ICIMOD RIO+20 | Pavilhao das Montanhas| Lea Correa Pinto

ICIMOD at Rio+20: Preparation news ICIMOD’s role at Rio+20

It is not NEPAL, but ITEREI in SP/BR! SAVE!

ICIMOD sees Rio+20 as a very important opportunity to redefine the mountain agenda considering changes, challenges, and opportunities in the mountains that have evolved over the last two decades since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. As one of the founding members of the Mountain Partnership, ICIMOD is working closely with key institutions around the globe to promote the mountain agenda to make sure mountain issues are recognized and given due attention in the Rio+20 preparation processes, especially in the development and finalization of the Rio+20 Outcome Document. In 2011, ICIMOD prepared Rio+20 assessment reports for the Hindu Kush Himalayan and Southeast Asia and Pacific regions and also organized the International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development. These activities were the basis for ICIMOD’s submission to the Rio+20 processes, which has influenced the Zero Draft and the subsequent draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document.

ICIMOD is collaborating with several regional and global partners (including the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, UNEP, SDC-HA, CONDESAN, and the government of Nepal) in support of the Mountain Pavilion organized by the Government of Peru. At the Mountain Pavilion, stakeholders, including private sector actors, will be able to showcase their work in a multi-purpose space to promote sustainable development in mountain regions. Activities at the pavilion will be grouped into five major themes: Adaptation to Climate Change and Disaster Reduction; Water and Mountains; Investment in Mountains: Extractive industries, tourism, infrastructure, clean energy, and land-use change; Food Security, Food Sovereignty, and Gender; and Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity. ICIMOD is leading the preparation of the Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity theme and offering technical support to the themes on climate change adaptation and water and mountains.

During the Rio+20 Summit 13-22 June, ICIMOD has planned the following events.

• ICIMOD will be jointly organizing a high-level side event with partners on 18 June (9:30–11:00) at the official Rio+20 venue.
• ICIMOD has planned a number of events at the Mountain Pavilion, including three side events which will also involve other partners: Role of Mountains in Green Economy, the World Youth Forum on Mountain Issues, and the Women and Sustainable Mountain Development Panel. Other activities include an information marketplace; multimedia presentations; and an exhibition. ICIMOD will also facilitate high-level meetings at the pavilion. More at http://pavilion.minam.gob.pe.
• ICIMOD will showcase the recently concluded Great Himalayan Trail – Climate Smart Celebrity Trek led by legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa, which ICIMOD supported.

ICIMOD is also working closely with its regional member governments and inviting them to join activities at the Rio+20 Conference.

The ICIMOD team will be led by Director General Dr David Molden, who is expected to take part in the Rio+20 high-level roundtables during the main events on 20–22 June. Dr Madhav Karki, Deputy Director General, is the overall coordinator of ICIMOD’s Rio+20 activities. More at www.icimod.org/rio20.

ICIMOD assists Nepal Government in responding to flash flood

On Saturday 5 May 2012, a flash flood in the Kaski district of northwestern Nepal resulted in the confirmed death of at least 31, the disappearance of dozens more, and great loss of property including homes, businesses, crops, and livestock. The flood occurred in a tributary of the Seti River, originating from the east of Mount Machhapuchhre. On 9 May, a team of experts from ICIMOD, joined by Bal Krishna Panthi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Chief of the National Emergency Operation Centre, travelled to the flood-affected area to make a preliminary assessment about its source and possible causes. To read more and watch a slide show about the flood, please visit http://www.icimod.org/?q=7122. ICIMOD’s readers from around the region have written to epress their sympathy to the afflicted families.

