crucial for the livelihood of more than 13% of the Nepal population. During the workshop 8 research papers on Nepal wetlands were presented to a public of 70 graduate students from colleges in Kathmandu Valley and beyond and young researchers were invited to intensify data collection in order to improve scientific knowledge with this respect. More ...

07/02/2011

Launch of the International Year of Forests – Celebrating Forests for People 2011

The International Year of Forests was officially launched on 2 February 2011, at the General Assembly Hall in New York City during UNFF9 (24 January – 4 February 2011). Forests cover 31% of total land area and they are home to 300 million people around the world. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Information regarding scheduled events and initiatives as well as interactive web tools and resources to promote dialogue on forests will be available on the newly launched website. More ...

07/02/2011

Course on Straw Buildings - 28 - 31 March 2011, Ormea, Italy

The Municipality of Ormea (Italy) in cooperation with the IPROMO School and the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Turin, is organizing a set of lectures on “Straw buildings”, to take place from 28 to 31 March 2011. The course includes theoretical and practical lessons. Deadline for registration is 28 February 2011. Further information as well as the registration form is available on the website. More ...

01/02/2011

AINSA fair of Pyrenees products - 4-5 February 2011, Oloron, France

A two-day fair to promote typical products and the natural and cultural heritage of Pyrenees Mountains is being organized by the Association of World Mountain Population (AINSA) to take place on 4 and 5 February 2011 in Oloron, FRANCE. During the day a European project addressing sustainable development of mountain areas will be launched. Registration form and schedule programme are available on line. More ...

31/01/2011

International Conference on East African Mountains - 21- 23 November 2011, Uganda

The first conference on East African Mountains will take place on 21- 23 November 2011 at Mbale Resort Hotel in UGANDA. Mountains of East Africa including highlands of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda suffer from increasing land pressure coupled with climate change which threatens sustainable use of these mountain ecosystems. The conference will gather together scientists, practitioners, policy makers, and social workers to deliberate on the biophysical and socio-economic aspects that are crucial in influencing policy/management of these ecosystems in East Africa. Participants are invited to submit abstracts online. More ...

31/01/2011

Third issue of International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme’s Global Change magazine

The third issue of International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme's (IGBP) Global Change magazine is out now. Articles in this issue focus on a range of topics, including the UN's Global Sustainability Panel, South American palaeoclimate, Geoengineering and Ocean Acidification. The regulars include news from the IGBP and global-change communities. The magazine is available in PDF format following the link here below. Printed copies are available on request. More ...

26/01/2011

Joto Afrika 5: Implications of climate change for health in Africa

Issue 5 of “Joto Afrika” features articles from different countries which highlight the impacts of climate change on health across Africa. Climate change affect human health both directly, by encouraging the production of disease vectors and parasites such as those causing malaria, than indirectly (impacts on water availability, air quality, food quality and quantity, ecosystems, agriculture and economies). Joto Afrika is a bilingual series of printed briefings and online resources (English and French) intended to inform on the issues, constrains and opportunities that poor people face in adapting to climate change and escaping poverty in sub- Saharan Africa. Issue 5 of “Joto Afrika” is available on the website for free download. More ...

26/01/2011

The Center for People and Forest (RECOFTC) - Executive Director and other vacancies

The Center for People and Forest (RECOFTC) is currently looking for a new Executive Director to be based at the headquarters in Bangkok. RECOFTC (www.recoftc.org) is an international not-for-profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry and devolved forest management. The organization focuses since 20 years on capacity building in six countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam), networking and establishing partnerships. Further information on the Executive Director position and other vacancies is available on the website. More ...

18/01/2011

WSSCC’s Global Sanitation Fund programme in Nepal seeks sub-grantees – by 28 January 2011

UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlement Programme), the Executing Agency for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC - http://www.wsscc.org/gsf), is seeking expressions of interest for potential sub-grantees to carry out field work for its Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) programme in NEPAL. UN-Habitat will implement the hygiene and sanitation programme in five districts (Arghakhanchi, Bajura, Bardiya, Sindhupalchowk and Sunsari), and in the municipalities of Dharan, Gularia, Inaruwa, Itahari and Tikapur. Sub-grantees can be Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), private firms and local government bodies. Deadline 28 January 2011. More ...

17/01/2011

Women’s Water Fund Call for Applications – visit/study in Denmark 30 April – 15 May 2011

The Women’s Water Fund, an initiative of the DHI (Danish Hydraulic Institute) Group initially funded by the “King Hassan II Great World Water Prize”, invites women from developing countries in Africa, Asia or Latin America to apply for a short capacity building visit from 30 April to 15 May 2011, Denmark. The visit is a combination of formal training and interaction with managers in public authorities and in the water industry. All travel, accommodation and living costs are covered by the Fund. A diploma will be issued to by the Governing Board of the Fund at the end of the visit. More ...

17/01/2011

Fellowships in African climate science – applications by 4 February 2011

The DFID-Hadley Centre Climate Science Research Partnership (CSRP) has launched a Call for Applications for fellowships in African climate science. Three types of fellowship are available: Postgraduate Research Fellowships, Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Applications Project Fellowships. Applicants must be resident nationals of an African country and the fellowship must be hosted at an African Institute. The deadline for applications is 4 February 2011.
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17/01/2011

One day- workshop on Mountain – 8 February 2011, CNR, Rome, ITALY

A one-day workshop on mountain issues will be organized by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) to take place on 8 February 2011, at Aula Convegni of CNR in Rome. The workshop is intended as an occasion to share experiences and to raise awareness on the need of a National Programme of Research on Mountain. Institutional representatives and various stakeholders specialized in forestry, tourism, agriculture and natural risk management will address strengths and weaknesses of mountain areas in Italy, underlining how targeted research may foster the development of mountain areas. Tentative agenda and registration form are available on line. More ...

11/01/2011

“Nature & Faune” Magazine calls for submissions – by 31 March 2011

The “Nature & Faune” Magazine invites to submit manuscript(s) on successes, problems and concerns related to the theme: “Economic and social significance of forests for Africa’s sustainable development”, by 31 December 2011. To receive a copy of the 'Guidelines for Authors', please send an email to nature-faune@fao.org or Ada.Ndesoatanga@fao.org. “Nature & Faune" is a peer-reviewed open access international bilingual (English and French) publication of the FAO Regional Office for Africa. As 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the UN General Assembly, the “Nature & Faune” magazine will be contributing by dedicating all its publications in 2011 to reflections and activities related to “Forests 2011”. More ...

10/01/2011

Three quarters of the Alpine glaciers could melt by 2100, says study by Nature Geoscience

According to two studies published by the review Nature Geoscience, the 75 percent of the Alpine glaciers could disappear by the end of 2100 and a rise of several metres in sea level could be produced by 3000, due to the global warming. According to a study carried out by two researchers of the Alaska University, glaciers could lose from 21 to 26 percent of their volume by 2100 and Alpine glaciers are particularly at risks, followed by those in New Zealand. Ice losses on such a scale may have substantial impacts on regional hydrology and water availability. A long-term worrying scenario is forecasted in another study published by the prestigious review and produced by the University of Calgary, in Canada. According to this study, if a consistent dissolution of the West Antarctica will happen in the next centuries, the melted waters are likely to bring to a rise in sea level of several metres by 3000. More ...

06/01/2011

UNICEF internship programme – applications by 21 January 2011

UNICEF India Country Office invites applications for a full-time Internship programme from 25 May to 3 August 2011. The internship offers an opportunity to explore issues related to child rights in India across a variety of areas: child protection, health, nutrition, education, HIV/AIDS, and water and sanitation. The assignment involves a combination of desk and field work, with interns being grouped into teams that are based in field offices and work under the supervision of selected research institutions/non-governmental organisations. The closing date for applications is 21 January 2011. More ...

06/01/2011

THESARD PRIZE 2011 for a Thesis on Mountain Areas – send CVs and summaries by 15 January 2011

The Thesard Prize 2011 launched by the Mountain Chambers of Commerce and Industry will award 5,000 Euros to the author of a thesis on mountain areas. An international multidisciplinary Scientific Committee will be in charge of the evaluation. The prize will be given at the 4th European Biennial Event of Highland Regions, on 13 October 2011, in Gérardmer (Vosges - FRANCE). To participate in the pre-selection, please send a CV and two summaries of the thesis, the first 2 pages long and the second a maximum of 30 pages by 15 January 2011. More ...

17/12/2010

Glaciers in South America and Alaska melting faster than those in Europe, says new UNEP report

The new report entitled "High Mountain Glaciers and Climate Change - Challenges to Human Livelihoods and Adaptation" compiled by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with scientists and research centres from around the world, was released on 7 December 2010 at the COP16 in Cancún, Mexico. Glaciers in Patagonia, followed by those in Alaska have overall been losing mass faster and for longer than glaciers in other parts of the world, the report says. The third fastest rate of loss is among glaciers in the northwest United States and southwest Canada followed by ones in the high mountains of Asia, including the Hindu Kush of the Himalayas, the Arctic and the Andes. Even if many glaciers may take centuries to fully disappear, several low-lying, smaller glaciers which are often crucial water sources in drylands are melting much faster, putting at risk villagers and infrastructure, such as power plants. More ...

10/12/2010

International Mountain Day

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as “International Mountain Day”. It is observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development.
This year’s International Mountain Day’s purpose "Mountain minorities and indigenous peoples". This day aims to highlight the threats faced by these communities but also to acknowledge the invaluable contribution they can make towards overcoming the global challenges of hunger and malnutrition, biodiversity loss and climate change. It draws attention to the specifics needs and rights of indigenous peoples and mountain minorities that have to be taken into account in the development of mountain-specific strategies and policies.
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09/12/2010

Norway gives $12 million for adaptation and assessment in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas

Norway will provide more than US$12 million over five-years to a consortium of partners led by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to support a new programme in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. Erik Solhem, Norway's Minister of the Environment and International Development, made the announcement at a press conference held at COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico. The ‘Hindu-Kush-Himalayas Climate Impact Adaptation and Assessment (HICIA)’ programme will run from 2011 to 2015, coordinated by ICIMOD with two Norwegian partners, CICERO and UNEP-Grid Arendal.
Dr Madhav Karki, Deputy Director General of ICIMOD thanked Norway “for this timely and generous support, which would make a strong contribution to filling the critical knowledge gap and building resilient Himalayan communities”.
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07/12/2010

AD Partners High Level REDD Event with SG Ban Ki-moon

Avoided Deforestation Partners will present an afternoon of discussions with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. The event "Advancing REDD+: New Pathways and Partnerships" will be held Wednesday, 8 December 2010, from 3:00-5:45 p.m. at JW Marriot Hotel, Blvd. Kukulcan, Cancún and will include discussions around the following themes: Innovative International REDD+ Partnerships, California as the word's First REDD Compliance Market, Sustainable Supply Chains for Reducing Emmissions, Enhacing the Biodiversity Benefit of Forest Carbon, Advancing REDD+ in Mexico and Beyond. Registration begins at 2:15 pm. More ...

02/12/2010

CALL FOR PAPERS for the International Conference "Women of the mountains" – by 30 December 2010

The International Conference "Women of the mountains", organized by Utah Valley University and the Kyrgyz National Center for the Development of Mountain Regions, will take place on 8-9 March 2011 in Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah. The organizers are inviting scholarly submissions on topics related to women's lives in mountainous areas, including: Transmission of values, heritage and culture, Women and children’s health, Women and children’s education, Economic, family and gender issues, Human trafficking and exploitation, Access to information and public services for women. Abstracts (not more than 250-300 words) and cv should be sent to Roger Blomquist (rblomquist@uvu.edu) or Cholpon Akmatalieva (TcholponA@uvu.edu) by 30 December 2010. After confirmation of acceptance, deadline for submitting the complete paper is 1 February 2011. More ...

01/12/2010

European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly on “Mountain hydrology: Observations, processes and models” - 3– 8 April 2011, Vienna

The forthcoming European Geosciences Union General Assembly (HS2.12) will take place in Vienna on 3 to 8 April 2011. Contributions on mountain hydrology related issues are welcomed from all mountain regions of the world. Deadline for the abstract submission through EGU's online system is 10 January 2011. For financial support applications, please refer to http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2011/support_and_distinction by 3 December 2010. More ...

01/12/2010

Mountain Research and Development, Volume 30, Issue 4 (November 2010) available online and open access

The current issue of MRD is available online and free of charge from BioOne. It contains work on various topics relevant to sustainable development in mountains, ranging from tourism and impacts of tourism to biodiversity in relation to human activities, poverty and food security, livestock production, and interaction between indigenous communities and the corporate world. More ...

01/12/2010

Vacancy: Senior Technical Coordinator - Climate Change Adaptation, AIT-UNEP RRC.AP, Bangkok, THAILAND – applications by 10 December 2010

The Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia is recruiting a Senior Technical Coordinator in Climate Change Adaptation to start on 17 January 2011. This Regional Platform is a joint initiative of SENSA, SEI, UNEP and UNEP RRC.AP aimed at facilitating climate change adaptation in Asia at local, national and regional levels and at strengthening adaptive capacity. The person will lead the Climate Adaptation Team at the Regional Platform and will ensure delivery of key outcomes, working in close coordination with the Climate Team at UNEP ROAP. Applications have to send by 10 December 2010. More ...

29/11/2010

SWOMM 2010 – Transport & Environment in Mountain Areas - 14 December 2010, FAO, Rome – deadline for registration extended to 7 December 2010

The Scientific Workshop on Mountain Mobility and Transport (SWOMM) is an initiative promoted by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and organized this year in cooperation with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat – FAO and the SWOMM Scientific Secretariat in the framework of the AlpCheck2 project (Alpine Space ETC Programme). The environmental impact of transport as well as the socio-economic benefits that it can deliver to mountain areas will be investigated by a panel of experts in the field of ecology, transport, economics and social development policies. Concrete experiences as well as effective policies to strike the balance will be presented during the open round table. The registration form (to be filled in by 7 December 2010) and the provisional programme are available on the SWOMM website. More ...

29/11/2010

Spanish NGO awards Agency’s Forestry Department with “El Batefuegos de Oro” - top award for forest fire protection

On 26 November 2010, José Antonio Prado, Director of the Forest Management Division received in Madrid the award "El Batefuegos de Oro" in recognition of the outstanding merits of the Forestry Department in forest fire protection by the Spanish NGO "Asociación para la Promoción de Actividades Socioculturales (APAS)". FAO's Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division has coordinated the development of the Fire Management Voluntary Guidelines aimed at helping countries develop an integrated approach to fire management, which are now widely used all over the world as a basis for formulating fire management policies, strategies and practices. More ...

25/11/2010

“FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples” online - launch on 26 November, FAO, Rome

The “FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples” is now online. The Policy will be officially launched on 26 November Rome in FAO (Austria Room, 11:00-13:00 hrs.). The document was prepared through a consultative process in which the FAO technical departments and the decentralized offices gathered key inputs by several partners under the overall guidance of the Organization’s interdepartmental working group on indigenous issues. The document provides information about indigenous peoples’ livelihoods and world views and it is intended as a framework for FAO’s work where indigenous peoples are concerned. Some “core principles” as well as a series of thematic areas where collaborative opportunities could arise are mentioned with a view to ensure a better life for indigenous peoples and rural populations. More ...

23/11/2010

Documentary on Pamiri Women and the Melting Glaciers of Tajikistan on line

A documentary on Pamiri Women and the Melting Glaciers of Tajikistan prepared by the United Nations University in association with the institute of Zoology and Parasitology – Academy of Science, Tajikistan and the Christensen Fund is now on line in the Cashmere Forum website. Tajikistan Pamir Mountain glaciers supply over 50% of all the water resources of the Aral Sea Basin, with more than 30 million people relying on them. The documentary shows the impact of climate change on local communities’ life from several point of view – agriculture, fishing, livestock, and village life - by interviewing women of all ages. More ...

15/11/2010

International Graduate Conference on Climate Change and People - 15 - 19 November 2010, Kathmandu

The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) and the Consortium for Capacity Building (CCB), University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, supported by the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and in cooperation with a wide array of key partners, are organizing the ‘International Graduate Conference on Climate Change and People’ to take place from 15 to 19 November in Kathmandu. 150 participants from about 20 different countries will attend multidisciplinary presentations on climate change related issues, network with experts and participate in capacity building activities. More ...

15/11/2010

Climate Risk Management Strategies in the Himalayan Region: Sharing experiences and learning

The Regional Climate Risk Reduction Project (RCRRP), supported by ECHO and implemented by UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) through respective UNDP Country Offices in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, aims to elaborate climate risk management strategies to reduce the risks faced by mountain communities and to mitigate impacts of hydro-meteorological hazards in these Hindu Kush Himalayan countries. Experts from the research, institutional and technical world as well as civil society are invited to share their valuable insights and expertise on the subject through an e-discussion, which is intended as a preparation for the creation of a report and an exhaustive knowledge bank on these interrelated-issues. More ...

