News from the Summit

Copenhagen and Climate Change

2009-12-16T16:32:00.005-05:00

"Remembering why we're in Copenhagen" - Wade Davis, anthropologist talks about why its important to stay focused during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Mr. Davis is a noted Canadian anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author and photographer whose work has focused on worldwide indigenous cultures. To see more videos go to Journey to Zero (http://journey-to-zero.posterous.com/),

Also, Gary Braasch, photographer and member of our International Advisory Committee documents the climate change event at Copenhagen. Check out his images at World View of Global Warming ( http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/)

Final Days Reflections and Photos

2009-07-24T10:41:00.004-04:00

Day seven was spent almost entirely in working groups (Water, Biodiversity, Agriculture) finalizing recommendations. Each group then gave their recommendations at a final session of the workshop plenary. This was followed by a public presentation of recommendations for interested community members in Huaraz. Day seven concluded the workshop component of this event, with many of the participants returning to Lima or heading out to field research sites the following day. A smaller team of the workshop organizers and presenters returned to Lima on Day Eight to prepare for a presentation on Day Nine to Peruvian Government officials and agencies, as well as members of the diplomatic and international donor communities, including representatives of the U.S. Embassy and USAID. The Peruvian Minister of Environment, Antonio Brack Egg, gave a closing statement and took questions from the audience—wrapping up the workshop and sending participants out to start the challenging and important work of making the workshop recommendations real.

Day Seven Working groups Preparing Recommendations:

Public Presentation to Huaraz Community Members:

Martin McLaughlin of USAID addressing Huaraz public meeting:

Presentation to Government, Diplomats, and Donors in Lima:

Presentation panel at final session in Lima:

Peru's Environment Minister, Antonio Brack Egg, making final comments.

Day Six Photos and Reflections

2009-07-20T15:43:00.008-04:00

The following information and photographs come from the team visiting Llaca Lake and the Ranrapalca glacier. In addition to Nelson Santillan and Wayne Lamphiere, participants in this site visit included Matts Erikisson, Julio Alegria, Milan Shrestha, Adina Racoviteanu, Martin Leon Geyer, Pradeep Mool, Elliot O’Brien, Joe Teplitz, and Bob Davis.

At nearly 5000m in elevation, Llaca Lake is located in Peru’s Huascaran National Park. This is a glacial lake at the base of the Ranrapalca glacier and surrounded by high Cordillera Blanca peaks including Ranrapalca (6162m). In 1975, the lake was lowered 11 meters and dammed to prevent flooding, store water and control waves overtopping the glacial moraine and cascading down the valley below.

Llaca is was of 15 Cordillera Blanca lakes vulnerable to avalanches and considered dangerous enough to justify construction of a flood control dam. There are another 19 lakes in the region that have some sort of hazard control engineering—tunnels or cuts—to control or store glacier waters.

Llaca Lake in the foreground, with Ranrapalca glacier and peak in the background.

Scientists from Peru, the Himalayas, and the U.S. discussed the status of Llaca Lake and glacier and the likelihood that climate change and rapid glacier retreat is making the glacier much more unstable and hazardous.

Below, scientists on the field trip participated in taped interviews and discussed the possibilities for glacial lake engineering in other parts of the world, such as the Himalayas. They also agreed that there is much more scrutiny of environmental impacts of dam construction and glacier lake engineering now than when these first dams were constructed 35 years ago.

Day Six Locations

2009-07-20T15:41:00.003-04:00

Workshop participants visited one of three Cordillera Blanca field sites on day six of the workshop. These field sites demonstrated many of the glacier, water, and community issues being discussed during the previous days’ working sessions. The following field sites were visited:

Llaca Lake: Llaca was one of Peru’s first glacial lakes where engineering measures were taken for flood control. Workshop participants joined Nelson Santillan (Peru National Water Authority) and Wayne Lamphiere (Protected areas consultant and eco-lodge owner) to visit the lake and the retreating glacier.

