Download Andreas Schild

Challenges of Mountain
Biodiversity Conservation and
Management across the Hindu
Kush-Himalayan Region
Andreas Schild
25 October 2010
Presentation outline
• Introduction and Importance of HKH region
• Impacts of climate change
• Vulnerabilities in the Eastern Himalayas
• ICIMOD’s biodiversity conservation and management
approaches
•
ICIMOD’s call for action
Introduction and Importance of
HKH Region
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Exceptional Mountain Biodiversity
Resources
Four of 34 GBH; 6 UNESCO Natural World Heritage sites; 60 Ecoregions;
29 Ramsar Wetland Sites; 488 PAs (39%); 330 IBAs; 10% of global
flowering plants and insects; 1200 bird species; Large number of
endemics; >1000 live language; Conflicts & Poverty
Causes of Biodiversity loss
Drivers of change
Direct causes
Hotspots of Security Risks associated with
Climate Change: The Asian Challenge
Source:WBGU, 2007
Himalayas: Data Deficit Area
…
A data deficit area
as stated by IPCC
AR4
Impacts of Climate Change
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Impacts of CC in HKH RegionGlacier Mass Balance
 Himalayan
glaciers are
shrinking
more rapidly
than
elsewhere
Impacts of Climate Change- Imja
Glacier, Nepal
1956
photograph of Imja glacier
(Photo: Fritz Muller;
courtesy of Jack Ives)
2006
photograph of Imja glacier
(Photo: Giovanni
Kappenberger
courtesy of Alton C Byers)
Impact of Climate Change Changes in Tibetan Plateau
Glacier retreat
Pasture
area/km2
Glacier Retreat in Nam Co Lake
200
195
190
185
180
175
170
165
160
196.141
182.634
174.037
1970
1991
2000
年份
Expansion of lakes
Agriculture
Change of Lake Areas
1990
1981.01
Area/km2
1980
1970
1962.82
1960
1950
1942.86
1940
1933.73
1930
1920
1910
1970
1976
1991
年份
Dried-up wetland
Source: ITP Research
2000
Glaciers as complicated
hydraulic systems
Impacts of CC :
Water Induced Disasters
In the village of Brep, Pakistan,
houses and livelihoods were
destroyed 2005
Assam, North East India –
flood impact (sand casting)
Vulnerabilities of Mountain
Ecosystems in the EH
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Most intensive irrigation depends
largely on water from the Himalaya
Vulnerability assessment:
Vulnerable areas from combined data
Vulnerability Index
Vulnerability Index
eh_bnd
0
0
0 - 0.39
0 - 0.39
0.4 - 0.44 0.4 - 0.44
0.45 - 0.47 0.45 - 0.47
0.47 - 0.50 0.47 - 0.50
0.51 - 0.53 0.51 - 0.53
0.54 - 0.56 0.54 - 0.56
0.57 - 0.62 0.57 - 0.62
Vulnerability assessment:
Vulnerable entities
Ecosystem/habitats:
• Critical Ecosystems -Ephemeral habitats (seasonal)
• Riverine island ecosystems e.g. Majuli of Assam
• Wetlands (beels) and associated biodiversity
• Sub-alpine and alpine transition zones (ecotone)
• Sub-alpine and alpine meadows
• Transboundary areas
Species:
Endemic species (Mantesia, Panax, Ilex khasiana, Osbekia
capitata, insectivorous plants), Brahmaputra dolphins, alpine
species
Genetic diversity:
Upland variety of rice (dryland/wetland in the entire north-east),
indigenous bean varieties, cucurbits, citrus
Water balance
Catchment yield
Erosion risk
Ch Körner
ICIMOD’s Biodiversity
Conservation and Management
Approaches
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Transboundary landscapes and
transects
• Consistent and
comparable data
• Co-location and
network of
centers for longterm monitoring
on climate and
ecological
system
• Proper
representation
with latitudinal
and longitudinal
coverage
Kailash Sacred Landscape
China-India-Nepal
- Landscape Approach
Addressing scientific
uncertainties; Regional
cooperation framework for
research; Capacity building
and information sharing
Brahmaputra-Salween and
Kangchenjunga Landscapes –
Corridors Approach in Landscape Management
Promoting habitat connectivity among protected areas through conservation
corridors
ICIMOD’s call for action
• Mainstreaming the CBD Programme of Work on Mountain
Biodiversity into regional and national priority
• Linking biodiversity with sustainable livelihoods
• Reducing scientific uncertainties – regional research and long
term monitoring
• Connecting biodiversity and climate change for sustainable
mountain development
• A regional initiative - improve understanding of regional
change and provide knowledge base for decision-making and
planning
Thank you