New collaborative programme launched for climate change adaptation in the Mekong-Salween river basin

A four-year (2012–2015) programme on climate change adaptation in the Mekon-Salween river basin of Yunnan Province, China was kicked off at a workshop in Kunming, China on 27-28 March 2012. The programme will aim to fill knowledge gaps and, on the basis of the scientific evidence gathered, to make concrete proposals for enhancing people’s adaptation to climate change through policy and practice. The programme will have a particular focus on women’s adaptation, as women and men often suffer the impacts of climate change in different ways, and women tend to be less represented in policy and decision making. It will link climate scenarios with issues of water availability and demand, ecosystem services, food security, and people’s vulnerability and adaptation, with particular attention to the role of women and gender in all these areas. Water availability is a crucial underlying issue, as drought has become increasingly frequent in the Salween-Mekong basin.

This programme will bring scientists from a broad range of disciplines to encourage cross-cutting policy actions to address climate change impacts and responses. Physical and social scientists present at the workshop covered areas as diverse as hydrology, disaster risk reduction, ecology, biodiversity, botany, ethnobotany, fisheries, gender, sociology, migration, economics, valuation of ecosystem services, community forestry, and agroforestry. The programme brings together experts from notable institutions in Yunnan Province and across China, as well as ICIMOD subject specialists and invited experts from elsewhere in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and beyond.  Read more at http://www.icimod.org/?q=6815 and http://www.icimod.org/?q=6879

UNDP’s ‘Himalayan Melt Down’ awarded the top prize at International Film Festival

‘Revealed: Himalayan Meltdown’, a 45-minute long documentary produced by Arrowhead Films and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), recently won the prestigious Platinum Award in the broadcast documentary category at the 45^th Annual Worldfest International Film Festival in Houston, Texas, United States – the oldest independent film festival in the world. The documentary was produced for the Discovery Channel for global viewing. ICIMOD supported the production by providing relevant technical information and knowledge, expert interviews, publications, video footage, and photographs.

The film features innovative fog-catching in Nepal, artificial glaciers in India, views of life in the changing plateaus of China, and pioneering climate change adaptation projects in Bhutan and Bangladesh. Leading glaciologists and other experts from ICIMOD and UNDP offer insights into the work being done and further efforts required for countries to deal with the Himalayan meltdown menace. The documentary film also highlights ICIMOD’s efforts on research for the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem that will improve the living standards of mountain populations throughout the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.

OTHERS

ICIMOD’s Electronic Newsletter

ICIMOD’s E-news, February/March 2012, Issue #47
http://www.icimod.org/enews
Read: My View, Indigenous Honeybees in Mountain Farming Systems by Dr Uma Partap

Publications

Beekeeping Training for Farmers in the Himalayas: Resource Manual for Trainers (2012)

http://www.icimod.org/publications/index.php/search/publication/793

Online only

Mountain Biodiversity Conservation and Management: Selected examples of good practices and lessons learned from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, Working Paper 2012/2 (2012)

http://www.icimod.org/publications/index.php/search/publication/794

Note: All publications can be downloaded from ICIMOD Books-Online www.icimod.org/publications

Articles by ICIMOD staff in journals, books and others

Joshi, S; Tielborger, K (2012) ‘Response to enemies in the invasive plant Lythrum salicaria is genetically determined.’ Annals of Botany DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcs076

Bolch, T; Kulkarni, A; Kaab, A; Huggel, C; Paul, F; Gogley, JG; Frey, H; Kargel, JS; Fujita, K; Scheel, M; Bajracharya, S; Stoffel, M (2012) ‘The state and fate of Himalayan glaciers.’ Science 336 (6079): 310-314

Jodha, NS; Singh, NP; Bantilan, CS (2012) ‘The commons, communities and climate change.’ Economic and Political Weekly 47(13): 49-56

Amarnath, G; Bajracharya, B; Shrestha, B (2012) ‘Geoinformatics for landscape ecology and biodiversity research.’ Asian Journal of Geoinformatics 12(1)

http://www.geoinfo.ait.ac.th/ajg/index.php/journal/article/view/37

Mukherji, A; Facon, T; de Fraiture, C; Molden, D; Chartres, C (2012) ‘Growing more food with less water: How can revitalizing Asia’s irrigation help?’ Water Policy 14 (3): 430-446