09/11/2010

2010 Genetic Resources in Protected Areas (GRIPA) Conference – 16-17 November 2010 in St Gertrud, Malmö, SWEDEN and online

The 2010 GRIPA conference "Genetic Resources in Protected Areas - from Words to Action" organized by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) will take place on 16-17 November 2010 in St Gertrud, Malmö, SWEDEN. The conference will include relevant speeches as well as workshop sessions addressing specific questions. The registration form is available online. This year the conference will also be webcasted online thanks to the cooperation with the HAMK University of Applied Sciences. More ...

09/11/2010

EC LIFE + Call for proposals - 2011 Operating Grants For Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations – by 3 December 2010

In the framework of the programme LIFE +, the DG Environment of the European Commission has launched a Call for Proposals targeted to Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations for 2011 Operating Grants. Further information is available on the website, including the Grant Application Guide, the Application Forms and the Contact person. Deadline for applications is 3 December 2010. More ...

08/11/2010

The glaciers photographer - book presentation and exhibition in Martigny on how climate change is affecting Alpine glaciers

The work of the Swiss photographer Hilaire Dumoulin regarding the climate change impact on Alpine glaciers is being displayed since the 23 October at the Médiathèque Valais, Avenue de la Gare 15, Martigny. The exhibition compares several pictures that he took on the Alpine glaciers (e.g. in the Aletsch, Rodano, Bossons glaciers) to pictures dating back to the nineteenth century, showing the dramatic reduction of their surfaces due to climate change. On 29 November the related book "Glaciers: passé-présent du Rhone au Mont-Blanc" will be presented to the public. More ...

03/11/2010

Applications for positions at Winrock International by 15 December 2010

Winrock International will be recruiting highly qualified Nepali senior and mid-level component managers, project officers, and professional staff for several possible positions for an anticipated programme to conserve biodiversity and natural resources in Nepal. Deadline for applications is 15 December 2010. Most positions will be based in Kathmandu, with travel to district-based offices and field sites. Written and spoken fluency in English is required for all positions. To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to winrockproposal@gmail.com, specifying the position you are applying for in the subject line. Women and candidates from ethnic minorities and other socially marginalized groups are especially encouraged to apply. More ...

03/11/2010

Mountain Festival - 4 – 21 November 2010, Vogogna (Vb), ITALY

The Mountain Festival “Montagna e dintorni” organized by the Vogogna Municipality, the Val Grande National Park, the Piemonte Region, the Verbano Cusio Ossola Province and the Mountains Community Ossola Valle, and supported by a broad number of partners will take place from 4 to 21 November 2010 in Vogogna (Vb), ITALY. The theme of this year is mountains change both from an environmental as well as from a cultural point of view. The schedule programme includes conferences, films, exhibitions and further events and is available on line. More ...

03/11/2010

Conference on the Alpine territory and populations – 6 November 2010 h. 21 - Vogogna (Vb), ITALY

A conference on the Alpine territory and populations will be held on 6 November 2010 at h. 21, at Castello Visconteo in Vogogna (Vb), ITALY, in the framework of the Festival on mountains “Montagna e dintorni”. Discussions will focus on the crisis affecting the Alpine territory, which is losing population in particular young generations. While tourism becomes more and more important, traditional economies and inhabits are on the way to be lost, as well as rural areas which are often labeled as unproductive and abandoned. Proposals to change this trend will be presented. More ...

27/10/2010

Conference on Mountains and Sustainable Tourism at the International Mountain Summit - 3 November 2010

The Alpine Convention and UNEP are organizing a congress day dedicated to Mountains and Sustainable Tourism to be held on 3 November 2010 in Bressanone, Italy at the International Mountain Summit (IMS). Achievements and limits of multilateral approaches to sustainable mountain tourism will be discussed considering the alpine territory but also with a view to other mountain regions (Balkans, Caucasus and Himalaya). The IMS will take place from 30 October until 7 November in Bressanone. IMS is a platform for discussions on mountains as well as a fix meeting point for the world's most famous mountaineers. More ...

26/10/2010

“Implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity: Regional Approaches and Conventions” - CBD COP 10 27 October 2010 in Nagoya, JAPAN

On 27 October 2010 the CBD COP 10 side event “Implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity: Regional Approaches and Conventions” will take place in Nagoya, JAPAN, jointly hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Alpine Convention, the Carpathian Convention, the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), and the CBD Secretariat and organised in the framework of the Mountain Partnership. The event will showcase successful examples of regional cooperation in the Alpine, Carpathian, Hindu Kush-Karakorum-Himalaya, Dinaric Arc and Andes regions. Statements and discussions by high level speakers from governments, UNEP and the CBD Secretariat will follow. More ...

22/10/2010

Launch of the publication “Mountain Biodiversity and global change” during the CBD CoP 10 Mountain Partnership Side Event in Nagoya

The publication “Mountain Biodiversity and global change” published by the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) of DIVERSITAS, Institute of Botany, University of Basel with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) was launched during the CBD CoP 10 Mountain Partnership Side Event - 21 October 2010, Nagoya. The publication is available in the Mountain Partnership website, in the home page at the section “What’s new”. Hard copies may be requested writing to: Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), Institute of Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstr. 6, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland. More ...

20/10/2010

Launch of a new microsite on Biodiversity in Mountains at the COP10

A new microsite on Biodiversity in Mountains at the COP10 has been launched by the Mountain Forum and the Mountain Partnership. This micro site aims to raise the importance of mountain biodiversity at COP 10 and share relevant material (news and resources) regarding mountain areas and biodiversity. The website is in English and Spanish languages. More ...

20/10/2010

Ladin Culture Day on 22 October 2010

The Ladin Office of the Bolzano Province organizes an event to celebrate the Ladin Culture Day on 22 October 2010 at Palazzo Widmann, Bolzano. The day aims at raising awareness on this mountain minority and their culture. The panel list includes speakers from media world, institutions, Ladin culture. Participation to the event is open. More ...

20/10/2010

Mountain Partnership Side Event on Mountain Biological Diversity at CBD CoP 10 - 21 October 2010, Nagoya, JAPAN

The Mountain Partnership Side Event “Mountain Biological Diversity: Meeting the challenges of enhanced implementation of the programme of work” at CBD CoP 10 in Nagoya, JAPAN will take place tomorrow 21 October 2010 (16:30/18:00, Room 212A - Bldg 2, 1st Floor). This side event will explore how to achieve enhanced implementation of the programme of work on mountain biological diversity by first identifying the constraints and challenges and then providing innovative examples and cases from governments, civil society, IGOs and the private sector which have led to effective results. The event will also demonstrate the importance of working in close collaboration through new partnerships and will highlight the role and importance of the Mountain Partnership. More ...

18/10/2010

Indigenous Sacred sites - President of Yachay Wasi Luis Delgado Hurtado’s speech at a COP-10 Side Event in Nagoya, Japan – 25 October 2010

Luis Delgado Hurtado, President of Yachay Wasi, will be giving a speech regarding the importance of Indigenous Sacred sites and their relevance to today’s society dilemmas such as climate change and loss of biodiversity at a side event on 25 October 2010 during COP-10 in Nagoya, Japan. He is among selected indigenous and local community representatives from around the world to take part in COP-10. More ...

13/10/2010

World Food Day - 16 October 2010

On 16 October 2010 is the FAO's World Food Day. The theme of this year is United Against Hunger, chosen to recognize the efforts made in the fight against world hunger at national, regional and international levels. In 2009, the critical threshold of one billion hungry people in the world was reached. On the eve of the hunger summit, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf launched an online petition (www.1billionhungry.org) to reflect the moral outrage of the situation. More ...

11/10/2010

Online Dialogue on Accelerating Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in Asia and the Pacific – by 22 October 2010

The first round of the online dialogue on Accelerating Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in Asia and the Pacific started on 27 September 2010 has now been extended up to 22 October 2010. The Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) was adopted during the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held from 18 to 22 January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan and it aims at building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters (HFA). Practitioners working in the area of disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development and other related subjects are encouraged to participate and contribute to the dialogue by sharing their experiences, lessons learned and challenges encountered. The output of this first round would also feed into the upcoming issue of the Asian Disaster Management News, the quarterly publication of ADPC. More ...

11/10/2010

New mountainous sites added to global Geoparks Network - UNESCO

During the 9th European Geoparks Conference on the island of Lesvos (Greece) held from 1 to 5 October, the Global Geoparks Network Bureau admitted 11 new members in nine countries. Among new members four mountainous sites are included, two from Italy, the Cilento and Vallo di Diano set in the Apennine Mountains in Campania and the Tuscan Mining Park, most important mining district in central Italy. The others are the area of Vikos-Aoos, Ioannina, comprising most impressive gorges in the north-western Greece, and the Basque Coast, Gipuzkoa, Euskadi/País Vasco in Spain, combining coastal cliffs together with mountainous landscape. The Global Network of National Geoparks, created under the aegis of UNESCO in 2004, now comprises 77 Geoparks in 24 countries around the world. More ...

11/10/2010

Woods from Satellites: carbon, biomasses, landslide, fires – Presentation of UNCEM Project on 11 October, Frascati, Rome

On 11 October at 2:30 p.m. the National Union Of Mountain Municipalities, Communities And Authorities (UNCEM) will present first results of the project which they have been carrying out together with ESA and MEEO Srl at the F. Magellan room at the ESA-Esrin, Frascati, Italy. The project is intended to elaborate new methodologies for the environmental monitoring by using new technologies based on satellites observations. More ...

11/10/2010

Argentina limits mining extractions to preserve glaciers

An environmental measure limiting mining extractions in Andean mountains has recently been approved in Argentina. The measure is intended to preserve the Andean glaciers and their fragile ecosystems from major threats which could come from activities related to mining, such as production of dusts or unsustainable construction of roads in remote areas. The target area is a 5000-kilometre zone along the border with Chile. The law, to which most of the industrials were opposed, has finally passed thanks to a narrow majority of votes and it is expected to cause losses in the mining sector. More ...

08/10/2010

World Bank Call for Contributions on Mountains and Climate change – by 8 January 2011

The World Bank is asking for contributions on a publication on Mountains and Climate which will address the challenges of climate change for mountain ecosystems and livelihoods. This book will combine the experiences of World Bank programmes and projects with contributions from experts on mountain development. The request is for specific country cases or in thematic papers in the following areas: Environment, Agriculture & Food Security, Biodiversity & Conservation, Forced Migration & Displacement, Social & Human Resilience, Gender, Health & Wellbeing, Socio-economy & Institutions, Built Heritage & Cultural Landscape, Tourism & Recreation, Water and Natural Resources, Natural Disasters. Papers (not more than 10000 words) should be sent to Hannah Behrendt (hbehrendt@worldbank.org) or Hari Bansha Dulal (hdulal@worldbank.org) by 8 January 2011. More ...

06/10/2010

Msc European Forestry scholarships – applications by 31 December 2010

MSc European Forestry scholarships Application deadline for the 2011-2013 study period is 31 December 2010 (for scholarships corresponding to the Erasmus Mundus categories A and B). MSc EF is a two-year Erasmus Mundus Masters course in forest sciences, policy and management jointly organized by seven leading European universities and supported by the European Commission. MSc EF focuses on the international dimensions of forest resource management and utilization and prepares students to understand the forest related ecological conditions and socio-economic dynamics in Europe. Further information on the eligibility of candidates is available on line. More ...

06/10/2010

Japanese satellite receiving station for disaster response goes live

A new Japanese satellite receiving station was inaugurated at ICIMOD on 3 October by Shinichi Mizumoto of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), José Achache, Executive Director of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD. The satellite receiving station will receive data from satellite systems in Japan, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Korea, especially to guide response efforts in emergency situations like floods and where the communication infrastructure is poor. The system is the first of a series being set up in South Asia. The inauguration was held to coincide with a workshop on ‘Space-based information for disaster preparedness and risk management’ being held on 2-3 October at ICIMOD, Kathmandu. More ...

04/10/2010

FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA) – Forest biodiversity is at risk but conservation efforts are growing

The final report of Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA) has been published today to coincide with the start of the FAO' Committee on Forestry (COFO) and the World Forest Week, in Rome. FRA 1010 is the result of a four-year effort and represents the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests ever undertaken. Forest biodiversity is at risk and around 16 million ha per year were converted to other use or lost during the 1990s, says the report. Main threats to world's forest biodiversity are deforestation and forest degradation as well as a decline in primary forest area, particularly in South America, followed by Africa and Asia. However, a trend towards the conservation of forest biological diversity has been recorded in many countries, as dedicated conservation areas have increased by more than 95 million ha since 1990. More ...

04/10/2010

Asia-Pacific Human Development Academic Fellowship on Climate Change – deadline on 30 November 2010

Applications are now open for the 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Fellowships of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and deadline is 30 November 2010. The theme for the Academic Fellowship is 'Climate Change'. The research must focus on a well-defined aspect of human development, could be theoretical, applied, policy-oriented or a combination and must amount to a substantive contribution to human development thinking relevant for the region. There is also a Media Fellowship focalizing on 'Gender' this year. Further information about the Fellowship Programme as well as brochures and applications forms is available in the website. More ...

30/09/2010

Committee on Forestry (COFO 2010) and World Forest Week - 4-8 October 2010, FAO

The 20th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 2010) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will take place from 4-8 October 2010, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. COFO brings together participants from COFO member states, including heads of forestry departments, UN agencies, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to identify emerging policy and technical issues, seek solutions and advise FAO and others on appropriate action. COFO 2010 will focus on, inter alia: the Global Forest Resources Assessment; forest biodiversity, fire and water in the context of climate change; emerging opportunities and challenges in forest finance and forest governance; programme priorities for FAO’s forestry activities; and the International Year of Forests 2011. The 2nd World Forest Week will take place in parallel with COFO 2010, and will include events on key forest issues, information sessions and other meetings, sponsored by FAO and its partner organizations and institutions. More ...

30/09/2010

Pioneer of modern climbing Kurt Albert died

German climbing legend Kurt Albert died yesterday evening following the accident occurred last Sunday, when he fell 18 metres from a via ferrata in Bavaria, Germany. Aged 56, he was a legendary German climber who shaped the development of rock climbing and pioneered hard routes across Germany and beyond. He also invented the Rotpunk in mid-70′s, implying drawing a red dot under routes successfully climbed in free style. More ...

30/09/2010

Fellowships in Sustainability Science - Harvard University's Center for International Development

The Sustainability Science Program at Harvard University's Center for International Development invites applications for resident fellowships in sustainability science for the University's academic year beginning in September 2011. The fellowship competition is open to advanced doctoral and post-doctoral students, and to mid-career professionals engaged in research or practice to facilitate the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective interventions that promote sustainable development. Some preference will be given to applicants whose work addresses challenges of innovation for sustainable development, with special attention to innovation in the energy, health and agricultural sectors. Deadline for applications is 1 December 2010. More ...

30/09/2010

On Asian Mountains – encounter with the alpinist Agostino Da Polenza and the anthropologist-orientalist Martino Nicoletti

Sunday 3 October 2010 an encounter with the alpinist Agostino Da Polenza and the anthropologist-orientalist Martino Nicoletti will take place at the Adriano Temple in Rome, in the presence of the city mayor Giovanni Alemanno. This event is organized in the framework of the Travel Literature Festival in cooperation with the Azienda Speciale Promoroma. The Festival is being held from 30 September to 3 October in Rome. Further information is available online. More ...

30/09/2010

Get Connected Online to the ‘Earth Observation Symposium’ - Kathmandu 1-7 October 2010

An International Symposium on ‘Benefiting from Earth Observation: Bridging the Data Gap for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region’, organized by ICIMOD, Group on Earth Observations and GIS Development will take place from 4-6 October, 2010 at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu. Three pre-and-post symposium events will be held in the ICIMOD centre: Youth Forum – Empowering Youth with Earth Observation Information for Climate Actions in the Himalayas, 1-6 October; Pre-symposium workshop on Space-based Information for Disaster Preparedness and Risk Management, 2-3 October; and SERVIR Himalaya Regional Inception workshop, 7 October. More ...

29/09/2010

New book from ICIMOD: Mountains of the World, Ecosystem Services in a Time of Global and Climate Change

A new book from ICIMOD "Mountains of the World – Ecosystem Services in a Time of Global and Climate Change" was formally launched by the Minister of the Environment of the Government of Nepal, Mr Thakur P Sharma, and the Director General of ICIMOD, Dr Andreas Schild, on 23 September at the start of the International Expert Consultation Meeting: Mountain Initiative on Climate Change in Kathmandu, Nepal. The paper was prepared jointly by ICIMOD and the Government of Nepal as a rationale and framework for the Mountain Initiative and it is available on line for the download. More ...

28/09/2010

Economist edition on Forests - “The world's lungs”

The latest print edition of the Economist is dedicated to forests, being entitled “The world's lungs”. Several reports are now available on line, concerning the importance of preserving forests from deforestation, for their ecological but also economical value, which needs to be most effectively assessed. Local communities’ management and forests resources are investigated in these reports. More ...

