Mountain Ecosystem Services and Climate Change: A Global Overview of Potential Threats and Strategies for Adaptation

10 November 2017

Mountains provide vital resources to a significant proportion of the global population, particularly as the “water towers” of the world, and as a result of their high biological diversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. Given the immense threats to mountain systems posed by climate change, sensitive management of ecosystems can help promote climate change adaptation.

This paper presents a review of potential climate change and anthropogenic pressures on mountain ecosystems, particularly focusing on water resources scarcity and increasing water demand due to rapid increases of population and utilization of mountain ecosystems. Adaptation strategies and supporting policy recommendations are also presented.

Page count: 32 pages

Publication year: 2017

Published: UNESCO Paris

Download the publication here.

sustainable-science
biodiversity+geology+ecosystems
climate+change
water
Building+Capacity+in+Science

Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/mountain-ecosystem-services-and-climate-change-a-global-overview-of-potential-threats-and