Water
Each day, one of every two people on the planet quenches his thirst with water that originates in mountains. And as the world population swells to an estimated 9.6 billion by 2050, the worldwide demand for freshwater will continue to soar.
More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life. The ten largest rivers originating in the Hindu Kush Himalayas alone supply water to over 1.35 billion people. Some of the world’s largest cities, including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, Tokyo and Melbourne, are dependent on freshwater from mountains.
Climate change is already causing more than 600 glaciers to disappear, resulting in springs and rivers drying up. Greater frequency of extreme weather events, droughts and floods, including flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), are also expected to increase in mountains, causing imbalance between current water supply and demand.
Given the importance of mountain water resources worldwide, the careful management of mountain water resources is a global priority. Water management practices need to be adapted to different climatic zones, using locally adapted soil and water management techniques. Most importantly, watershed management must take into account the needs of all those who depend on mountain water, including those who have the greatest stake in preserving healthy mountain ecosystems – people who live in mountain areas themselves, who are often marginalized from the decision-making processes.
Second International Conference on Water Resources and Environmental Management (ICWRE 2013)eventThis conference will convene around the theme “Water, Food, Energy Security and Climate Change,” and discussions will be organized around sub-themes including: water for sustainable future; global water security; water supply and sanitation; integrated water resources management (IWRM); and environment, water and health. The conference is being organized by Global...
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Verbier World Mountain Forum 2012eventThe World Mountain Forum (WMF) takes place on 11 December and this year is dedicated to the Swiss mountains, and especially to the local region of Val de Bagnes. This year's WMF is divided into two parts, the first focusing on water and energy in the Swiss mountain regions and...
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Why invest in sustainable mountain development? (FAO)publicationMountains cover approximately on-quarter of the word's surface and are home to 12 percent of the human population. By providing freshwater and other key environmental services to more than half of humanity, mountain ecosystem play a crucial role in the development of the planet and contribute significantly to the well-being...
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Loss of glaciers in Peru increased by up to 35 percentnewsThe loss of glaciers in Peru has increased from 22 to 27% percentand in some cases up to 35 percent, according to the Minister of Environment of Peru, Manuel Pulgar – Vidal. He explained that the Peruvian government is working to improve the ability to monitor how deglaciation progresses. This...
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Central Asia’s Water TowernewsAccording to an analysis published in October 2012, Tien Shan's glaciers have retreated in recent decades due to changing climate conditions, reducing significantly the availability of water for the people of the region. Tien Shan's glaciers play a crucial role in Central Asia's hydrological cycle. An estimated 15 percent of...
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Ecuador presents National Strategy on Climate Change 2012-2025newsThe Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Marcela Aquiñaga, has presented the National Strategy on Climate Change. The strategy proposes, among other things, to step up efforts to conserve forest resources, mangroves and paramos, supporting and promoting energy efficiency, improving environmental practices and reducing consumption of resources. Please see complete information in...
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