27/09/2010

New EEA report: 'Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains'

A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report entitled 'Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains' was presented at the 7th European Mountain Convention, held on 15-17 September in Lillehamer, Norway. The study provides an in-depth analysis of populations, ecosystems, water cycles, land cover in European mountain areas, with a view to improving related policies. According to topography and altitude criteria based on data from digital elevation models, the EEA study defines the 36 % of Europe’s area and 29 % of the EU-27 as mountainous. More ...

27/09/2010

Experts call for greater global support for Nepal’s Mountain Initiative

The “International Expert Consultation Meeting: Mountain Initiative on Climate Change” organised by the Government of Nepal Ministry of Environment and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) was held on 23-24 September 2010 in Kathmandu, NEPAL. Douglas McGuire, Mountain Partnership Secretariat Coordinator, also attended.
More than 40 experts from 16 mountain countries pointed out the need for greater global support to protect the mountain ecosystems and services from the growing impact of climate changes and developed a set of recommendations for the proposed Ministerial Conference of the Mountain Countries on Climate Change, future UNFCCC negotiations, the Rio+20 conference, and related international events beyond 2012.

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27/09/2010

The rich biodiversity of Eastern Himalaya has great medicinal potential

The article recognizes the contribution given by the folk medicine of the Himalayan to modern medicine and provides a list of plant drugs. Himalayan inhabitants have learnt to utilise many indigenous plants of their rich patrimony for the treatment of different diseases, often after centuries of trials. Among the plants with medicinal potential there are Rauvolfia serpentina (for high blood pressure), Tylophora indica (for asthma and whooping cough), Viola serpens and Adhatoda vasica (for bronchitis), Nardostachys grandiflora (sedative). More ...

24/09/2010

New report on the Etna Eastern Side sliding towards the Mediterranean Sea

A new report regarding the Eastern side of the Etna, the most active European Volcano, has recently been published on the international revue “Geophysical Research Letters” by an Italian research team from Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (Irea-Cnr), National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv) and Roma Tre University. The focus are the slow and continue movements which affect the volcano, inducing a whole sector to slide towards the Mediterranean Sea. More ...

23/09/2010

Machu Picchu train halted over water protests

Authorities in Peru have suspended train services to the Inca citadel Machu Picchu due to protests over an irrigation project that critics say could leave communities around the town of Espinar without water. The project envisages a dam and a huge irrigation system to improve the agriculture in the region of Arequipa and diversify the economy away from mining. Several new jobs are forecasted, but the needs of the Espinar’s communities have not been considered, inhabitants said. Access to water is especially sensitive given that Andean glaciers are melting and heavily populated coastal areas are near desert. Violent clashes last week between police and protesters left one man dead and 44 injured. More ...

22/09/2010

Environmental Regionalism: The Challenge of the Alpine Convention and the "Strange Case" of the Andean Community

A paper on Environmental Regionalism and regional mountain agreements written by Jon Marco Church, Research Fellow and Graduate Student at Harvard University, is now available on line in the website of the Center for International Development (CID) of the Harvard University. Focusing on two regional mountain agreements, the Alpine Convention and the Andean Community, this paper suggests that the latter, dated at 1969, may be a concurrent model for mountain agreements, especially in developing countries and conflict zones such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, or the Himalayas. More ...

20/09/2010

India floods kill 63 people in two days

At least 63 people have been killed from flooding and landslides in northern India since Saturday, officials said. Most of the 63 deaths recorded so far have been caused by collapsed houses, landslides and drowning cases. Authorities have evacuated about 5,000 people to safety from one of the three worst-hit districts of Uttarakhand state. India’s main weather office has forecast heavy rains in parts of Uttarakhand and the neighboring Uttar Pradesh state during the next 24 hours. More than 800 rain-related deaths have been reported from across the country since June this year, according to a federal home ministry update. More ...

20/09/2010

High-level meeting of the General Assembly on Biodiversity – 22 September 2010

On 22 September 2010, as a means to mark the International Year of Biodiversity, the UN General Assembly will hold a high-level event on biodiversity at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA. The event will include roundtable discussions on post-2010 biodiversity targets, the links between climate change and biodiversity, and the importance of biodiversity to poverty alleviation and the achievement of the MDGs. More ...

15/09/2010

ARGE ALP Conference on strategies to protect climate in the Alps – 23 September, Bolzano

The Conference “Is the Alpine area a model in climate protection?” will be held on 23 September, organized by ARGE ALP (Work Community of Alpine Regions), at the Congress Center of the Sheraton Hotel in Bolzano. Regions of the Alpine area - Bavaria, Graussbunden, Saltsburg, San Gallo, South Tyrol, Tessin, Voralberg, Tyrol, Trentino e Lombardy - will present their strategies to achieve a more effective climate protection through innovation. CO2 emissions, energy consumption, renewable sources, funding, programmes as well as further related economic, technologic and social opportunities for the future will be discussed. More ...

15/09/2010

New video on line on IUCN website - Managing the Tacana Volcano Watershed

A new video on the “Integrated Management of the Tacana Volcano Watersheds” Project is now on line on the IUCN website. The Tacana Project is being carried out by IUCN with funds from the Netherland Embassy and together with other partners in San Marcos department, Guatemala. Overexploitation of natural resources, high population density, settlements and agriculture combined with extreme weather events are increasingly undermining the region's food and water security. The project aims at ensuring that natural resources are used in a sustainable way and that nature itself is used in managing the volcano watershed. More ...

14/09/2010

International Graduate Student Conference on Climate change and People - 15-19 November 2010, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Small Earth Nepal and the Consortium for Capacity Building (University of Colorado) in collaboration with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Government of Nepal, Centre of Research for Environment Energy and Water (Nepal), Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand) and International Research Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi (Japan) are organizing an International Graduate Conference on Climate Change and People, to be held from 15-19 November 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The conference, mainly supported by Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) under the CAPaBLE Program and co-sponsored by UNESCO, will gather scholars, graduate students and climate change practitioners to discuss on number of climate change related issues in the Greater South Asia, from Kyrgyzstan to Bangladesh. More ...

14/09/2010

The Climate Himalaya Initiative – new brochure on line

A detailed brochure with information on the Climate Himalaya Initiative (CHI) is now on line. Launched during World Environment Day on 5 June 2010 , CHI is a voluntary India-based initiative aimed at fostering sustainable mountain development in the Himalayan region, linking experiences, science, policy and decision making. The initiative is supported by volunteers of a mountain environmental group at Prakriti in India, and new partnerships are welcomed. Further information is available in the website (http://www.climatehimalaya.net) as well as in the blog (http://chimalaya.org). More ...

13/09/2010

New information on funding and projects in the Climate Funds Update website

The website Climate Funds Update, sponsored in part by Overseas Development Institute (ODI), has recently completed a comprehensive update on all 21 climate change funds, including information on funds pledged, deposited and disbursed, project-level information, and updated tables and graphs. The website also launched a new page that tracks Fast Start Finance pledges made by donor countries. With listings of funding sources, maps of projects, user-friendly charts and graphs, and more, it turns out to be a very useful tool to understand the growing number of international funding initiatives designed to help developing countries address the challenges of climate change. More ...

10/09/2010

ICIMOD/IIED joint side event at the Stockholm World Water Week

A joint side event entitled ‘Living with too much and too little Water in the Himalayan Region’ was organised by ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) and IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development) on 9 September at the Stockholm World Water Week. People’s current local responses to the challenges of dealing with too much water and too little water, in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region were discussed. Participants stressed the importance of supporting adaptation to floods and drought in the region, which has been further highlighted by floods during this monsoon season. More ...

10/09/2010

CIPRA Yearly Symposium - 14 to 16 October 2010

The Yearly Symposium of the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) is being held at the Semmering/A from 14 to 16 October. This year's CIPRA Symposium focuses on the socio-economic margins of the Alps. Development opportunities are to be showcased for areas such as health and tourism, integration policy and municipal self-governance. Politicians and experts will discuss the future of peripheral regions, with regards to peripheral rural areas and the future regional policies. Creative ideas for practical solutions will be put forward at the end of the conference. The registration deadline is September 26. Programme and additional information are available in the website. More ...

08/09/2010

China, India and Nepal Strengthen Cooperation to Conserve the Kailash Sacred Landscape

The Second Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative was held from 4 to 6 September 2010, in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China. The workshop was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences ICIMOD Committee (CN-ICIMOD) and Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment Research, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Representatives from China, India and Nepal discussed the initial steps for developing a ‘Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF) Agreement’. More ...

07/09/2010

International Mountain Summit (IMS) - New ideas for the mountains

The International Mountain Summit (IMS) has launched a competition to find new and cutting-edge projects on mountain world. The focus is on sustainable ways through which to respond to the current mountain issues. The competition is open to all and all kind of innovative activities related to alpinism, tourism, economy as well as ecological sustainability are eligible. Ideas will be collected until 10 October 2010, then a panel of experts will evaluate and award the best projects. Further information is available in the website. More ...

06/09/2010

The city of Aspen and the Aspen International Mountain Forum announced their first “Mountain Partnership Day”

The city of Aspen, Colorado and a local NGO (Aspen International Mountain Forum - AIMF) who have recently joined the Mountain Partnership, on 26 August officially announced their first “Mountain Partnership Day” at the opening of “MountainSummit: Mountain Film” held at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. Aspen is the first American governmental entity to join the Mountain Partnership and together with the AIMF has been working to support local and international efforts to improve sustainable mountain development. More ...

02/09/2010

Planet Action annual Call for Projects – 30 November 2010

30 November 2010 is the deadline for submitting projects to Planet Action. Planet Action is a non-profit initiative launched by Spot Image and joined by other partners, aimed at supporting local projects acting on Climate Change-related issues by providing geographic information, satellite images and technology to NGOs, universities, research centers. The current call for proposals addresses local projects that investigate and assess climate change focusing on human issues, drought & desertification, water resources, forestry, biodiversity, oceans, ice, or awareness raising. More ...

02/09/2010

Video Report on the energy efficiency project of CAMP Alatoo, Kyrgyzstan

A video report on the energy efficiency project of CAMP Alatoo in Kyrgyzstan has been produced and broadcasted by Deutsche Welle TV as a part of the globalization magazine GLOBAL 3000 on DW-TV (Germany). The video is online, along with other climate series, and is available as on-demand video. More ...

01/09/2010

Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalaya – 21 September 2010

The "Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalaya" awareness rally, an initiative organized by the Government of Nepal, will be held on 21 September 2010 at 4:00 pm in New York. Everest Summiteers from Nepal and climbers from around the world will march through the streets of New York, towards the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in front of the United Nations Building. The initiative aims to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas during the UN General Assembly, which is held at the same time. More ...

30/08/2010

Engineers to drain water from Alpine glacier

Engineers in France have recently started work to drain an immense lake that has built up under the Tete Rousse glacier, situated 3,200 meters (10,560 feet) up Mont Blanc. Specialists are now drilling into the glacier as part of preparations to slowly pump out the 65,000 cubic meters (2,275,000 cubic feet) of liquid believed trapped beneath. The operation is intended to prevent the repeat of a disaster as in 1892, when flood waters burst from the buried lake to the valley, killing 175 people. More ...

30/08/2010

Mountain Partnership side event at CoP10 on “Mountain biological diversity” - 21 October 2010, Nagoya, JAPAN

On 21 October 2010 a side event on “Mountain biological diversity” will be organized by the Mountain Partnership at the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CoP10) in Nagoya, JAPAN (16:30/18:00, Room 212A - Bldg 2, 1st Floor). The side event will identify challenges and constraints on the way to achieve enhanced implementation of the mountain biological diversity work programme. Innovative examples and cases from governments, civil society, IGOs and the private sector which led to effective results will be provided. The event will also demonstrate the importance of working in close collaboration through new partnerships and it will highlight the role and importance of the Mountain Partnership. More ...

27/08/2010

Transport in Mountains: An International Workshop – 21-27 November 2010, Kathmandu

From 21 to 27 November 2010 an International workshop on Transport in Mountains will be organised in Kathmandu, NEPAL by the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD) supported by its affiliate National Network in Nepal, the Nepal Forum for Rural Transport and Development (NFRTD) and its members in Nepal. This International workshop is a platform to share and exchange experiences of transport in mountainous terrain, to explore controversies as well as learning from one another and identifying viable solutions. Further information is available in the website. The deadline for early-bird registration is 29 August. More ...

27/08/2010

Why Pakistan monsoons support evidence of global warming

Lord Julian Hunt, visiting Professor at Delft University and former Director-General of the UK Met Office, on 20 August expressed on REUTERS’ blog his belieF that Pakistan monsoons support evidence of global warming. The unusually large rainfall from this year’s monsoon has caused the most catastrophic flooding in Pakistan for 80 years, with the U.N. estimating that around one fifth of the country is underwater. Heavy monsoon precipitation has increased in frequency in Pakistan and Western India in recent years. In addition, the thickness of ice over the Tibetan plateau is decreasing and changing patterns of precipitation, with less snow at higher levels, plus more rapid run off from mountains. More ...

27/08/2010

Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) - Call for proposals (Deadline 1 October 2010)

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) based in Washington DC, USA has launched a Call for proposals establishing as deadline for the October allocations the 1 October 2010. The GAFSP aims to improve the income and food security of poor people in developing countries through more and better public and private sector investment in agriculture and rural development that is country-owned and led. More ...

27/08/2010

World's highest island glacier vanishing

Last June, scientists in a team led by alpine glaciologist Lonnie Thompson of Ohio State University, drilled ice core samples from the glacier on Puncak Jaya in Papua, Indonesia, which is quickly melting away. Ice cores extracted from one of the last tropical glaciers in the Pacific where sent to the United States, where researchers will spend the coming months scrutinizing them. The glaciologists hope the new data could lead to better predictions on how the climate changes in the tropics. More ...

26/08/2010

New mountainous sites added to the UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage sites

Following IUCN’s recommendations, the landscapes of La Reunion Island (France), the Siberian Putorana Plateau (Russian Federation) and the Phoenix Islands Protected Areas (Kiribati) have been added to the List of Natural World Heritage sites by UNESCO. The Committee also decided to add Danxia (China) to the List, as well as the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka), Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Hawaii, USA). Two other natural sites were extended upon IUCN’s advice: Monte San Giorgio, from Switzerland to Italy, and Pirin National Park in Bulgaria. More ...

26/08/2010

Six Vacancies at ICIMOD

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) based in Kathmandu, Nepal is now seeking a Project Secretary, a Senior Hydrologist, a Team Leader - Rangeland Resources Management/Rangeland Specialist, Regional Database Expert, an Assistant Project Coordinator and a Director of Programme Operations (DPO). Terms of reference are available in the website. More ...

26/08/2010

IUFRO is seeking for an Executive Director

The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) is seeking to appoint an Executive Director to serve as its chief executive officer based at the Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, as of 1 November 2010. The present Executive Director Dr. Peter Mayer has been appointed Director-General of the Austrian Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), where the IUFRO Headquarters are located. The full announcement of the position is available in the website. Applications should be sent so no later than 30 September 2010. More ...

25/08/2010

Climate Himalaya Initiative’s news portal on Climate Change

The Climate Himalaya Initiative has a dedicated news portal that updates the Climate Change related news on regular basis. The ongoing includes Pakistan Floods, Leh Cloudburst, Climate Change Modelling, Domestic Actions by countries, Actions by Asian countries, Cancun Climate Summit. There are also options for subscription, membership and social networking. More ...

25/08/2010

‘AgKnowledge Africa’ Share Fair - 18-21 October, 2010

The ‘AgKnowledge Africa’ Share Fair, organized by FAO in collaboration with CGIAR, IFAD and CT, will be held on 18-21 October 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The fair will showcase the ways agricultural and rural knowledge in and of Africa is created, shared, communicated and applied, by using a wide range of modes of sharing knowledge. 5 September 2010 is the deadline for sending cases, models and examples from Africa. Further information is available on the website. More ...

24/08/2010

FAO response plans to Pakistan Floods 2010

Following the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s history in July 2010, FAO and its partners in the Agriculture Cluster are working to scale up response plans and funding requirements. The heavy monsoon rains caused flash and riverine floods which have affected around 15.4 million people and 12 000 villages, with at least 1 402 dead and 893 000 homes destroyed. It is essential that every effort is made to meet the urgent needs of Pakistani farmers on time, averting further livestock losses and supporting the upcoming Rabi wheat planting season, beginning in September/October 2010. More ...

24/08/2010

High-level Meeting Prepares Road Map for Climate Summit

A high Level Technical Consultative Meeting on ‘Sacred Himalayas for Water, Livelihoods, and Bio-cultural Heritage’ organised by ICIMOD and the Royal Government of Bhutan was held on 18-20 August 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Experts presented four papers on water, energy, biodiversity and food security outlining the emerging issues, gaps and challenges in the region and suggested a way forward for carrying out national and regional consultations. More ...

