Disaster risk management
Mountains are hazardous places. Many mountain communities live under the threat of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions caused by shifting tectonic plates. Gravity pushing down on sloping land compounds the destructive power of storms and heavy rains, producing avalanches, landslides and floods. Population growth, climate change and unsustainable natural resource management practices are putting dangerous pressure on the mountain ecosystems and making mountain communities increasingly vulnerable to disasters.
Women, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to disasters. And in many mountain areas, it is these members of the community that are looking after mountain homesteads, as the men move to lowland cities or abroad to earn a better income and support their family through remittances.
Forces from outside mountain communities, such as commercial logging interests and market-driven agricultural production, also put pressure on mountain ecosystems. All of this can lead to deforestation and environmental degradation. The loss of forest cover deprives mountain communities of a protective barrier against landslides and avalanches and further contributes to increased soil erosion and water run off.
To reduce the risks of disasters in mountain areas it is urgent to increase awareness and to develop integrated strategies and policies on disaster risk management at the national level. Policy-makers involved with disaster risk management cannot afford to neglect mountains, considering the high number of natural hazards in mountain areas and the high vulnerability of mountain communities.
FAO launches Mountain Cultures Photo Contestpeak to peakIssue 99 – Month 12 – Year 2016 The December issue of Peak to Peak announces the launch of the Mountain Cultures Photo Contest in celebration of International Mountain Day 2016, “Mountain Cultures: celebrating diversity and strengthening identity”. The newsletter continues with stories about 20 families living in... Download » |
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New report on African mountain developmentnewsOn 19 October 2016, Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Partners released a new report that looks at the impact of climate change on mountains in East Africa. “Sustainable Mountain Development in East Africa in a Changing Climate” was launched during...
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UN report on sustainable mountain developmentnewsThe United Nation Secretary-General (UNSG) has issued a report on sustainable mountain development (SMD) covering the last three years. Prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in collaboration with governments, UN agencies and other organizations, the report describes the...
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The growing profile of glaciers in PerunewsWith the creation of the National Institute for Research in Glaciers and Mountain Ecosystems (INAIGEM), Peru’s national government is strengthening its role in investigating the nexus of climate change, glacial recession, natural hazards and the management of water and other mountain-based ecosystem services in the Central Andes. The...
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