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.
Call for papers: geohazards susceptibility mapping for land use planning and risk managementnewsThe Journal of Maps is inviting submissions for an article collection on geohazards and their susceptibility mapping for land use planning and risk management. Contributions concerning (but not limited to) analytical approaches, methods comparisons, case studies and land planning/civil protection are welcome. Multidisciplinary approaches and the use of... Read more » |
Towards systemic disaster risk reduction in mountains - policy briefpublicationMountains are multi-risk areas due to complex interactions between natural and socioeconomic factors. These multiple risks can manifest locally but can also have severe impacts in distant lowland areas, thus requiring coordinated approaches across sectors and regions. Moreover, mountain risks are embedded in the specific natural, cultural, social and economic... Download » |
Meet Mountain Partnership Youth Goodwill Ambassador Dilshodbegim KhisravovanewsMountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassadors are committed to build upon their popularity and platforms to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable mountain development. Those that have already accepted this important and prestigious responsibility of carrying the mountain flag include such well-known figures as mountaineer Reinhold Messner, composer Ludovico Einaudi,...
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Co-operation in the Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area: Scoping study on addressing shared climate-related security challenges and strengthening resiliencepublicationThe Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif area is a biodiversity hotspot in South-Eastern Europe with outstanding natural value. Comprising four protected areas of Korab-Koritnik, Mavrovo, Shar Mountain, and Sharri/Šara, the area has a coverage of more than 240,000 ha, making it one of the largest contiguous protected areas in Europe.... Download » |
Mountain studies: Understanding and managing mountains for people and naturepublicationKarakoram International University (KIU), Gilgit published a book (edited volume) entitled Mountain studies: Understanding and managing mountains for people and nature. The book was an outcome of a project under the U.S. – Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program, funded by United States Government through the United States Educational Foundation in... Download » |
Building resilience into watersheds – A sourcebookpublicationThe purpose of this sourcebook is to provide advice on how to incorporate disaster risk reduction and resilience building into the watershed management process. As an increasingly heavier toll is exerted on agriculture and food systems by drought, floods, wildfires, and other extreme events, adopting risk reduction and management practices...
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