23/08/2010

Retreat of Tibetan Plateau Glaciers threatens Water Supply and Food Security in Asia

The Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) has published in August 2010 a briefing report regarding the retreat of Tibetan Plateau Glaciers caused by Global Warming and the related threats to water supply and food security in Asia. Since the 1950′s, warming in excess of 1ºC on the Tibetan side of the Himalayas has contributed to retreat of more than 80% of the glaciers. As the Himalayan glaciers seasonally release meltwater into tributaries of the major Asian rivers, melting glaciers endangers the fresh water supply and food security of billions of people in Asia. The warming also contributes to the land use changes, especially melting of permafrost, which could result in significant carbon loss. More ...

23/08/2010

Europe's mountains: rich in biodiversity but increasingly vulnerable

On 28 July 2010 the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a new assessment of Europe’s mountain ecosystems. This document is the eighth in the series of “10 messages for 2010”, focusing on specific ecosystems or issues related to biodiversity in Europe. Covering 36 % of the continent (29 % of the European Union), mountain ecosystems provide recreation and economic opportunities for humans as well as a home to a rich variety of plant and animal species. Increasingly, however, these areas are threatened by land abandonment, unsustainable exploitation and climate change. Hence, the EEA’s assessment indicates that managing mountains sustainably relies on effective policies and actions at regional and local levels. More ...

02/08/2010

Rohtang Pass : India launched the works for a five mile tunnel under the Himalaya

In June, India started the works for building a five mile tunnel through the Pir Panjal range, Himalaya at the border with the Tibet. The tunnel will pass under the Rohtang Pass, which is sadly known for the few dozen people dying while trying to cross it every winter, when the main road is completely snowbound. The tunnel will turn an ordeal of several hours, even in the summer, into a brisk 20-minute trip. The ambitious project of the Indian State, originally proposed by Indira Gandhi, will be accomplished in five years, assuming not too many technical problems will occur. More ...

23/07/2010

Christiana Figueres takes the helm at UNFCCC

On 8 July 2010 Christiana Figueres has taken up her post as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ms Figueres assumes leadership of the secretariat following extensive experience of high-level work across all areas of climate change, including as a member of the Costa Rican negotiating team since 1995. She becomes the fourth executive secretary of the UNFCCC. More ...

21/07/2010

XIII IUFRO World Congress

The International Union of Forests Research Organization (IUFRO) is organizing its XIII World Congress, entitled Forests for the Future: Sustaining Society and the Environment, from 23 to 28 August 2010. The XIII IUFRO World Congress will take place at the COEX Centre, in Seoul City. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn about the latest research and projects conducted by the world's leading forest scientists and experts in related fields. Registration instructions and schedule programme are available in the website. More ...

19/07/2010

UIAA introduces new Executive Director

The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) President Mike Mortimer is pleased to announce that on July 1 Ingo Nicolay has been appointed new Executive Director. Ingo has relevant credentials, being involved in business as well as in non-for- profit organizations. He has been the president of the Heilbronn Section of the DAV, the German alpine club, counting 10.000 members. The UIAA President also expresses his gratitude to Ingo's predecessor, Judith Safford, for all of her hard work in UIAA. More ...

14/07/2010

Call for papers on "Resource Efficiency in Mountains" (submit articles by 15 October 2010)

Mountain Research and Development (MRD) is planning an issue focusing on "Resource Efficiency in Mountains." With this issue, MRD aims at contributing novel research insights and validated development experiences to the 10 Year Framework Program of the Marrakech Process that will be launched in February 2011. We assume that experiences of, and insights into, efficient use of natural resources in mountain areas will benefit an audience beyond the "mountain research and development communities." MRD is a quarterly open access journal that publishes peer-reviewed articles presenting original research on mountain environments and people, sustainable mountain development, and mountain development experiences. More ...

14/07/2010

International Symposium - Adaptation to Climate Change in the HKH Region

The deadline for submission of abstracts for the International Symposium "Benefiting from Earth Observation: Bridging the Data Gap for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region" is 31 July 2010. The International Symposium will be held from 4 to 6 October 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal, foreseeing six sessions focusing on specific issues. Schedule programme, registration and further information are available in the website. More ...

08/07/2010

Sustainable Mobility in Mountain Areas - Joint Session of two European Projects from the Alpine Space Programme

On 13 July 2010, the Coordinator of the Mountain Partnership Mr. Douglas McGuire will give a speech on "Sustainable Mobility in Mountain Areas", at 12:45 at FAO Headquarters in Rome. The speech will introduce the Joint Session of the Partners Meetings on the projects TRANSITECTS and Alpcheck2, both co-financed in the framework of the European Programme Alpine Space and dedicated to sustainable mobility and transport in mountain areas. More ...

08/07/2010

"Horizon Field" - 100 sculptures to invade the Austrian Alps

One hundred life-size sculptures are being set up in the Austrian Alps by English artist Anthony Gormley as part of the art project “Horizon Field” this summer. The installation concerns an area of 150 square kilometres in the mountains around Vorarlberg and it intends to represent the complex relationship among human beings and mountains. More ...

06/07/2010

The “Keep K2 Clean” Campaign

“Keep K2 Clean”, an expedition to clean the K2, has been organized by the Italian Committee EvK2Cnr to start on 11 July 2010 from Skardu which is the principal town of the region Baltistan, gateway for several peaks. The expedition will stay there until mid August. Another expedition, also organized by the Committee EvK2Cnr, left to clean the Karakorum glacier on the Baltoro Mountain last 10 May. Maurizio Gallo, the Committee’s technical consultant for Pakistan, stressed not only the environmental but also the educational value of these expeditions.
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06/07/2010

Exit Strategies Conference - Managing Human Waste in the Wild

The American Alpine Club is organizing the Conference “Exit Strategies - Managing Human Waste in the Wild”, to be held on 30-31 July and 1 August 2010 at the American Mountaineering Centre Golden, in Colorado. Top land managers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from around the globe are invited to participate in the Conference aiming to discuss and formulate strategies for managing human waste in remote areas. Schedule programme and registration form are available in the website. More ...

02/07/2010

Forum Alpinum, Munich 2010 - The metropolises and their Alps

The Forum Alpinum “The metropolises and their Alps” will be held from 6 to 9 October 2010 in Munich (Germany). It will explore the relationship between the Alps and large adjacent cities like Munich or Milano from scientific and political angles. Plenary talks and workshops will focus on topics such as urbanization, mobility, biodiversity, climate change and geo-risks and geo-resources. The schedule programme and instructions for registering to the conference are available in the website.
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29/06/2010

Launch of the FAO’s Right to Food on-line Glossary

The FAO Terminology team, together with the Right to Food Team, have launched an online glossary totalling 418 main concepts on the Right to Food. The glossary is covering English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian languages (the Arabic version is in progress). By giving multilingual clarity in terminology dissemination, this collaborative tool with full workflow functions, will contribute to raise awareness on the right to food and on the practical implementation of the Right to Food Guidelines adopted by FAO Council in 2004.
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29/06/2010

Biodiversity in the Alps: CIPRA Annual Report 2009

The CIPRA International's latest Annual Report 2009 which focuses on "Biodiversity in the Alps" is now available. For decades CIPRA has been committed to biological diversity in the Alps. In 2009 CIPRA has promoted efforts aimed at preserving the rich diversity of flora and fauna with a number of projects. The Annual Report can be downloaded from the website or either ordered free of charge writing to international@cipra.org (tel. +423 237 53 53). More ...

28/06/2010

Regional Flood Information System in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized an inception meeting on 23-25 June 2010 in Kathmandu to launch a project establishing a regional flood information system in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH). The project is supported by the Government of Finland and is being implemented by ICIMOD in close collaboration with the WMO and six regional partner countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan). The overall objective of the project is to minimize loss of lives and livelihoods by reducing flood vulnerability in the HKH region, with specific reference to the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus river basins.

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23/06/2010

International Climbers' Festival, Wyoming

The 17th International Climbers' Festival, organized by local Lander climbers together with other partners, is running on July 7-11, in Lander, Wyoming. The festival will offer climbing training sessions targeted to different people's needs and yoga sessions as well as clean-ups activities. Presentations, live music, trade shows are also scheduled. The ICF is a non-profit organization that was started by local Lander climbers in 1993. Located in central Wyoming, Lander sits at the base of the spectacular granite-filled Wind River Range, which has some of the best Alpine routes in the country. Just outside of town are the legendary sport-climbing crags of Sinks Canyon and Wild Iris, where you can find single pitch sport and traditional climbing as well as bouldering with grades for families. More detailed information on the fest schedule is available on the website.



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17/06/2010

Kick-off for a new Alpine media house

The "Las-Alps Infoteca" project was launched by the broadcasting corporation RTR Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha at the end of April in Chur/CH. It aims to become a centre for media products that are relevant to the Alps. The project will be realized in two phases: in the first phase the focus will be on the provision of media products, in the second the centre will also produce and market its own products. A translation service for the languages spoken in the Alps, including the minority languages Rhaeto-Romance, Ladinish and Cimbrian, will be set up as well. Further promoters are sought. Details of the project will be made public at a meeting in mid-November. More ...

14/06/2010

E-discussion for improving Local Governance in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) launches an e-discussion on ‘Improving Local Governance in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: Documenting Good Governance Practices and Lessons Learnt’, to be held from 14 June to 30 June 2010.
The e-discussion aims at collecting expert views on ways and approaches that have in the past resolved issues on local governance problems in natural resource management within the context of mountain development. Participants from ICIMOD’s eight member countries but also from mountain communities other than the HKH region are invited to share their knowledge in order to explore the root causes of poor local governance practices in mountain areas (Week One: 14–20 June 2010), as well as to identify good practices, effective approaches, and lessons learnt for implementing good local governance practices in the context of mountain development (Week Two: 21 – 27 June 2010).

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11/06/2010

China, Nepal reach historic biodiversity agreement

The State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation of the Government of Nepal signed on 3 June 2010 a Memorandum of Understanding on environment and biodiversity conservation. This pledge between China and Nepal has an historical value, as it engages the two countries in working together for the first time to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. They agreed to implement the obligations of international multilateral environmental agreements and conventions, following the world’s governments have not met the 2002 promise to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity.





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08/06/2010

The UN website 'Greening the Blue' launch on World Environment Day

To mark World Environment Day - 5th June 2010, the United Nations (UN) has launched a new website, www.greeningtheblue.org, to highlight progress in moving towards a climate-neutral UN, and to raise awareness of how staff can get involved in this important work. www.greeningtheblue.org provides information on what the UN is doing to reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The website contains case studies of how UN organizations are reducing the environmental impact of their work across many functions and activities.
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07/06/2010

Pittsburgh — A United Nations World Environment Day Host City

During the six weeks from April 22 to June 5 2010, Pittsburgh-area government officials, business indexes, organizations and individuals hosted a series of World Environment Day events. The city was selected by the United Nations Environment Programme to join World Environment Day 2010 for the North America, (UNEP). All the events contributed in highlighting the theme for celebrations in Pittsburgh, “Biodiversity — Ecosystems Management and the Green Economy”.

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02/06/2010

Tourist municipalities facing climate change examples from Alps

The network of municipalities "Alliance dans les Alpes" is organizing the 14th General Assembly and annual Conference on 4 and 5 June 2010 in Kamnik (Slovenia). The event will focus on tourist municipalities dealing with climate change in mountain areas. Best practices and concrete solutions developed to face climate change within the Alpine area will also be addressed.
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02/06/2010

ITE Congress - Beyond Copenhagen, choices to manage about transports and infrastructures

The ITE - European Transport Initiative is organizing a Congress to be held in Cuneo on Friday 4 June 2010. ITE is an international network linking together several European organizations which are fostering an environmental consistent policy for freight transport in sensitive areas. The organizations are mainly from the Alpine Arch, Pyrenees as well as from Vosges.
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01/06/2010

The Climate Himalaya Initiative

To coincide with the World Environment Day on 5 June, the Times Foundation New Delhi together with the IWRS IIT Roorkee, the Environ Remedies Dehradun and the Prakriti group are launching the 'Climate Himalaya Initiative'. The event will be held at the at Indian Water Resources Society-IWRS, Department of Water Resources Development & Management, Indian Institute of Technology-IIT Roorkee in Uttarakhand, India. Speeches from experts in Environment and Climate Change issues, as well as an open forum for discussions will follow the official launch. The detailed program schedule will be sent on 3 June 2010. Those who want to attend should communicate so by 2 June.

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27/05/2010

The HKH Conservation Portal - ICIMOD

To coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity, ICIMOD has launched a Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Conservation Portal, containing biodiversity and conservation related information. The portal is intended as a platform for sharing data and knowledge, aiming at reducing informational gaps and facilitating standardisation among the countries in the region. It will allow free access to primary and secondary data as well as information on protected areas, corridors, biodiversity elements, and some socioeconomic features of landscapes, including maps. Though the portal’s creation is still in progress, some databases, information and maps have already been uploaded and made available for users.

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27/05/2010

Famed climber takes climate message to Everest

The WWF Climate Ambassador and famed climber Apa Sherpa takes climate message to the Everest on the 22nd of May. Having reached the Everest summit for a record 20th time, he unfurled a banner containing the message “You heard our voice, now raise yours – We can stop climate change in the Himalayas”. Apa carried the banner during the Eco Everest Expedition, led by fellow Climate Ambassador Dawa Steven Sherpa.
Apa is not new to this kind of actions: last year he carried another banner during his then record-breaking 19th Everest ascent, warning the world of the dangerous impacts of climate change in the Himalayas. Following that event, Apa and Dawa Steven Sherpa, have been actively engaged in the WWF-led Climate for Life Campaign, which led to the Himalayas getting significant attention in the global debate on climate change. More ...

25/05/2010

World Climate Teach-In Day

Tackling the global challenge of climate change also implies raising awareness within schools and universities, in order to engage young people and future professionals to search for local solutions. This is the central aim of the "World Climate Teach-In Day", to be held on 4th June 2010, one day before the World Environment Day. Under the patronage of EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences/Germany organizes this worldwide event in the frame of its "International Climate Change Information Programme" (ICCIP). University lecturers and teachers are encouraged to hold a 1-hour lecture on climate change and discuss with their students one of today's most important topics. Pre-formatted lectures can be downloaded free of any charges from the website. Furthermore, students could discuss the topic with other students from all over the world in an online forum.

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24/05/2010

Mountain Biodiversity Portal

The GMBA/GBIF Mountain Biodiversity Portal is now online.
Its main aim is gathering the GBIFs biodiversity data regarding mountains of the world, which can be examined or downloaded by users. You can select search areas from region to globe, or mountain life zones by range of elevation or thermal belts. Mountain areas are defined by ruggedness of terrain, using WORLDCLIM digital elevation data. The Mountain Biodiversity Portal is part of the Mountain Programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity recently discussed in Nairobi. Furthermore, it is GMBA/DIVERSITAS' contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.
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18/05/2010

HKH Countries collaborate on sharing biological resources and traditional knowledge

Government representatives from Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan agreed to collaborate on developing regional approaches to ‘access and benefit sharing of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge (ABS)’ at a side event during the 14th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-14) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Nairobi, Kenya on 17th May. The event was organised by ICIMOD in partnership with the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) countries to discuss the status of implementation of CBD Programme of Work on Mountain Biodiversity (PoW-MB), whose overall purpose is the significant reduction of mountain biodiversity loss by 2010, as well as contributing to poverty alleviation in mountain ecosystems and lowlands dependent on the goods and services they provide.

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18/05/2010

The Dolomiti – Unesco Foundation

The "Dolomiti - Dolomiten - Dolomites - Dolomitis UNESCO Foundation" was established on the 13th of May 2010. It follows the decision of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, which added the Dolomites to the world natural heritage property at the Seville meeting on 26th June 2009. Five different Italian Provinces are jointly coordinating and managing the Dolomiti’s conservation and enhancement policies, by means of the Foundation. These are Trento, Belluno, Bolzano, Pordenone, Udine. The Foundation's Head Office will be in Belluno, and after three years, it will be moved in Bolzano

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17/05/2010

The International Day for Biological Diversity

The theme for the International Day for Biodiversity (IDB), which will be celebrated on 22 May 2010, is Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation. The planet’s species and habitats, and the goods and services they provide, form the basis of our wealth, our health and our well-being. Yet, despite repeated global commitments to protect this heritage, the variety of life on Earth continues to decline at an unprecedented rate. Biodiversity loss is moving ecological systems ever closer to a tipping point beyond which they will no longer be able to fulfil their vital functions. Designation of IDB 2010 on the theme of development provides Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and those dealing with development, opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action. The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This year, IDB is part of the International Year of Biodiversity. More ...

17/05/2010

International Consortium on Landslides Meeting

From 17 to 19 May the Forestry Department and FAO’s Working Group on Disaster Risk Management will host the 2010 Steering Committee Meeting of the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL). The event will include the inaugural meeting of the Organising Committee for the 2nd World Landslide Forum which FAO will host in the first week of October next year. For further information please contact Thomas.Hofer@fao.org
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12/05/2010

Mountain Partnership side event in CSD -New York

The side event Sustainable Mobility in Mountain Areas, organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat is being held today at the 18th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 18). The event will feature presentations by representatives of the transport sector, from scientific research institutions, and from the Carpathian and Alpine regions, as well as Nepal. It aims at sharing experiences and lessons learned through innovative and successful projects and research initiatives in the field of sustainable mobility, highlighting in particular the impact of new roads on the livelihoods of mountain populations. More ...

