Mountain Adaptation Outlook Series - Synthesis Report

Forest, ecosystems and biodiversity

Climate impacts Mountain regions host a significant proportion of the world’s biodiversity and many are part of global biodiversity hotspots or important reserves for endemic species and ecosystems. For example, over 10,000 species are found in the EasternAfromontane biodiversity hotspot (in the mountains of East Africa) and around one-third of them are endemic. The Carpathians host Europe’s largest populations of large carnivores such as wolves. In the Tropical Andes, algae and aquatic plant diversity is highest above 3,000 m. The Hindu Kush Himalaya has 488 areas under varying degrees of protection, covering 39% of the region. Mountain environments also offer several ecosystem services to local people, both in the highlands and lowlands. These include cycling of nutrients, water and greenhouse gases, disease regulation, living and non- living resources, medicines and protection from soil

Tropical Andes, have been unable to move to new areas, which makes them and associated species especially vulnerable. Forestry plays a significant role in the economy and local livelihoods in timbered mountain areas. Tree growth is affected by rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and temperatures, changes in precipitation, flooding and droughts. In addition to the growth of forest industries, forests face pressure from agriculture and infrastructure development, illegal logging, invasive species, pests and drought. Wildfires are also likely to increase in intensity and number as a result of rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. Many wildfires are caused by humans, either unintentionally or on purpose, as they have been traditionally used for land clearing and hunting. As forests take up carbon from the atmosphere, their role in climate change mitigation may also conflict with forestry livelihoods and adaptation measures.

degradation, landslides and floods. Wetlands, such as Andean páramos, are one of the most important ecosystem service providers in the highlands because of their role in the hydrological cycle and the storage of carbon. However, in conjunction with stress from climate change, mountain ecosystems also face land-use changes, invasive species, poaching and pollution. Climate change has severe impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems in the mountains as a result of rising temperatures and changes in precipitation. The survival of species and ecosystems depend on their ability to migrate or adapt to changes. The response to warming temperatures usually involves moving towards higher altitudes or to colder climates when possible. Generally, the temperature is rising faster in altitudes above 1,500m and often there is nowhere to migrate. Migration can require crossing even warmer valleys or over unsurmountable peaks. Some ecosystems, such as cloud forests in the

MOUNTAIN GREEN COVER INDEX , 2017 The Mountain Green Cover Index measures changes in the area of green vegetation in mountain areas (forest, shrubs and pasture land, and cropland).

C H I N A

F Y R O M

K E N Y A

R W A N D A

WESTERN BALKANS

EAST AFRICA

HINDU KUSH HIMALAYA

K O S O V O

E T H I O P I A

C R O A T I A

I N D I A

B H U T A N

9 6 . 5

9 2 . 6

6 0 . 4

7 8 . 3

n / a

n / a

9 4 . 5

9 3 . 2

8 5 . 7

*

M O N T E N E G R O

H E R Z E G O V I N A

B A N G L A D E S H

M Y A N M A R

D E M O C R A T I C

O F C O N G O

R E P U B L I C

S U D A N

S O U T H

B O S N I A

9 2 . 7

9 8 . 5

9 4

9 4 . 4

9 3 . 4

8 7 . 5

7 7 . 1

9 7 . 7

9 7 . 5

A Z E R B A I J A N

T A J I K I S T A N

E C U A D O R

8 9 . 3

8 7 . 7

R O M A N I A

P O L A N D

A F G H A N I S T A N 5 6

%

T A N Z A N I A

T U R K M E N I S T A N 6 1 . 5

B U R U N D I

S E R B I A

N E P A L

K Y R G Y Z S T A N

A L B A N I A

G E O R G I A

C O L O M B I A

A R M E N I A

P E R U

9 8 . 2

6 0 . 2

9 6 . 9

2 0 . 8

9 5 . 3

9 6 . 8

9 3 . 3

S L O V A K I A

9 4 . 1

n / a

9 8 . 3

2 3 . 1

H U N G A R Y

n / a

P A K I S T A N

U G A N D A

9 8 . 1

9 3 . 8

U Z B E K I S T A N

V E N E Z U E L A

K A Z A K H S T A N

B O L I V I A

5 4 . 8

9 7 . 8

7 4 . 6

7 3 . 4

9 7 . 8

U K R A I N E

9 5 . 2

R E P U B L I C

C Z E C H

SOUTH CAUCASUS

CENTRAL ASIA

TROPICAL ANDES

CARPATHIANS

The first year available for the index is 2017; this year serves as a baseline to measure changes in the future.

Source: FAO.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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