THE MOUNTAIN FAIR , KALIMPONG
p Mountain Perspectives: The Changing Paradigm Nakul Chettri
I t International ti l Centre C t for f Integrated I t t d Mountain M t i Development D l t Kathmandu, Nepal
Outline of presentation •
About ICIMOD
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Mountain as an unique ecosystem
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Drivers of change and ecosystem dynamics
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Changing Ch i paradigm di
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Summary
About ICIMOD • Inter-governmental nonpolitical international p organization • Mountain learning, learning knowledge and enabling centre • Promote regional cooperation • Build capacities • Link research with policy and practice
Mountain M t i as an unique i ecosystem
I t International ti l Centre C t for f Integrated I t t d Mountain M t i Development D l t Kathmandu, Nepal
Definition and distribution •
Classified with altitude, vegetation, climate and latitudinal aspects
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Known for fragility, marginality, inaccessibility and low productivity
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There are variation in classification systems and the most widely used is from f UNEP-WCMC C C 2002
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Some of the major mountain belts are the North American Cordillera (A), Appalachians (B), Caledonian Belt (C), Andes (D), Urals (E), Himalaya (F), Alps (G), and the Tasman Belt (H).
Biodiversity values
Human development values •
Mountains occupy 24% of global land surface;; g
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Home to 12% population;
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About 40% are indirectly depend on various ecosystem i services
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p topography, p g p y and microSlope, climate makes mountains rich resources
Ecosystem values
Turner et al 2012
Drivers of change and ecosystem dynamics
I t International ti l Centre C t for f Integrated I t t d Mountain M t i Development D l t Kathmandu, Nepal
Human demographic change
Goldewijk 2005
Landuse history- crop land area
Goldewijk et al 2010
Landuse history- pasture area
Goldewijk et al 2010
Resources use pattern
Nogues-Bravo et al. 2013
Agriculture and habitat loss
Hannah et al. 2013
Forest dynamics
FAO 2006
Land use and land cover change •
There are evidences of agricultural i t intensification ifi ti and d fforestt loss
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Many critical M iti l h habitats bit t are fragmented (1970)
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Conversion of forested area into other forms of land use is more prominent
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Snow cover variations are also observed
Chettri et al. 2010
(2000)
Future challenges •
By 2030 the world population is expected to rise i tto 9 billi billions
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We need 30% more agriculture i lt lland d tto ffeed d9 billions
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Climate variability and in-organic practices are inevitable
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Consequences are multidimensional – food security, energy, health etc.
Bioclimatic change
1 Over 76 % of the total area 1. may shift to a different stratum, 55 % to a different bioclimatic zone, and 36.6 % to a different ecoregion 2. Phenology change has i li i implications on pollination lli i and productivity Zomer et al 2014
Climate change vulnerability •
Greater warming with elevation, >4000m experiencing highest warming rate
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Seasonal temperature variability and precipitation inconsistent.
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Impacts more prevalent in the downstream areas
Combined vulnerability
Chettri et al. 2010
Segregated vulnerability
Changing Ch i paradigm di
I t International ti l Centre C t for f Integrated I t t d Mountain M t i Development D l t Kathmandu, Nepal
Development dilemma
Understating the linkage
Rasul 2014
Managing ecosystems
DeGroot et al. 2010
Linking conservation and development
Chettri and Sharma 2015
Tapping the niche products
Tapping the niche products
Paradigm shift – species to landscape
Summary
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The mountains were and continue to be sources for ecosystem goods and services (e.g. water, biodiversity)
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Mountain ecosystems are mostly influenced by human induced drivers including climate change.
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V l Vulnerabilities biliti are higher hi h iin th the mountains t i – influenced i fl db by multi-factors
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Impacts - people, mountain ecosystems and downstream
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Food secuitity through integrated planning and interventions are required
Thank you!
