27 Changing climates, changing lives: strengthening adaptive response capacities to climate change in the Huascarán Biosphere Reserve, Peru, and Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal

Abstract

Abstract Mountains are particularly sensitive to changes in climate because of their slope, aspect, verticality, mass, and altitude. Global climate change over the past century has resulted in the dramatic recession of glaciers throughout the world, particularly in the subtropical Andean ranges of South America. The rapid melting of snow and ice has resulted in an increase in the formation of high-altitude glacial lakes, sometimes too fast to monitor accurately, accelerating the potential for catastrophic down-valley floods which can destroy everything in their paths. The likelihood of other high-magnitude/low-frequency events such as debris flows and landslides has increased, exacerbated by the very nature of the dynamic mountain environment that is naturally predisposed to earthquakes and mass movement processes. Less understood, however, are the human dimensions of climate change that are already impacting water supplies (irrigation, drinking, power), agriculture systems, high-altitude vegetation dynamics, conflicts over irrigation rights, local economies, adventure tourism (climbing, trekking), and other highland/lowland interactions. Likewise, an understanding of how institutional capacities and partnerships can be strengthened to effectively deal with, and adapt to, these changes is lacking. The mission of The Mountain Institute (TMI) is to conserve high-priority mountain ecosystems, improve mountain livelihoods, and promote the well being of mountain people through research, education, and outreach. This paper discusses an evolving program within TMI that plans to conduct a detailed analysis of the human dimensions of climate change within two of its work regions: the Huascaran Biosphere Reserve, Peru, and Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Nepal. The goal of the project is to better manage natural resources and improve human livelihoods within these regions through: (1) better understanding of climate change impacts in the Huascaran Biosphere Reserve and Sagarmatha National Park on peoples lives, livelihoods, safety, and environments, (2) strengthened integration of the social and physical sciences within the climate change research, analysis, project design, and implementation processes, and (3) strengthened stakeholder capacities to access and use scientific information to better adapt and respond to the risks and vulnerabilities associated with contemporary changes in climate, land use patterns, and tropical high mountain environments.