11/05/2010

I'm Mad as Hell

FAO today unveiled a major online petition calling on people to get angry at the fact that close to a billion people suffer from hunger. Using a whistle as a campaign icon and an innovative online petition as a campaigning tool, “The 1billionhungry project” gives people around the globe the chance to express their discontent that in the 21st century remains a widespread problem. More ...

10/05/2010

Greenland glacier slides faster in summer

A glacier in Greenland slides up to 220 percent faster towards the sea in summer than in winter and global warming could mean a wider acceleration that would raise sea levels, according to a study published on Sunday. A group of experts led by Ian Bartholomew at Edinburgh University in Scotland said the variability was much stronger than earlier observations of glacier movement in Greenland More ...

29/04/2010

U.N.'s Environmental Housekeeping in Chaos, Internal Report Shows

The U.N. is telling countries how to save the planet, but its own environmental housekeeping is a 'scattered' mess, according to a report by a special group of internal investigators.Among other things, the group, known as the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), found that the U.N. efforts at setting internal guidelines on environmental housekeeping and management across its sprawling network of global organizations are "uncoordinated ad hoc efforts" that "continue to be scattered." Almost all U.N. organizations, when queried, could not break out financial data on any measures or specific spending on environmental measures on their own account. More ...

22/04/2010

Biodiversity and Spirituality in the High Andes

On the occasion of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, on Thursday 22 April the NGO Yachay Wasi sponsors “Biodiversity and Spirituality in the High Andes”, the side event of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issue. The event, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme NY Office, regards Indigenous sacred sites as concrete symbols of the unity of Indigenous spirituality and environment. The event will be attended by Juanita Castaño, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme; Elisa Canqui Mollo, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Luis Delgado Hurtado, President of Yachay Wasi and Sandra Ramos Delgado,Youth leader of Yachay Wasi. More ...

19/04/2010

Peru glacier break worries ecologists, government officials

A Peruvian glacier break is worrying ecologists and government officials amid fears other glacier disasters may be on way. A state of emergency was in force in the Ancash region in central Peru as authorities rushed to evacuate nearby valleys and isolated communities. The huge Adean glacier broke off and plunged into a lake near the town of Carhuaz, in Ancash province, causing huge waves and massive property damage. Patricio Vaderrama, a glacier expert at the Institute of Mine Engineers, said the wave would had been at least the height of the levee to be able to smash the barriers. Analysts said Peru appeared ill-prepared for climate change, which could see its tropical ice fields disappear altogether, in the region.
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12/04/2010

Climate Himalaya Initiative

The Climate Himalaya Initiative of Prakriti group India,will be launched on the occasion of World Environment Day 5 June 2010. The purpose of this initiative is to advocate for an obligatory reform in the present environment governance system in the Himalayan region of India. Initially this web based platform will develop a scientific 'Knowledge Resource Hub' on various environment and climate change issues in the Himalayan Mountains of India, and will later expand to a larger scientific and professional network. For further information please visit: http://www.mountainenvironment.org or http://www.prakriti-india.org/ More ...

12/04/2010

Record of Pollution in the Himalayan regions

This year, the Everest and other Himalayan peaks have reported, during the pre - monsoon season, alarming data of air pollution comparable to urban centres. This was the outcome of the Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment (SHARE) project, promoted by the Ev-K2-CNR Committee and highlighted from studies from the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (ISAC) of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) of Bologna and the “Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement - Centre national de la recherche scientifique” of Grenoble. The research centre was performed at the Nepal Climate Observatory, the Ev-K2-CNR scientific laboratory for the study of atmospheric composition change and climate installed at 5079 m a.s.l. of the Everest slope.
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26/03/2010

Race to save Pakistan's valley from devastating flash flood

In Islamabad, Pakistan, Army engineers are battling against time and the threat of seismic shakes to save a 500km stretch of northern Pakistan from being devastated by a potential flash flood. Since January 4, a massive landslide dammed a river in the mountainous area of Hunza creating a lake that continues to rise steadily. The temporary lake has since grown dramatically and now stretches 15km back from the blockage, and is more than 70 metres deep. David Petley, director of the International Landslide Centre at Durham University in the United Kingdom said: “It would be a prudent conclusion to assume the worst when the water reaches the top, at which point it would be sensible to evacuate all the people downstream.”

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22/03/2010

World Water Day 2010

An estimated 884 million people worldwide do not have access to potable water. Population growth and increasing urbanization and chemical pollution are the main factors contributing to the deterioration of water quality. In a message delivered on World Water Day, UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, stressed the need for investment to improve water quality. “We already possess the scientific knowledge to make immediate progress in providing clean water and purification facilities, but the finance has to follow. Scientists are developing novel and ingenious ways to protect surface and underground water from pollution and to ensure better water management.”
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17/03/2010

Mount Rinjani proposed as UNESCO global geopark

Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, may soon be classified a geopark, a nationally protected area containing a number of geological heritage sites of importance, rarity or aesthetic appeal. An official at the province’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Heriyadi Rahmat, said UNESCO had accepted nominations to include Mount Rinjani in the global geopark network.
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17/03/2010

Great Himalayan Trail: trekking's holy grail

World Expeditions is organizing a guided trip along the completed section of the Great Himalayan Trail (GHT). For the first time walkers can take a guided trek traversing the entire length of the Himalayas in Nepal. Stretching for 1,700 km along the length of Nepal, the GHT will take a mere 157 days to be completed. Participants can see eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m including Everest, and cross passes reaching up to 6,000m climbing a total of 150,000m. The Nepal stretch of the Great Himalayan Trail opens in February 2011.
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16/03/2010

2010 Red Rock Rendezvous

Located about 15 miles west of Las Vegas, the Red Rock escarpment offers an estimated 1,700 different climbing routes of all grades and lengths. The area, officially named the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area(RRCNCA)and administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, will host the 7th edition of the American largest outdoor climbing festival. The festival will go on from Friday 19 until Sunday 21 March. All climbers, from beginner to advanced, can enjoy on this occasion plenty of challenging clinics.
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16/03/2010

Protected areas helping people cope with climate change

“Managing natural ecosystems as carbon sinks and resources for adaptation is increasingly recognised as a necessary, efficient and relatively cost-effective strategy to help reduce climate change impacts”, asserts Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, in his preface on the book “Natural Solutions”. The world’s protected area network already helps mitigate and adapt to climate change. These areas store 15 per cent of terrestrial carbon and supply ecosystem services for disaster reduction, water supply, food and public health, all of which enable community-based adaptation.
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10/03/2010

Half a million Ugandans at risk of landslides

300,000 people in Eastern Uganda have left their homes and 500,000 are at risk of being hit by landslides. "Since it is continuing to rain, we are likely to experience more landslides", said the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru. Ecweru said that those displaced in the districts of Butaleja, Budaka and Tororo have lost all their food crops and livestock, which were washed away by floods , and are now in need of relief. He attributed the landslides to increasing population which has led people to settle on mountain slopes.
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09/03/2010

Global biodiversity loss increases

Ahmed Djoghlaf, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, warned that unprecedented biodiversity loss is occurring. Today’s rate of species extinction may be 1,000 times higher than the natural rate. At this rate, one-third to two-thirds of all species of plants, animals, and other organisms would be lost during the second half of the next century. In the Andean Region less and less cultivable lands are available because of the absorption of carbon dioxide. According to the report, “Huella Ecológica y biocapacidad en la Comunidad Andina” from 1961 to 2005 biocapicity in Andean countries decreased of 65%. The most important cause seems to be population growth.
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02/03/2010

The new Latin-American Congress on Potatoes in Cusco

Potato genetic resources conservation will be the new central theme of the Latin-American Association on Potatoes Issues Congress of 2010 “Asociación Latinoamericana de la Papa” (ALAP) which will be held in Cuzco, Peru from 23rd to 28th of May. ALAP is organizing a special call for professors and researchers who want to make presentations, describe their work and debate on the issue of potatoes. The side event, “El Simposio Internacional de Recursos Genéticos de la Papa” (the International Symposium of Genetic Resources of Potatoes) will be also held on this occasion.

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23/02/2010

Climate meeting in April aims at reviving UN process

Talks will take place in April for planning the next steps in the effort toward a global treaty on climate change, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friis said Monday. The meeting will take place in Bonn on 9-11 April gathering senior officials of signatories of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said Friis, whose country currently chairs the negotiating process. The date was set at a meeting of the UNFCCC bureau, tasked with drawing up a calendar of meetings for 2010 in the aftermath of the controversial climate summit in Copenhagen in December, the Danish news agency Ritzau said.
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18/02/2010

Tajikistan facing water shortages and climate extremes, report warns

The ancient, mountainous state of Tajikistan is facing water shortages, rising temperatures and climate extremes. A report released today by Oxfam details fast-rising temperatures, melting glaciers in the Pamir mountains, increased disease, drought, landslides and food shortages. Temperatures plummeted to -20C for more than a month in 2008-09 and temperatures in the south of the country near Afghanistan have risen several degrees above normal, said the report. About 20% of the country's 8,492 glaciers are in retreat and 30% more are likely to retreat or disappear by 2050, said Ilhomjon Rajabov, head of the state's climate change department. The largest glacier, Fedchenko, has lost 44 sq km, or 6% of its volume, in the last 34 years.
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15/02/2010

Climate scientist says Himalayan glacier report is 'robust and rigorous'

The scientist at the centre of the storm over mistakes by the UN's climate change panel defend his report as "robust and rigorous". Martin Parry, a climate expert at the Grantham Institute and Centre for Environmental Policy of London, said he was perplexed at the way the media has focused on what he called minor points. Parry was co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) working group on impacts, which produced the report with the false claim that Himalayan glaciers would melt by 2035. More ...

11/02/2010

Under pressure

Forests are globally important in regulating climate and are locally important in sustaining communities and supporting biodiversity. For this reason , IUCN is central to an emerging initiative called Growing Forest Partnerships (GFP). Funded by the World Bank, it supports partnerships and initiatives developed by forest-dependent people and those who use, manage or regulate forests. GFP is establishing a platform for civil society dialogue involving the various stakeholders about the approach towards developing forestry policy at the national and local levels. This partnership tackles the root causes of the world’s most pressing issues such as poverty, biodiversity loss and climate change. More ...

10/02/2010

Gojal claims for urgent attention

A month has passed since the devastating landslide of Atabad Hunza. The Karakoram Highway (KKH), the lifeline of communication between Pakistan and China lies blocked. The level of the lake rises by an average of 2.6 feet per day. The water has already inundated 3.5km. of KKH, 900 canals of land, thousands of orchards and 11 houses. According to experts, the lake could submerge 187 houses, displacing 1,736 people. The Frontier Works Organisation is working on the excavation of spillways. The authorities have given March 15 as the deadline for the release of the water.
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10/02/2010

Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability in the Eastern Himalayas

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) announces the release of the book, "Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability in the Eastern Himalayas". It highlights the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems to climate change and the potential impacts on biodiversity, water availability, agriculture, hazards, and general human well-being. The book is an evaluation based on the results of surveys, workshops, stakeholder consultations, and technical papers which develops preliminary climate projections and assess climate change vulnerability. It aims to inform about conservation policy at a national and regional level, and stimulate the research on this matter. More ...

02/02/2010

The Equator Prize 2010

Equator Initiative announces the opening of the call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2010: Celebrating Community Success in Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction. The Equator Prize recognizes community-based initiatives that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in reducing poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt. Prize winners will receive worldwide recognition for their work as well as an opportunity to help shape national and global policy and practice in the field. The Equator Prize 2010 nomination process will be open until February 28th. More ...

01/02/2010

The erosion of biodiversity is as big a global challenge as climate change.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, opened the “Biodiversity Science Policy Conference” on Monday by underlining that preserving biological diversity represents “as big a global challenge as climate change”. A project was launched to create an intergovernmental platform on biodiversity and ecosystems services to promote exchange between scientists and policy-makers, similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Jean-Louis Borloo, French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Sea, expressed hope that the platform would be established “before the end of the year”. More ...

25/01/2010

People decry government's inaction as lake threat rises

It is 23 days since the massive landslide hit Atabad village, blocking the Karakoram Highway, the only link land between China and Pakistan, bringing to halt the civic and commercial life in Gojal. An artificial glacial lake has formed on the Hunza River inundating a number of villages in Gojal. The rise in the level of the lake water is endangering thousands of lives upstream and downstream the Hunza and Gilgit districts. Niaz Wali, a geologist of Focus, informed that the water is rising with an average of 1.1 meters in 24 hours and the water inflow in the lake is 250 cubic meters per second. He said the inflow could increase with the rise in the temperature.
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19/01/2010

Himalayan glacier controversy

As the controversy over retreating Himalayan glaciers took a new turn, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, India stood vindicated with a UN body moving to retract its own warning that the glaciers would melt by 2035 due to climate change. Ramesh slammed as ‘alarmist’ the warning by Rajendra Pachauri’s Nobel-prize winning Inter-government Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the glaciers would vanish and said it was without any scientific basis. “The health of the glaciers is a cause of grave concern but the IPCC’s alarmist position was not based on scientific evidence; in fact, we had issued a report that the glaciers, have not retreated abnormally” Ramesh told reporters.
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18/01/2010

DynAlp-climate

Climate change is particularly noticeable in the Alps and for this reason the network of municipalities of the Alps has decided to support its members embracing a sustainable approach to the issue of climate change. The new dynAlp-climate programme was designed to incentivise municipalities in adopting specific activities on climate change. Alliance in the Alps promotes networking and the exchange of experience as part of dynAlp-climate by organising events at the local, regional and international level. It also plans to formulate policy positions for a sustainable and environmentally sound approach to climate change. More ...

07/01/2010

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations is marking 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, with a slew of events highlighting the vital role the phenomenon plays in maintaining the life support system on Planet Earth. “Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is essential to sustaining the living networks and systems that provide us all with health, wealth, food, fuel and the vital services our lives depend. Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost. These losses are irreversible, impoverish us all and damage the life support systems we rely on every day. But we can prevent them,” said the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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21/12/2009

Villagers flee volcano danger zone

More than 3,000 villagers remaining in a no-go zone around the Philippines' rumbling Mayon volcano have started evacuating the area after officials threatened to force them out. Scientists have warned that powerful booms emanating from the country's most active volcano, located about 330 kilometres south-east of Manila, indicate that a major eruption is imminent. Just over 9,200 families or nearly 44,400 people have already taken shelter in the evacuation centres since Mayon started belching ash, steam and lava last week. The 2,460-metre volcano has erupted 48 times in recorded history.

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14/12/2009

The Alpine Climate Portal

On the occasion of the Copenhagen Talks and to honor the International Mountain Day, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention launches the new Alpine Climate Portal. The webpage of the Alpine Convention on Climate Change has the purpose to contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan on Climate Change in the Alps adopted in March 2009 by the Contracting Parties of the Alpine Convention. The Alpine States have agreed to make the Alpine region a model region regarding the problem of climate change, and this website will be an interactive tool to support this objective. More ...

10/12/2009

UN chief optimistic of robust climate deal

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon predicted Tuesday that a robust agreement to combat climate change will be reached in Copenhagen and implemented immediately.Ban said for the Copenhagen conference to be a success, the agreement must include ambitious reductions in carbon emissions by developed countries as well as ambitious actions by poorer developing countries to curb emissions. Rich nations must also provide financial support and technological assistance to help developing countries limit their emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change, including floods and drought, he said. More ...

10/12/2009

International Mountain Day 2009

This year's International Mountain Day theme is Disaster Risk Management
Mountains are hazardous places. Many mountain communities live under the threat of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides and floods. Many are the factors that cause people to live in these vulnerable situations: ties of kinship and community, a culturally different notion of risk and last but not least, poverty.
This year’s International Mountain Day (11 December) aims to raise awareness on the high number of natural hazards in mountain areas and the high vulnerability of mountain communities. It draws attention to sustainable agricultural, pasture and forestry practices as key elements of risk reduction as well as the need to develop integrated strategies and policies at a national level.
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09/12/2009

The third Issue of Karakoram Knowledge Highway-KKH

Karakoram Area Development Organisation-KADO has just released the print and online version of the third Issue of Karakoram Knowledge Highway-KKH.
KKH is the first multidisciplinary development and research journal from Karakoram aimed at to generate and disseminate rigorous research manuscripts and scholarly works, on different aspects of the high Asia Mountains and its people. It publishes research manuscripts, theoretical papers, review articles, lessons learnt in development interventions, success stories on social, economical, environmental, geographical, cultural, technological aspects of mountain communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and the surrounding mountain communities.
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04/12/2009

Ice Care: Climbing for climate

On the 7th December starts the Copenhagen Summit and the Ice Care team will be on its way to the Mount Kilimanjaro. On the 11th December the UN celebrates the “International Mountain Day” and on that day some members of the Ice Care will reach the top of Africa and its glaciers.
Ice Care is a project based on sports intervention. Their mentors face several challenges and develop social actions to call attentions on the growing problem of global warming, emphasising its effects on glaciers.
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02/12/2009

Oasi Zegna and the International Mountain Day

Oasi Zegna is a wide protected area that extends between the Alps and the Po Valley, in Piedmont near Biella, in the north west of Italy. This area is the ideal place where to experience mountain life.
After several projects focusing on protecting environmental heritage and teaching to respect nature, Oasi Zegna is now giving particular attention to international initiatives.
On Saturday 12th December, to celebrate the International Mountain Day, Oasi Zegna will organize at Bielmonte (1500 meters above sea level), “La montagna di notte”, a nightly hike with snowshoes together with the biologist Matteo Negro who will provide an introduction to the area.
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26/11/2009

An original approach to sustainable mobility in mountain areas

SWOMM 2009 – Scientific Workshop on Mountain Mobility and Transport, 5th Edition New Perspectives of Urban Mobility in Tourist Towns 11th of December 2009 The main focus of the SWOMM 2009 edition will be placed on sustainable urban mobility in tourist towns and on the innovative tools and policies of mobility management aiming at reducing the environmental. More ...