ICIMOD in the Media

Experts off to Annapurna to dig out Seti flood cause

By: Lal Prasad Sharma, The Kathmandu Post; 10 May

www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/05/09/nation/experts-off-to-annapurna-to-dig-out-seti-flood-cause/234674.html

South Asia gets climate-smart learning platform

By: Smriti Mallapaty, SciDev.Net; 8 May

http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/news/south-asia-gets-climate-smart-learning-platform.html

Establishing ‘High Mountain Countries Ecological Safety Committee’

By: International Eco-Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO); 8 May

www.uniesco.org/english/of3.asp?id=1350

Mountain dwellers ‘neglected’ in Nepal

By: One World South Asia; 8 May

http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/mountain-dwellers-neglected-in-nepal

The Glaciers Are Growing

By: Robert Felix, Conservative.org; 7 May

http://www.conservative.org/the-glaciers-are-growing/14438/

Mountain flood engulfs trekkers

By: Herald Sun; 6 May

www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/mountain-flood-engulfs-trekkers/story-fn6s850w-1226347789219

Seti flash flood not from glacial lake outburst, suggest experts

By: Pragati Shahi,The Kathmandu Post; 6 May

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/05/05/nation/seti-flash-flood-not-from-glacial-lake-outburst-suggest-experts/234534.html

Sudden flood on Seti River takes a heavy toll

By: Bharat Koirala and Rishi Baral, The Himalayan Times; 6 May

www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Sudden+flood+on+Seti+River+takes+a+heavy+toll+&NewsID=330878

Kaski floods: Govt forms response panel

By: e-kantipur.com; 6 May

http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/05/06/fullnews/kaski-floods-govt-forms-response-panel/353478.html

13 die as Seti flash flood wreaks havoc

By: The Kathmandu Post; 6 May

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/05/05/top-story/13-die-as-seti-flash-flood-wreaks-havoc/234527.html

14 killed, over 50 missing in Seti River flood

By: Tenish Roka, Dcnepal.com; 5 May

http://www.dcnepal.me/news.php?nid=67570

13 dead, Russian tourists missing in Nepal flood

By: Kuwait Times; 5 May

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/05/05/13-dead-russian-tourists-missing-in-nepal-flood/

Nepal Flood Leaves Thirteen Dead and Russian Tourists Missing

By: Naharnet; 5 May

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/39238-nepal-flood-leaves-thirteen-dead-and-russian-tourists-missing

Thirteen dead, Russians missing in Nepal flood

By: Deepak Adhikari, Nepal24hours.com; 5 May

www.nepal24hours.com/en/?p=4193

14 killed, over 50 missing in Seti River flood

By: e-kantipur.com; 5 May

http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/05/05/top-story/14-killed-over-50-missing-in-seti-river-flood-with-photos/353464.html

Experts meet to discuss sustainable mountain development

By: Tshering Doma, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests: Royal Government of Bhutan; 26 April

www.moaf.gov.bt/moaf/?p=8567

Message from the mountains

By: China Dialogue; 2 May

http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/4905-Message-from-the-mountains

Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development Programme

By: Alula Berhe Kidani, Sudan Vision; 1 May

http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=209680

PARC to support ‘landless mobile pastoralists’

By: Pakistan Observer; 27 April

http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=152240

UNDP’s Himalayan Meltdown wins top prize at International Film Festival

By: Digital Opportunity; 26 April

www.digitalopportunity.org/news/undp2019s-himalayan-meltdown-wins-top-prize-at-international-film-festival

Glaciers on Asia’s Largest Mountain Range Getting Bigger

By: Robert W. Felix, Eurasia Review; 26 April

http://www.eurasiareview.com/26042012-glaciers-on-asias-largest-mountain-range-getting-bigger-oped/

Interaction Program (Series I): Mobilize the Earth from Earth Day to the Earth Summit (Rio+20)

