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| Article Title | The Melting Himalayas: Cascading Effects of Climate Change on Water, Biodiversity, and Livelihoods | | Author | Xu Jianchu, R. Edward Grumbine, Arun Shrestha, Mats Eriksson, Xuefei Yang, Yun Wang and Andreas Wilkes | | Year | 2009 | | Journal Title | Conservation Biology | | Institution | Society for Conservation Biology | | Volume | 23 | | Issue | 3 | | Pages | 520–530 | | Call Number | JA0341-09 | | Keywords | alpine ecosystem, cascading effects, climate change, glaciers, Himalayas, water resources |
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| Abstract: |
The Greater Himalayas hold the largest mass of ice outside polar regions and are the source of the 10 largest rivers in Asia. Rapid reduction in the volume of Himalayan glaciers due to climate change is occurring. The cascading effects of rising temperatures and loss of ice and snow in the region are affecting, for example, water availability (amounts, seasonality), biodiversity (endemic species, predator–prey relations), ecosystem boundary shifts (tree-line movements, high-elevation ecosystem changes), and global feedbacks (monsoonal shifts, loss of soil carbon). Climate change will also have environmental and social impacts that will likely increase uncertainty in water supplies and agricultural production for human populations across Asia. A common understanding of climate change needs to be developed through regional and local-scale research so that mitigation and adaptation strategies can be identified and implemented. The challenges brought about by climate change in the Greater Himalayas can only be addressed through increased regional collaboration in scientific research and policy making.
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GRP 5: Improving the ability of farmers, ecosystems & governments to cope with climate change
GRP 6: Developing policies and incentives for multifunctional landscapes with trees that provide environmental services
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