23/11/2009

Kyrgyzstan: Fewer glaciers, more deserts

Rapidly melting glaciers in mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan over the next few decades could lead to increased desertification and land degradation; living standards, the economy and the environment will be affected according to experts.
By the end of the century, we could see temperatures rising 4-6 degrees centigrade, and by 2050 the number of glaciers could fall from 8,200 to 142. Abaikhanova, environment programme adviser with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said, “Glacier melt would reduce the amount of water available for drinking and irrigation. We need to reconsider "agricultural zoning" to ensure food security and to identify how the soil will change, what type of adaptation measures will be needed in crop production, animal husbandry and preserving pasturelands in the country." More ...

19/11/2009

FAO Summit boosts agriculture to end hunger

The World Summit on Food Security was held in Rome during the last three days.
The international community committed itself to invest more in agriculture and to eradicate hunger at the earliest date.
FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf declared, “The poor and the hungry cannot wait. Together we can eradicate hunger from our planet but we must move from words to actions”.
FAO had proposed setting a target of 2025 for the total eradication of hunger and increasing Official Development Assistance to agriculture to $44 billion per year for investment in developing-country agriculture and rural infrastructure .
The Summit also agreed to face the challenges of climate change to food security and the need for adaptation of, and mitigation in agriculture with particular attention to small agricultural producers and vulnerable populations.
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11/11/2009

Glorious vision in Kenya's sky melts away

Mt. Kenya's ice cap was so stunning that people use to revere it as God's home. But most of the shining glacier has disappeared and now the worshippers wonder if God is dead. For those who still practice tribal religions and revere Mt. Kenya the environmental alterations is a sign of God's fury, a punishment for younger people abandoning and violating traditions. The 17,057-foot mountain has lost 92% of its glacier cover over the last 100 years, and experts predict the ice will disappear by 2050. More ...

04/11/2009

Melting Kyrgyz glaciers pose threat

All of Kyrgyzstan's 2,200 glaciers could melt within a century, says Bakutbek Ermenbaev, a Kyrgyz hydrogeologist who works for the Government hydrogeology agency. The agency has been monitoring the melting of the glaciers for the past 50 years and they have rapidly decreased by about 20 percent. The Kyrgyz glaciers and those in Tajikistan are vital to the water supply of Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan's neighbours, such as Uzbekistan - which has a thirsty cotton growing industry - rely on the glaciers for their water supplies More ...

26/10/2009

China and India agree to cooperate on climate change policy

China and India have signed a pact to coordinate their efforts on renewable energy and research into the effects of climate change on Himalayan glaciers.
The two nations will also form a joint working group that will meet once a year to synchronize policies on this matter.
The timing of the announcement highlights the importance of maintaining a show of unity on the climate issue, despite tensions between the two nations. Indeed, China and India are among the leaders of the G77 bloc of developing nations, who have consistently argued that they should not be obliged to set internationally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gases.
As China is the world's biggest emitter and India the fourth, one of the central goals of the Copenhagen summit has became finding a formula that encourages these nations to make verifiable commitments to climate change while leaving room for their economies to develop. More ...

19/10/2009

XIII World Forestry Congress: Forests and Water Common Goals with Uncommon Approaches

Three sessions on Forest and Water Research and Management as well as a side event will be held at the World Forestry Congress, organized by FAO.The first session on 20 October will focus on the “Recent Experiences in Watershed Management”, the second session on 21 October is “The Hydrological Impacts of Plantations in a Changing Climate” and the third session is entitled “Forests for Water, Water for Forests”. The side event “Forests and Water: The Challenges of Cross-Sectoral Cooperation”, will be held on 23 October and is an important opportunity to share information and to enhance learning and collaboration amongst participating experts and institutions.
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15/10/2009

K2, Baltoro cleaned: Mountaineers thank EvK2Cnr

In the early summer, eight tons of waste were carried downstream including paper, plastic, cans, glass and toxic materials by the initiative “Keep Baltoro Clean”, launched by EvK2Cnr.The Baltoro Glacier is one of the longest glaciers outside of the polar regions, and runs through part of the Karakoram mountain range. The project aims to educate and inform local people, tourists and mountaineers on RECYCLING WASTE. The lessons are held in tents, in Concordia, the base of the "Keep Baltoro Clean ", where a Pakistani staff member teaches to how to walk on galciers through practical demonstrations. Hundreds of people have attended the lessons and contributed to the cleaning operation. Mountaineers such as Ueli Steck and Veikka Gustafsson have commented on this initiative. " I'm glad that we talk to the people about the waste problem. It's the first time that I come to Pakistan and it's a great atmosphere,” says Steck. "It’s great to see you doing something for this common problem, ' says Gustafsson "mountaineers must be an example. We are guests and we have no right to leave any waste behind us”. More ...

14/10/2009

1.02 billion Hungry people in 2009 - FAO hunger report published

The combination of food and economic crises has pushed the number of hungry people worldwide to historic levels - more than one billion people are undernourished, according to FAO estimates. Nearly all the world's undernourished live in developing countries according FAO's annual hunger report. “The State of Food Insecurity” produced this year in collaboration with WFP was published before World Food Day, to be celebrated on 16 October 2009. Even before the recent crises, the number of undernourished people in the world had been increasing slowly but steadily for the past decade, the report says. More ...

09/10/2009

Advocates Fight Mountaintop Removal

Environmental groups across the southeast United States, from Georgia to the Appalachia region, are stepping up their opposition to a controversial but widespread practice by coal companies of removing the tops of mountains with explosives. Atlanta-based activist Darci Rodenhi recently organised an ad hoc group called Mountain Justice GA, which lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Atlanta regional office to reject 79 new permits for mountaintop removal. The EPA denied the permits earlier this month, saying the applications were in violation of the Clean Water Act. More ...

09/10/2009

Explosive volcano highlights eruption risk

The violent eruption of the Chaiteìn volcano in Chile last year has shown the high speed with which magma can burst through the earth's crust, according to a European study. The finding has prompted warnings for closer monitoring of potentially active volcanoes around the world. The violent and unexpected nature of the blasts, together with their rarity, means the Chaiteìn eruption is the first rhyolite event to have been scientifically assessed in this way. By documenting the speed with which the magma reached the surface, the researchers have now provided a measure for comparing the activity of other rhyolite volcanoes. More ...

05/10/2009

Rain, landslides threaten Indonesian earthquake victims

Heavy rain threatened to trigger more landslides and hamper delivery of desperately needed aid Monday on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where thousands of people were buried by last week's powerful earthquake. It was unclear precisely how many people were without shelter Monday, but more than 83 000 houses were destroyed or badly damaged in 10 affected districts, according to Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency. Teams were scrambling to clear roads of dirt, boulders and trees. Several villages were only reachable by foot, although some heavy equipment was on the way. More ...

03/10/2009

2009 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festivals

The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festivals is an opportunity to learn more about mountain and to connect with the wider mountain community and network with other mountain people. “It almost makes more sense to have a mountain festival in these challenging times”, says Shannon O’Donoghue, the Festival Director. During this event there will be a selection of the world’s best skiing, climbing, slacklining, paddling, unicycling, and mountain-biking films together with speakers, workshops, debates, an art and craft sale, readings, interviews, live music, yoga, photo exhibitions, and a mountain trade show. The festival will run from October 31 to November 8. More ...

01/10/2009

New ideas for life in the Alps in the post-fossil age

Last week's annual CIPRA conference on the subject of growth attracted some 200 attendees to Liechtenstein. There was a consensus that the planet's limited resources mean that population growth is finite. Numerous ideas were offered and calls made for a response to the inevitable downsizing process. CIPRA summarised the most urgent calls in a catalogue of ideas. CIPRA also took advantage of the conference to involve the Alps, which are impacted by the global cycles, and to promote a dialogue at several levels. The 200 attendees from various countries made full use of the workshops, discussions and personal contacts. There was a general agreement that in order to escape from the dictates of growth, new ideas are needed in terms of satisfaction, acceptable levels of income and the quality of life. More ...

01/10/2009

Neglected Land Washing Away

The damage to wetlands high in Lesotho's Maluti mountains has impacts on the health of the whole of the Orange-Senqu river system. The wetlands in this mountainous region stabilise soil, retain sediment and contribute to river flow from this area of high rainfall. In so doing, they indirectly support the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which captures water in dams and supplies it to water-thirsty South African industry and agriculture. The water Lesotho sells to South Africa is the mountain kingdom's largest source of foreign income. However, a combination of factors, including infrastructure development, overgrazing and cultivation and the resulting erosion, has led to the wetlands being degraded. More ...

21/09/2009

Call to save glaciers from effects of climate change

Environmentalists at a consultative seminar entitled `Role of Pakistan¿s Civil Society in the Upcoming Bangkok Negotiations asked the international community to help India and Pakistan in saving the Himalayan glaciers from the harmful effects of climate change. Arshad H Abbassi, Water Expert, said ¿It is time that the global leadership and community work with Pakistani and Indian leaders to save Himalayan glaciers by solving the long-standing Siachen dispute¿. Not only is this conflict adding to environmental degradation, sea level rise and changing climate pattern but it is also depriving the poor of both countries of close to one billion dollars every year that these countries spend to maintain troops there. It was highlighted that the Siachen glacier was melting at an unprecedented rate due to deployment of troops and establishment of permanent cantonments. More ...

18/09/2009

Climate change forming dangerous high-altitude lakes

Melting glaciers and landslides are combining to create huge high-altitude lakes in the Himalayas that could cut off water to millions of people - and then sweep away towns when they collapse. "The most likely thing we are going to see soon is an increased level in giant landslides in mountainous terrains, huge collapses, millions of cubic metres of rock," said Professor Bill McGuire, director of the Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London. He said these had already happened in recent years in places like Alaska and the Caucasus, and that in the world's biggest mountain range in Asia, landslides combined with melting glaciers could pose a lethal threat. More ...

15/09/2009

Conference Brings Attention to Himalayan Climate Threat

Scientists, policymakers, and community representatives from across South Asia met to discuss the many threats that climate change poses to the continent's Greater Himalayan region. Across Nepal and Tibet, average temperatures have been up to six times warmer in the mountains than in the plains, triggering changes in regional weather patterns. These changes have been accompanied by increases in pest and disease populations, losses in local biodiversity. "Accelerated melting of glaciers in the Himalayas is posing a catastrophic threat to the 1.3 billion people in (the region's) river basins," said Uday Sharma, secretary of Nepal's Ministry of Environment, who attended the meeting in Kathmandu. Participants at the event called on climate change negotiators gathering in Copenhagen, Denmark, this December to give greater attention to the plight of the Himalayan region as they finalize a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol.
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11/09/2009

Flying frogs and the world's oldest mushroom: a decade of Himalayan discovery

An ultramarine blue flower which changes colour in response to temperature, a flying frog and the world's oldest mushroom preserved in amber are among the 350 new species discovered in the Eastern Himalayas over the past 10 years. But experts warn the new discoveries are under pressure from demand for land and climate change. The species newly discovered between 1998 and 2008 make the mountainous region of Eastern Himalayas, one of the world's most important biological hotspots. A report published by the WWF, affirms that population growth, deforestation, the wildlife trade , pollution, hydropower development, etc. have all contributed to the pressures on the fragile ecosystems in the region. Only 25 percent of the original habitats in the region remain intact and 163 species that live in the Eastern Himalayas are considered globally threatened. More ...

07/09/2009

The tunnels of AlpTransit are necessary but not enough

A study recently published by the Initiative of the Alps, affirms that without the adoption of additional measures, the opening of the Gotthard rail tunnel in 2017 will be able to transfer from road to rail only 2.5% of good transported. The Gotthard base tunnel shortens the route and time of transport through the Alps, but not enough to reduce transport costs to attract large percentage of freight from road to rail. The Alpine Initiative is asking the adoption of additional measures, such as an Alpine transit exchange, the introduction of a system for trading emission certificates and / or adjustments of fees and tolls for the use of roads. More ...

04/09/2009

Africa threatens walkout from climate talks

Africa's climate change negotiators led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi have threatened to withdraw from the upcoming global climate change talks. The Ethiopian PM said Africa might have to walk out if the December climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, failed to agree with Africa’s minimum position. According to Africa's common position paper, the continent wants huge financial support (estimated at US$300 billion) and technology transfer from the West for mitigation and adaptation activities to curb the impact of climate crisis on the continent. “We will never accept any global deal that does not limit global warming to the minimum unavoidable level, no matter what level of compensation and assistance is promised to us,” Mr Zenawi said. More ...

04/09/2009

Ban Ki-Moon Speech at World Climate Conference -3

The Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon gave his speech at World Climate Conference-3 in Geneva, 3 September 2009. “many of the international panel on climate change's more distant scenarios are happening now” he said. “we are not just changing the environment. Climate change is altering the geopolitical landscape.” The conference was organized to provide policy makers the scientific information they need to build climate policy based on sound science. The Secretary-General experienced personally the negative and alarming consequences of climate change, visiting many countries such as Bangladesh, to see how to prevent disasters, making some necessary preparations for disaster risk reductions. “We need creative ideas, creative commitments...let us work together to seal the deal in Copenhagen" he said. More ...

02/09/2009

Study: climate cuts mountains down to size

Climate, and not the upward thrust of Earth's clashing tectonic plates, is the main factor limiting the height of mountains across the globe, according to a study published in the British journal Nature. The peaks of Mount Everest and K2, might have been even higher were it not for what scientists call the "buzzsaw" effect of glaciers that form when temperatures stay below a certain threshold. The study, showed that peaks are generally prevented from thrusting more than 1,500 meters above the line where snow permanently forms. The findings also explains why none of the world's tallest mountains are found anywhere near the North or South Poles; the reason is simply that the snowline is higher at lower latitudes than at higher latitudes. The idea that massive blocks of moving ice shave off layers from mountain tops is not new, but the study is the first to gather data on all the world's mountain ranges into a single model and check it against mathematical simulations. More ...

22/07/2009

Mountains are highlighted by the G8 summit

The G8 Summit, hosted in Italy between 8 -10 July was held at L’Aquila. The city lays on a hillside surrounded by the Apennine Mountains, with the spectacular Mount Gran Sasso to the north-east. An unusual scenario for a political summit, yet very symbolic: for the first time since the beginning of G8 summits, the mountains are part of the debate between the most important Heads of State and Governments of the world. The G8 meeting agreed to mobilise $20 billion over three years for a comprehensive strategy focussing on sustainable agricultural development.
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03/07/2009

Sikkim's largest glacier melting

Alarmed by the reports of receding of Sikkim’s larger Zemu glacier in the eastern Himalayas, which is the main source of water for Teesta River, due to global warming, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has asked for an "authentic report". A status report on all glaciers was prepared by a study team comprising eminent experts at the initiative of the Science and Technology department last year. Forest and Wildlife Secretary S T Lachungpa said he would soon form a committee on climate change to study the impact of global warming on glaciers in the Himalayan state before compiling a report. It would take a couple of months to study the physical status of the Zemu glacier, he said. More ...

01/07/2009

Dolomites get World Heritage status

Italy's Dolomites mountains on Friday became a World Heritage Site. Announcing its decision in Seville, a United Nations heritage panel praised the Alpine range as ''one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere.'' The World Heritage Committee panel voted unanimously for the stunning mountain range. The Dolomites - named after the dolomite rock that gives them their special colour and shape - were formed around 90 million years ago, when the landmasses that are now Europe and Africa came together and pushed the Alps up out of the sea. The reefs and coral that once surrounded lagoons, home to thousands of marine organisms, helped create the Dolomites' striking appearance and its unusual geological characteristics. UNESCO has since the 1970s listed places of ''outstanding universal value'', deeming them so precious as to belong to humanity in general, not just the country where they are located. More ...