By: Kabita Gautam, Nepali Youth Rio+20; 23 April

http://nepaliyouthrio20.blogspot.com/2012/04/by-kabita-gautam-on-occasion-of-42nd.html#more

Nepal marks Earth Day

By: China.org.cn; 23 April

http://www.china.org.cn/environment/2012-04/23/content_25210083.htm

Austin’s Arrowhead Films “Himalayan Meltdown” documentary wins top prize at International Film Festival

By: Arrowhead Films; 23 April

http://www.arrowheadfilms.com/blog/austins-arrowhead-films-himalayan-meltdown-documentary-wins-top-prize-at-international-film-festival

UNDP’s Himalayan Meltdown Wins Top Prize at International Film Festival

By: Digital Journal; 23 April

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/675300

Climate change: Crop yields and sowing patterns may change, says scientist

By: The Express Tribune; 20 April

http://tribune.com.pk/story/367308/climate-change-crop-yields-and-sowing-patterns-may-change-says-scientist/

South and Central Asian Youth Perspective on Rio+20

By: Jeeban Panthi, Nepali Youth Rio+20; 19 April

http://nepaliyouthrio20.blogspot.com/2012/04/south-and-central-asian-youth.html

State of Himalayan glaciers less alarming than feared

By: University of Zurich; 19 April

http://www.mediadesk.uzh.ch/articles/2012/teilentwarnung-fuer-himalaya-gletscher_en.html

International Team of Scientists to Study Third Pole

By: Joshua S Hill, Planet Save; 18 April

http://planetsave.com/2012/04/18/international-team-of-scientists-to-study-third-pole/

Science News Digest

By: British Science Association; 17 April

http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/News/ScienceNewsDigest/ScienceNewsDigestArchive/_SND-17April2012.htm

Asian glaciers ‘putting on mass’: Researchers

By: Geospatial World; 17 April

http://www.geospatialworld.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24532%3Aasian-glaciers-putting-on-mass-researchers&catid=64%3Aapplication-environment&Itemid=61

Asian Glaciers Bulk Up, Confusing Researchers

By: Red Orbit; 16 April

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112514410/asian-glaciers-bulk-up-confusing-researchers/

SERVIR: Expanding Sensor Networks from the Ground to the International Space Station

By: Janet Anderson, NASA; 16 April

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/servir/servir_iss_120415.html

Glaciers on Asia’s largest mountain range getting BIGGER as are glaciers around the world

By: Robert W. Felix, WEB Commentary; 15 April

http://www.webcommentary.com/php/ShowArticle.php?id=felixrw&date=120417

Some Asian glaciers ‘putting on mass’

By: Richard Black, BBC News; 15 April

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17701677

52 Glacial Lakes Termed Dangerous

By: Climate Himalaya; 13 April

http://chimalaya.org/2012/04/13/52-glacial-lakes-termed-dangerous/

Nepalis living in the shadow of Melting glaciers

By: NYdailynews.com; 12 April

http://india.nydailynews.com/newsarticle/4f8706fd0169a5ba2c000000/nepalis-living-in-the-shadow-of-melting-glaciers

Himalayan Communities building Resilience to Climate Change

By: Landscapes Blog for People Food and Nature; 11 April

http://blog.ecoagriculture.org/2012/04/11/icimod_resilience/

Mountaineer worried about Future of Mountains

By: Maplop.com; 9 April

http://maplop.com/go/news/mountaineer-worried-about-future-of-mountains.html

Mountain countries seek to unite, air concerns about climate change

By: Mahesh Shrestha, CNN; 6 April

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/06/world/mountain-countries-climate-change/index.html

Kathmandu Call for Action adopted by the International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change, 5-6 April 2012

By: Tek Jung Mahat (ICIMOD); Realising Change; 10 April

http://realisingchange.blogspot.com/2012/04/kathmandu-call-for-action-adopted-by.html

Nira Gurung

Communications Officer, Knowledge Management

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel +977-1-5003222 Ext 115 Fax +977-1-5003277 Web www.icimod.org