Mountain Adaptation Outlook Series - Synthesis Report

Effects of climate change on forestry, land use and biodiversity in the mountains are already being observed. Treelines have shifted to higher altitudes in parts of the Hindu Kush Himalaya. In Nepal’s Upper Mustang, the shifting treeline has caused conflicts between humans and wildlife as blue sheep and snow leopards are both being pushed to lower elevations in the search of food. In the Carpathian High Tatra Mountains, the Eurasian spruce bark beetle has caused mortality of Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) forests in recent decades. Over the past 25 years, the desertification zone has moved 500 metres upwards in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Forest fires have been increasing onMount Kilimanjaro in East Africa. Some mountain areas have also experienced positive changes. Afforestation of abandoned agricultural land is occurring in the Western Balkans, resulting in improved water quality as a result of infiltration and decreased run-off. In the future, impacts of climate change and human activities are likely to escalate. In the Tropical Andes, the area of páramos is predicted to decrease in area by 31 per cent by 2050 (even without factoring in destruction as a result of land-use change). In South Caucasus, climate change will likely threaten over 200 plant species, while at the same time expanding the habitat of 140 species. With the predicted rate of warming in the Andes, to maintain forest area, they would need to migrate more than 9 metres up slope every year to stay in their preferred climatic range. The treeline is also shifting in the north-western Himalayas and it is likely that by 2035 areas covered by ice, rocks and polar desert will be taken over by

However, it has been argued that adaptation measures are achieved indirectly through several initiatives, for example through activities that support sustainable forest management and the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. The biodiversity within Carpathian forests is considered highly valuable and national adaptation measures are in place to monitor, restore and protect species and habitats especially sensitive to climate change. The EU member countries also take part in the LIFE+ project FUTMON, which provides data on forest ecosystems and climate change. In the Western Balkans, the number of protected areas has increased over the last decade. The forest policies in the region cover many adaptation and mitigation activities through the promotion of sustainable forest management, although the policies have not been developed with climate change in mind. Forest and conservation policy documents in the Hindu KushHimalaya are generally concerned with sustainable forest management, complementing a number of global programs and regulations such as REDD+, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and regional cooperation for the management of protected areas. The policies however, do not adequately address climate change adaptation for the sector. Forest fires have been identified as an emerging concern for the region, and responding to this threat will require more comprehensive policies. In the Tropical Andes, climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems have not been included in relevant policies, but Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is included in Peru’s NDC’s. Only Colombia has addressed climate change adaptation goals, targets and developed implementation tools for the forest sector. Overall, the Andean policies do not sufficiently cover the importance of ecosystem services for human livelihoods, which are highly relevant for mountain communities.

boreal forest, tundra and shrubland. Policy response and gaps

Existing forest legislation in the Carpathians does not specifically address climate change adaptation.

Forest in the mountains of Tien Shan, Kazakhstan

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