01/07/2009

Aquila: the future is in high altitude

The project “SHARE” of EvK2Cnr will contribute to the revitalization of the Italian city of Aquila, destined to become, in the near future, a crucial centre for research of high altitude . A weather station will be located at Gran Sasso Mountain to study the pollution and the atmosphere in the Mediterranean area and an international database for high altitude researches will be created. An agreement between the Italian research institute and University of Aquila, was reached today. More ...

22/06/2009

One sixth of humanity hungry - more than ever before

World hunger is projected to reach a historic high in 2009 with 1 020 million people going hungry every day, according to new figures published by FAO. The most recent increase in hunger is not the consequence of poor global harvests, but is caused by the world economic crisis that has resulted in lower incomes and increased unemployment. This has reduced access to food by the poor. "The silent hunger crisis - affecting one sixth of all of humanity - poses a serious risk for world peace and security. We urgently need to forge a broad consensus on the total and rapid eradication of hunger in the world and to take the necessary actions" said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. More ...

15/06/2009

Imja Tsho Action Event 2009 - Beat the GLOF Action Run & Khumbu Festival

The Imja Tsho glacial lake in the Khumbu has been identified as the most threatening and likely to burst its banks at any time. If it was to happen it would unleash a catastrophic Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) causing devastation along the downstream valleys affecting communities and the ecology of the mountains, hill regions and also the dense populated areas of the Gangetic plains. The Beat the GLOF Action Run on 18th June 2009 is an event to show the world what lies in the path of destruction. The 42 km Action Run starts at IMJA Lake (5010m), the source of the biggest threat to the people of the Khumbu, and ends at Khumjung Village School, the first school built by Sir Edmund Hillary in Nepal. After the Action Run, on 19th June, the Khumbu Festival will be held in Khumjung village with the support of World Wildlife Fund Nepal (WWF Nepal) and ICIMOD. More ...

04/06/2009

World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED)is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests. This year’s host is Mexico, reflecting the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets. More ...

02/06/2009

Climate change is making Everest ascent harder

A Nepali Sherpa who holds the world record for climbing Mount Everest said that rising temperatures were melting snow and turning the slopes barren, making it even harder to scale the world's tallest peak. The Sherpa carried a banner during his expedition that read: "Stop Climate Change; Let the Himalayas Live!". Environmental activists say rising temperatures are rapidly shrinking the Himalayan glaciers from which several Asian rivers originate, threatening the lives of millions of people who depend on them for water. More ...

02/06/2009

Huge undersea mountain found off Indonesia

A massive underwater mountain has been discovered off the Indonesian island of Sumatra and scientists say it could be a volcano with potentially catastrophic power. The cone-shaped mountain is 4,600 metres (15,100 feet) high, 50 kilometres in diameter at its base and its summit is 1,300 metres below the surface. The ultra-deep geological survey was conducted with the help of French scientists and international geophysical company CGGVeritas. More ...

27/05/2009

Himalayas Weather Station repaired

The harsh Himalayan winter has taken its toll on the highest winter weather station in the world, installed a year ago at 8000 metres from the Share Everest Expedition. After a year of work on tracking weather date, sensors and cables had been destroyed by wind, the solar panels were caked in ice and the batteries had run out . The complex and delicate repair operation was conducted without oxygen and in extreme conditions by Silvio Mondinelli and EvK2Cnr team, through a young Italian researcher, Elisa Vuillermo. More ...

25/05/2009

Peru recognizes private conservation areas on community lands in high Andes

The government of Peru has recognized two private conservation areas on community lands in the Cordillera Vilcanota, near Machu Picchu, that protect threatened Polylepis forests, for the benefit of local communities and endangered wildlife. The project, sponsored by the American Bird Conservancy in conjunction with its Peruvian partner group Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN), has been working with local communities towards the creation of a number of planned forest reserves, which are being made possible by sustainable development projects benefitting local citizens. "A new method of community-based conservation has been established through the Vilcanota project. This is biodiversity conservation by and for the local people" said Hugo Arnal, ABC's Director of International Sustainable Conservation. More ...

19/05/2009

Under Andean ice, a Golden prize

An ambitious gold mining project in Northern Chile, high up in the Andes close to ancient glaciers, is finally getting underway amid the economic downturn and despite fears from environmentalists. The Chilean Environment Minister Ana Lya Uriarte portrayed the project as a delicate balancing act. "We will not allow damage to our glaciers," she said, "the project was approved with a series of conditions and demands whose importance is tantamount." But environmentalists are not convinced and are saying the protection of the glaciers is being compromised. More ...

14/05/2009

Global Change in Mountain Regions: The MRI newsletter

The Mountain Research Initiative presents the second edition of the biannual MRI Newsletter which covers a wide range of subjects related to global change science in the mountain regions of the world. In this edition, water plays a crucial role in many of the articles, which recalls an Uzbek saying: “Wherever the water ends, the earth ends as well”. MRI emphasizes and highlights interdisciplinary and applied projects such as the new Peruvian-Swiss Programme on Climate Change Adaptation “Advancing towards Integrated Climate Change Research, Implementation and Science-Policy Dialogue”. The newsletter underlines issues like the 5th World Water Forum (Istanbul 2009) and the Mountain Hydrology under Increasing Climate Variability and Anthropogenic Pressure. More ...

11/05/2009

UN forum calls for urgent action to protect forests in world

The United Nations Forum on Forests concluded its works this weekend in preparation of the upcoming climate change negotiations in Copenhagen. The forum called for strengthened unprecedented levels of coordination and enhanced cooperation to bring sustainable forest management strategies into relevant programs and processes, such as those on climate change, biodiversity and water resources management. The forum brought a 360-degree perspective on all types of forests around the world, focusing on everything from complete protection on one hand to sustainable use of forest products on the other, with climate, biodiversity and people within the scope of that global perspective.

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11/05/2009

Indigenous Peoples’Global Summit on Climate Change

The Inuit Circumpolar Council hosted 20-24 April, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska a Global Summit on Climate Change that brought together indigenous delegates and observers.

The purpose of the summit was to enable indigenous peoples from all regions of the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in adapting to the impacts of climate change, and to develop key messages and recommendations to be articulated to the world at the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

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04/05/2009

Climate disaster looms but Nepal oblivious to danger

Climate experts call Nepal a “hot spot” because the average temperature rise that the country has experiences is six times more than the global average. In Northern Nepal, glaciers are receding. In the middle belt, forest fires are ravaging the hills and a withering drought has decimated farmlands. In the south, there have been flash floods last year, and everything from fires to droughts this year. “Climate is changing. Let´s learn to accept the fact; now our only role is to be prepared to deal with the changes that are further to come,” says climate change expert Ngamindra Dahal. More ...

04/05/2009

Bolivia's Chacaltaya glacier is gone

At 17,388 feet above sea level, Chacaltaya, an 18,000 year-old glacier that delighted thousands of visitors for decades, is gone, completely melted away as of some sad, undetermined moment early this year. ''Chacaltaya has disappeared. It no longer exists,'' said Dr. Edson Ramirez, head of an international team of scientists that has studied the glacier since 1991. He believes the disappearance of Chacaltaya is an indication of the potent effects at higher elevations of the interaction of greenhouse gas accumulation and an increase in average global temperatures. Researchers fear that Chacaltaya's fate will be shared by other glaciers in other areas of Bolivia, and in Peru and Ecuador as well More ...

27/04/2009

Third Pole Project Tackles Climate Change in Himalayan Region

EJN has formed a partnership with ChinaDialogue.net to focus on the climate change issues affecting the Himalayan region and downstream countries. Because of their vast ice reserves, rivaling those of the North and South Poles, the Himalayas are often referred to as "the third pole." The Third Pole Project aims to provide training and other forms of support to journalists from Himalayan countries and those downstream in the Mekong region , in order to improve media coverage of the impacts of climate change on the region. More ...

07/04/2009

Mountain spine is a quake hotspot

Scientists said a killer earthquake that struck central Italy on Monday occurred in a notorious trouble spot and warned further powerful shocks in the coming months could not be ruled out.

The pre-dawn temblor, measuring 6.2 magnitude, struck in the central Apennines, the mountainous spine that runs down Italy, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Rome, the Italian geophysical institute said.

The historic town of L'Aquila bore the brunt of the big shake, and scores of people were dead or missing, according to rescue officials. More ...

03/04/2009

Climate 'fans Nepal fires'

The forest fires that flared unusually viciously in many of Nepal's parks and conserved areas this dry season have left conservationists worried if climate change played a role in them. Most of the big fires were in and around the national parks along the country's northern areas bordering Tibet. The prolonged dryness this year, like other extreme events in recent years, could be related to climate change, but there is no proper basis to confirm that, and the reason why is a lack of study, observation, and data that could have helped to reach into some conclusion (Arun Bhakta Shrestha, climate change expert of the Kahtmandu-based International Centre for the Integrated Mountain Development). More ...

02/04/2009

The Biology of Alpine Habitats

"The Biology of Alpine Habitats" is the new book of Laszlo Nagy and Georg Grabherr, which provides a global overview of alpines habitats that occur above the natural tree line, describing the factors that have shaped them over both ecological and evolutionary timescale. The book considers habitat-forming factors and their impact on habitat characteristics. It includes a critical assessment of the potential impacts of climate change, atmospheric pollutants and land use related to management and conservation options available for these unique habitats. More ...

31/03/2009

The Changing Himalayas

ICIMOD recently published a paper on ‘The Changing Himalayas: Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Livelihoods in the Greater Himalayas’. The greater Himalayan region contains the largest areas covered by glaciers and permafrost outside the polar regions. The region and its water resources play an important role in global atmospheric circulation, biodiversity, agriculture, and hydropower, while serving more than 1.3 billion people in the basin areas of ten large Asian rivers. Climate change is affecting the amount of snow and ice and rainfall patterns, but there is a severe lack of the data needed to understand these processes. To download the paper: More ...

26/03/2009

Invitation for contributions

Mountain Forum/Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) would like to invite your contribution to the July 2009 special edition of the Mountain Forum Bulletin focusing on mountain biodiversity. Deadline for submissions is 27 March 2009. For more details see More ...

22/03/2009

Activists fume as World Water Forum ends without protocols

Environmental activists expressed criticism Sunday with the end result of the World Water Forum, decrying a lack of binding protocols to safeguard the world’s freshwater supplies. Ministers and delegation heads closed the fifth forum, an event held every three years, with promises to do more for the protection of water supplies. More ...

19/03/2009

Undersea Volcano erupts off Tonga

An undersea volcano has erupted near the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, sending plumes of steam and smoke on Wednesday hundreds of metres into the air, officials said. The eruption, believed to be about 10 to 12 kilometres off the Tongatapu coast, was thought to have started on Monday, Mafi said, but it was two days before Nuku'alofa residents first reported seeing the plumes. More ...

07/03/2009

Sikkim's largest glacier melting

Alarmed by the reports of receding of Sikkim’s larger Zemu glacier in the eastern Himalayas, which is the main source of water for Teesta River, due to global warming, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling has asked for an "authentic report". A status report on all glaciers was prepared by a study team comprising eminent experts at the initiative of the Science and Technology department last year. Forest and Wildlife Secretary S T Lachungpa said he would soon form a committee on climate change to study the impact of global warming on glaciers in the Himalayan state before compiling a report. It would take a couple of months to study the physical status of the Zemu glacier, he said. More ...

02/03/2009

American taste for soft toilet roll destroyng forests

Extra-soft, quilted and multi-ply toilet roll made from virgin forest causes more environmental devastation than the country's love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. At fault, they say, is the US public's insistence on extra-soft, quilted and multi-ply products when they use the bathroom."This is a product that we use for less than three seconds and the ecological consequences of manufacturing it from trees is enormous," said Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defence Council. More ...

16/02/2009

In Peru, the hills come tumbling down

It’s summer in Peru and the mudslides are back, eroding barren hillsides on the western slopes of the Andes. The huaicos, as they are known in Peru, create rivers of mud and carry giant boulders with them that knock down everything in their path, from houses to bridges. And there are signs the dangers are getting worse. The U.N. Climate Panel said in a 2007 report about the impacts of global warming that “many cities of Latin America, which are already vulnerable to landslides and mudflows, are very likely to suffer the exacerbation of extreme events”. More ...

16/02/2009

Doomsday seed vault's stores are growing

The stores of seeds in a 'doomsday' vault in the Arctic are growing as researchers rush to preserve 100,000 crop varieties from potential extinction. The imperiled seeds are going to be critical for protecting the global food supply against devastating crop http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/02/17/in-peru-the-hills-come-tumbling-down/losses as a result of climate change, said Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. More ...

09/02/2009

Online Training Advocacy course

An online training advocacy course, which will run from 26 February until 20 March, is being conducted for Mountain Partnership Asia Pacific Members. The course intends to contribute towards the capacity building in advocacy strategies for sustainable mountain development at national and regional levels; to build and to enhance skills of regional members in advocacy by familiarising them with latest updates about advocacy strategies; to create a platform for sharing experiences and exchange of good practices of effective advocacy and to replicate ICIMOD run regional trainings by using the E-learning platforms and tools. More ...

25/01/2009

UAE mountain covered in rare snow

A white blanket of snow covers the Jees Mountain in the Gulf emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. Residents in the most northerly Gulf emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah woke up to a rare covering of snow reaching up to 20 centimetres in depth with temperatures falling to -3 degrees Celsius, a rare phenomenon for the desert Gulf country, according to local media report. Major Said al-Yamahi of Ras al-Khaimah police told the newspaper that an area of five square kilometres (almost two square miles) was covered in snow.


The emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai also had heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, in a spell of rare chilly weather in a desert state where summer temperatures can reach 50 Celcius (122 Fahrenheit). More ...

21/01/2009

The meltdown of the Himalayan glaciers

Data from glaciers around the world indicates that the average rate of melting and thinning more than doubled from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006. At the earth's so-called "third pole" in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau the situation is particularly critical. Scientists say the temperature in the Himalayan region is rising twice as fast as the global average and that the glaciers are in rapid retreat. Millions of people depend directly or indirectly on these natural water storage facilities for drinking water, agriculture, industry and power generation during key parts of the year. There is a need for governments to agree on a decisive new emissions-reduction and adaptation-focused regime. More ...

14/01/2009

New Publication on Soil and Water Conservation

The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) is a network with the aim of sharing valuable knowledge to improve livelihoods and the environment. Forty-two promising case studies were recently documented and analysed in a global overview book entitled ‘where the land is greener’ (WOCAT 2007), from which a consolidated list of policy points were drawn.



Co-published by CTA, UNEP, FAO and CDE, the book contains an extensive range of case studies from around the world: 42 soil and water conservation technologies and 28 approaches in total; provides a detailed analysis of the case studies under ‘technologies’ and ‘approaches’ and policy points for decision makers and donors; is a prototype and sets new standards for systematic documentation, evaluation and dissemination of knowledge on sustainable land management; addresses global concerns such as desertification, poverty, water scarcity and conflicts. More ...

12/01/2009

Two Britons die during peak ascent of Alps

On Saturday, trying a notoriously dangerous ascent of the east face of the 13,937-foot Tacul peak in the Mont Blanc mountain range in the French Alps, Rob Gauntlett, 21, fell hundreds of feet to his death with another young Briton, James Atkinson, also 21, the police in the French city of Grenoble said. Two years ago, at the age of 19, Gauntlett became the youngest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Over 14 months beginning in 2007, he and a companion traveled 26,000 miles, from the North Pole to the South Pole, through North, Central and South America, and then the South Atlantic and Antarctica, on skis, dogsleds, bicycles and an oceangoing sailboat, in a demonstration of what could be accomplished by "natural" means of transport, requiring no environmentally damaging engines. More ...

08/01/2009

Lessons learned from Everest trip

The extensive and continuing programme of research into hypoxia (low oxygen levels) carried out by Dr Grocott and the “Caudwell Xtreme Everest” team could help the treatment of critically ill patients.


The team that braved the Himalayan summit to study the body's responses to extreme adversity has recorded the lowest ever human blood oxygen level. The blood readings established what has long been suspected - that high-altitude climbers have incredibly low levels of oxygen in their blood, which at sea-level would only be seen in patients close to death.


The results could see treatment plans for some patients with similarly low blood oxygen levels re-evaluated.


The hope is that the research will eventually lead to better treatments for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, septic shock, "blue baby" syndrome and other critical illnesses. More ...

07/01/2009

Ecuador: Grassroots protest against impact of mining on the environment

QUITO – Over four hundred local peasants in the Ecuador's South Andean region held a feisty protest against mining activity in the region that they feel will have a negative impact on the area’s natural environment. Local farmers piled rocks and sticks around the roads leading to the main city in the region: Cuenca. The protest turned violent when riot police were called in to disperse the crowds. A number of protesters were arrested and three police officers were injured and taken to hospital by ambulance. More ...

11/12/2008

International Mountain Day

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as the "International Mountain Day". It is observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. The theme for the International Mountain Day 2008 is "Food Security in Mountains".Harsh climates and the difficult, often inaccessible, terrain combined with political and social marginality make mountain people vulnerable to food shortages. Now food prices are soaring worldwide and increased transportation costs to remote mountain areas mean that mountain communities are paying much more for their food. The problem of hunger in mountains is getting worse. This year's International Mountain Day provides an apt occasion to reflect on how hard it is for mountain people to consistently get adequate and nutritious food to lead healthy and active lives. More ...

11/12/2008

European Conference of Mountain Ranges in Chamonix

The European Conference of Mountain Ranges has begun today its work in Chamonix focusing on: “What future for a European strategy in favour of mountain massifs?” The Conference is organised by AEM (European Association of Elected Representatives from Mountain Regions) and supported by ANEM and Rhône-Alpes region, General Council of Haute-Savoie, Alpine Massif Committee and Commissariat de massif, Alpes-Méditerrannée Euro-region and UNCEM, aims at offering a renewed vision of multi-level governance, sustainable development and territorial cohesion. More ...

01/12/2008

Mt. Apo proposed as world heritage site

Efforts are being made to reccomend the inclusion of Mt. Apo and Mt. Hamiguitan, both in Davao Region, among the UNESCO world heritage sites. The majestic Mount Apo in the Philippine archipelago, is a volcanic mountain rising to 3, 143.6 meters above the sea level. The mount hosts five distinct forest formations, from lowland forest to low montane forest, high montane forest and finally to summit or scrub forest. In addition to variations in its topography, interactions of other factors, such as, climate, soil, geology, slope and drainage have allowed for the development of a wide diversity in plant community types and associations in the region. Mt. Apo is also known as the home of the national bird - the Philippine Eagle. More ...

27/11/2008

Argentina vetoes glacier law that curbed mining

Argentina's president Cristina Fernandez has vetoed a law protecting the country's glaciers that would have restricted mining and oil drilling, officials and environmental campaigners said on Friday.The law, which was passed by Congress last month, might have complicated plans by the world's biggest gold miner, Barrick Gold Corp, to build a $2.4 billion mine straddling the snowy Andean peaks between Argentina and Chile. More ...

26/11/2008

Geotextile blanket stops glacier from melting

An experiment conducted by the University of Milan has saved the melting of 115 cubic metres of water on a glacier area of 150 meters. Over the period of six months, a geotextile blanket has been laid in the glacier of Dosdè Orientale, Valtellina, in the Italian Region of Lombardia. When the blanket was removed late October, the level of unmelted ice and snow was over two metres. The blanket acts as a physical barrier between the sun rays and the snow beneath, limiting the melting during the summer period. More ...

19/11/2008

Melting ice driving elevation of oceans

Runoff from ice caps in Antarctica and Greenland along with melting mountain glaciers have replaced expanding oceans as the main driver of rising sea levels, according to a new study. The rate at which the global ocean water mark rises could have a devastating impact on hundreds of millions of people living in low-lying areas around the world.
Earlier research had shown that sea levels crept up and average of 3,1 millimetres per year from 1993 to 2003. More ...

19/11/2008

UN launches initiative to save global biodiversity

Following the move to respond to global warming and climate change, steps are now being undertaken internationally in order to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has established the Inter-governmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) with the goal of saving the remaining global biodiversity in a regime of protection that likewise promotes economic gain."The value of services generated by the world's 100,000 protected areas is estimated to be worth over $5 trillion annually," UNEP said in a statement. More ...

10/11/2008

Internet dream becomes a reality

A Nepali teacher has finally turned his dream into reality by connecting his remote mountain community to the internet. In 2001 Mahabir Pun wrote to the BBC World Service's technology programme, then known as 'Go Dig'. He wanted to connect his village to the internet after the local high school received four used computers as a gift from students in Australia. However, the lack of a phone line in the village made an internet connection almost impossible. The only viable option was a satellite connection but the cost of this was beyond his means. More ...

06/11/2008

EU launches Alpine flora and fauna protection plan

The European Union has launched a cross-border programme to protect the 30 000 animal species and 13 000 types of plant in the Alps. The Ecoconnect programme has a budget of 3.2 million euros over three years. It covers EU members, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia, plus Switzerland, and has 16 associated states, both EU members and non-members. Bears in the Slovenian Alps are among the threatened species, and every year 20 are killed by cars, trucks or trains. More ...

28/10/2008

Antartica’s hidden world

Exploring the climate history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and the geological structure and evolution of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are primary goals of this flagship International Polar Year (IPY) project. Buried by up to 4 km ice, and surrounded by under-ice lakes, this enigmatic, virtually unexplored mountain chain, larger than the Alps, may well be the birthplace of the vast East Antarctic Ice Sheet. During the mission science teams will hunt for Antarctica's oldest ice by selecting sites for ice core and bedrock drilling. More ...

23/10/2008

Green Tax to save Himalayan Ecology

In a first of its kind initiative in India, the Government of Himachal Pradesh will impose a voluntary 'green tax' on vehicle users to generate a fund for combating climatic changes.The tax became a reality with cabinet ministers recently deciding to contribute Rs 100 per month towards creating the corpus, reports IANS. "The environment fund will be utilised for protecting nature from certain death and making the state a carbon-neutral state," Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said. The hill state has already taken various initiatives towards ecology conservation. As part of its first micro-level drive, residents across the state planted 1.5 million saplings on a single day, August 3, 2008, under the Jan Jan Sanjivani programme. More ...

15/10/2008

Paper published in the Journal of Limnology

A paper developed by Franco Salerno in the frame of the HKKH Partnership Project has been published in the Journal of Limnology. The title is “Lake surface area variations in the North-Eastern sector of Sagarmatha National Park (Nepal) at the end of the 20th Century by
comparison of historical maps’. More ...

30/09/2008

Ilulissat glacier melting fast

Ilulissat, Denmark - Flying low over the vast, white expanse of Greenland's Ilulissat glacier, one of the biggest and most active in the world, the effects of global warming in the Arctic are painfully visible as the ice melts at an alarming rate. "The ice in some places on the coast is now melting four times faster than before," says Abbas Khan, a Dane who studies the movements of Greenland's glaciers at the Danish Space Centre.
The Ilulissat glacier and icefjord have been on UNESCO's world heritage list since 2004 and is the most visited site in Greenland, its ice and pools of emerald-blue water admired by tourists and studied by scientists and politicians around the world. More ...

19/09/2008

MRI launches Newsletter

The Mountain Research Initiative has just launched its first Newsletter. Inside, the section “Science Peaks” features articles such as how global change topics have made it onto the research agenda of protected areas Biosphere Reserve Val Müstar and the Swiss National Park (BVM-SNP) and the contribution of satellite remote sensing to the monitoring of cryosphere in mountains. The newsletter appears twice a year and the next edition is planned for spring 2009 (deadline 1 February). More ...

18/09/2008

Call to Save the Mountains of the World

On 12 September, the Human Development International Vanguard Corps for Peace and Development headed by John Largo re-echoed the Call to save the Mountains of the World at Mt. Galdhopiggen (2469 meters) in Norway, the highest summit in Scandinavia and the European Artic. The call was first made on the Philippines’ highest summit Mount Apo in 2002 during the International Year of the Mountains and has since been replicated in many places. Through out the years the initiative has gathered hundreds of supporters such as the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, his Holiness the Dalai Lama and other influential individuals. More ...

17/09/2008

Mountain biological diversity programme of work

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity of UNEP is seeking inputs to implement the programme of work (pow).The first drafts of the documents will be prepared by March 2009 and released for discussion through an E-forum. Funds permitting, an expert workshop should be organized in summer 2009 to discuss and develop draft recommendations to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and the COP. The documents are expected to be finalized by February 2010. Information on progress in implementing the pow has to be sent by 30 November 2008. More ...

08/09/2008

Conservation and wise use of wetlands crucial for sustainable development in the Himalayan region

A ‘Regional Technical Workshop organised by ICIMOD on the Himalayan Wetlands Initiative’ was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 1- 3 September. Representatives from six countries (Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, the RAMSAR Convention Secretariat for Wetlands, Wetlands International, WWF, IUCN and ICIMOD) met to discuss the importance of conserving and facilitating sustainable use of the region’s valuable wetlands. Experts emphasised the importance of wetlands to sustain livelihoods and provide water resources and other ecosystem services. Warming in the Himalayan region has been much greater than the global average over the last 100 years.The workshop discussed and agreed on A Himalayan Wetlands Initiative strategy, which will support the implementation of the RAMSAR convention on wetlands among countries sharing the Himalayan region. More ...

03/09/2008

Glaciers need closer watch in poor countries - UNEP

Scientists are not paying enough attention to glacial melting in the Andes, the Himalayas and peaks in other developing countries, a United Nations-backed report found on Monday. Experts from the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) said while there has been excellent monitoring of glacial trends in Europe and North America, ice fields in Central Asia and the tropics have been largely overlooked. This is a major concern given that shrinking and thinning glaciers -- a phenomenon linked to climate change -- could put freshwater supplies at risk for hundreds of millions of people, authors Peter Gilruth and Wilfried Haeberli said. More ...

02/09/2008

Warming threatens crucial Himalayan water resources, forum told

Climate change poses a serious threat to essential water resources in the Himalayan region putting the livelihoods of 1.3 billion people at risk, experts say. The mountainous region, home to the world's largest glaciers and permafrost area outside the polar regions, has seen rapid glacial melting and dramatic changes in rainfall, experts at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm said. More ...

02/09/2008

Recycling the Himalayas

The city of Rishikesh, located in the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganges River, is renowned as a holy city for Hindus and as a famous centre of pilgrimage. Eight years ago it became famous also for an important initiative. To protect the region's sacred landscape, a diverse mix of local and expatriate volunteers developed a recycling and waste management project called "Clean Himalaya", which has since blossomed and last year won a World Bank's India Development Marketplace award for grassroots initiatives. "Clean Himalaya" not only works to protect one of the most precious eco-systems on the planet, it has shown how local communities in India can handle its booming economic growth without being overwhelmed by pollution and garbage More ...

29/07/2008

Peru mountain glaciers 'receding rapidly'

Climate change-induced glacier melts have cost northern Peru's mountains 26 per cent of their surface area in the last 33 years, satellite images have confirmed. Marcos Zapata, head of the glaciology unit at the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA), says that the glaciers are melting by around 20 metres per year. The reduction is equivalent to 188 square kilometres of the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain chain in the world. The mountain range is home to more than seven hundreds glaciers, with the glacier Huascaran declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. More ...

22/07/2008

Call for entries

Now in its fifth year, WISIONS, a Wuppertal Institute initiative funded and supported by the Swiss-based foundation ProEvolution, has launched its annual call for applications for Sustainable Energy Project Support (SEPS). WISIONS invites the submission of proposals from now until 18 August 2008. The total grant fund for financial support of SEPS projects in this, the 5th round (2008), is €500,000 (across all projects). Partial funding of projects is possible. WISIONS is looking for promising concepts and innovative projects with an integrated approach in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Our main goal is to identify environmentally sound projects that use modern existing technologies, demonstrate the advantages of sound energy solutions and integrate local people, enabling acceptance and further replication. More ...

18/07/2008

Experience and live sustainable mobility across the Alps

Journalists for Austria, Germany, Japan, Italy, Romania and Slovenia came together for nine days to participate in SuperAlp! the sustainable mobility initiative, now in its second year, organised by the Alpine Convention Secretariat. The group travelled for over 2,000 kms between France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy by train, bicycle, buses and cable car, proving that it is possible to cross the Alps in an environmentally friendly way. During the itinerary the group met with mayors, administrative representatives and agricultural representatives of mountain communities. More ...

15/07/2008

ICIMOD publications available to all

Launched recently, the ICIMOD BOOKS-ONLINE service provides direct access to all ICIMOD technical and scientific publications. It holds full-text and chapter-wise download options (pdf format) for publications published from 2000 onwards as well as some earlier publications. There is also a link for ordering hard copies (or photocopies if out-of-stock). ICIMOD BOOKS-ONLINE can be searched using full-text contents, title, year of publication, keywords, language, author and broad subjects. More ...

09/07/2008

Mount Shasta glaciers growing, despite warming

Global warming is shrinking glaciers all over the world, but the seven tongues of ice creeping down Mount Shasta's flanks are a rare exception: They are the only long-established glaciers in the continental U.S. that are growing. Reaching more than 14,000 feet above sea level, Mount Shasta is one of the state's tallest peaks, dominating the landscape of high plains and conifer forests in far Northern California. Nearby Indian tribes referred to its glaciers as the footsteps made by the creator when he descended to Earth. More ...

02/07/2008

World Heritage sites under scrutiny

World Heritage sites will be under the spotlight next month as the World Heritage Committee prepares to meet in Quebec City, Canada, from July 2-10. They will discuss sites that should be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as existing World Heritage sites that are threatened.
Existing World Heritage sites that are facing serious threats include the Galápagos Islands, in Ecuador, Machu Picchu, in Peru, and Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Machu Picchu, which lies at the end of the Inca Trail in the Andes, is facing serious threats. High visitor numbers, a lack of control over their entry to Machu Picchu, and uncontrolled growth of the nearby town, Aguas Calientes, are all major threats. More ...

19/06/2008

Sagarmatha Tourism Coordination Forum (STCF) holds 3rd meeting

The Sagarmatha Tourism Coordination Forum (STCF) will hold its third meeting on June 20, 2008 in Kathmandu. This meeting is being organized by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and the Nepal Tourism Board with support from the HKKH Partnership, IUCN Nepal. The HKKH Partnership Project will present STCF stakeholders with an overview of the project and provide highlights of all partners' activities. Results from tourism surveys, including examples of application of qualitative and quantitative models, will be shared by CESVI. Additionally, HKKH Partnership will have a booth set up to display the DST, technical documents, land cover maps, and posters. More ...

16/06/2008

Mountain Collapses After Japan Earthquake

After an earthquake estimated at magnitude 7.2 on the Richter scale struck the rural areas of Tohoku, Japan on Saturday, a mountain collapsed and disappeared completely in the city of Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, in the vicinity of the epicenter. Many roads and bridges are ruptured and destroyed. Casualties were mostly those who were at a construction site and unable to flee the collapsing building, or those who were behind the wheels and swept away by landslides. More ...

05/06/2008

The Central Karakoram National Park goes online

Gilgit- The Central Karakoram National Park, which encompasses some of the world's highest peaks and largest glaciers in the world, including K2 (8611m), has a new website. The site is designed by ICIMOD and will feature information and news regarding the area that is being developed as a national park. Other organizations involved are the HKKH Partnership and Karakoram Trust, EvK2Cnr, The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wildlife Fund. More ...

04/06/2008

Partnerships between the highest protected areas of the world

A unique exchange brought together stakeholders from the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP), Pakistan to Nepal and the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP). Knowledge and expertise on protected area and tourism management in the highest protected areas of the world was shared between all project partners from May 26 to June 5, 2008. The exchange visit was strategically planned around the first Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) Day in order to highlight good practices, demonstrating to the team from CKNP how tourism management and local participation can contribute to protected area management. More ...

22/05/2008

Five members of 1st Inclusive Women Expedition scale Mt Everest

This was the biggest all-Nepali women expedition to the Everest. The main objective of the expedition was to draw the world's attention to gender equality, women empowerment and the effects of climate change in the Himalayas. The government had waived all royalties equivalent to US$ 100,000 to the team and also granted financial assistance of Rs 1 million to this team. More ...

19/05/2008

Sweden's mountains are growing greener

Climate changes are creating green and flowering mountains in Sweden, a phenomenon which has been observed for the first time in 8,000 years. Over the last century, the temperature has risen by more than one degree. This has broken the cooling trend over several thousand years, and has triggered changes in flora, fauna, and landscapes. More ...

14/05/2008

Weather station installed on Mt Everest

A weather station, with a temperature sensor devised to record and send scientific information, has been installed on the Mount Everest. Located on South Col at 8000 meters, it is the highest weather station in the world and is built in a way to endure the freezing temperatures of over minus 50 degrees. The installation encountered several difficulties due to bad weather conditions and to the fact that the technicians worked without the aid of oxygen. The station will provide an update on an hourly basis, and feed statistics and data that can help record climate change patterns on our planet. The weather station is part of the "SHARE EVEREST 2008" project, lead by Agostino da Polenza and promoted by the Ev-K2-Cnr committee.
More ...

11/05/2008

Patagonia fears environmental damage from volcano

Volcanic ash raining down from the Chilean volcano Chaiten may cause long-term environmental damage and harm the health of people and animals in picturesque Patagonia, scientists say. It has spoiled lakes, rivers and lagoons, coated plants in a dense layer of grey, and altered the sensitive habitat of animals now struggling to survive. More ...

10/03/2008

Paper published on Glacier surface –area changes in Sagarmatha National Park

A paper developed by Franco Salerno within the framework of the HKKH Partnership Project has been published in the most important journal of Glaciology, International Glaciological Society (IGS). The title is “Glacier surface-area changes in Sagarmatha national park, Nepal, in the second half of the 20th century, by comparison of historical maps”. More ...