Pastoruri Glacier: One of Peru’s most visited glacier’s, Pastoruri is rapidly retreating and was recently closed to the public. Jan Savink (University of Amsterdam) and Marco Zapata (Peru National Water Authority) lead participants on a tour of the site.

Yungay and Llanganuco Lakes: The site of the 1970 earthquake and resulting avalanche that devastated the Yungay community. Workshop participants joined Benjamin Morales (Andean Institute of Glaciology and Geo-ecology) and Mark Carey (Historian, Washington & Lee University) for a visit to the site and discussion with local community leaders.

Day Five Photos and Reflections

2009-07-14T09:50:00.007-04:00

On day five, the workshop reconvened in Huaraz. The focus of the day was on developing a better understanding of vulnerability and adaptation, followed by continued group meetings to address impacts and plans of action for water, agriculture, and biodiversity.

John Furlow: What is adaptation and vulnerability?

Vulnerability often relates to disease, water availability, agricultural productivity, damage to infrastructure, hazards, and glacial melt.
Developing countries are often more vulnerable because they have agriculturally-based economies and are very dependent on water availability and weather conditions.

Adaptation is an adjustment in systems in response to actual or expected stimulus

Valued asset approach to vulnerability:

Assets are those things that a community values
What makes those assets vulnerable?
What are the ways to reduce those vulnerabilities?

Assets can be biological/physical, material, or human.
Vulnerability is a function of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.

Possible adaptive responses:

Policy change
Capacity building
Implementing best practices
Building infrastructure to protect valued assets

The community is an excellent source of information on identifying local assets, vulnerability, and actions for addressing vulnerability.

John Furlow (left), Glen Anderson (center), and Daene McKinny (right)

Valued assets are very vulnerable to climate change.
Economic development is an important way to build adaptive capacity and resilience at the community level.
Vulnerability and adaptation is a continual process.

Day Five Presenters

2009-07-14T09:46:00.003-04:00

John Furlow, United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Topic: Vulnerability and Adaptation

Glen Anderson, International Resources Group (IRG). Topic: Vulnerability and Adaptation

Daene McKinney, University of Texas, Center for Research in Water Resources. Topic: Assessing the impact of climate change on glacial watersheds of Peru

Day Four Photos and Reflections

2009-07-13T14:15:00.003-04:00

Today the workshop packed up and moved to Huaraz, Peru. Eighty-two participants traveled the seven hours to Huaraz (elevation 3100m/10,168 ft) and reconvened in this mountain city, surrounded by some of Peru’s highest peaks. The workshop moved into hands-on mode, focusing on vulnerability and adaptation training, intense group discussion, and field trips to three sites to see firsthand different aspects of the workshop agenda.

Day Four Photos taken by TMI Board member Joe Teplitz.

Day Three Photos and Reflections

2009-07-13T13:43:00.005-04:00

Day three of the workshop included case studies; discussion of personal experiences and best practices related to glacial retreat, climate change, watershed and downstream impacts; and indigenous perspectives.

Alejandra Martinez

In addition to glacier retreat, we are finding changes in other variables, including air temperature.
We have found a 1.3-degree Celsius increase in average maximum air temperature over the last 50 years of data collection.
We need more studies of meteorological variables.

Alton Byers

Comparing historic and contemporary photographs of glaciers in the Mt. Everest region, it is clear that even the world’s highest mountains are strongly impacted by climate change.
We need more information from local people to fully understand the range of climate impacts and prospective solutions.

Adina Racoviteanu

Using field research, remote sensing, and interviews with local people, we are trying to integrate the science of climate change with indigenous knowledge of how things are changing on the ground. Changes in climate and impacts on mountains and glaciers is already having an impact on the culture, beliefs, and practices of mountain peoples.

Pablo Lagos (left) and Mats Eriksson (right)

Lagos:

We have 80 years of data from the Mantaro Valley and are now using remote sensing, water sampling, and isotope analysis to further monitor the region. Combining these methods with the IPCC scenarios we are able to assess the future of water availability in this region.

Eriksson:

We must reduce the knowledge gaps in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region regarding climate change and its impact on water availability.
The current local adaptation strategies need to be documented and their long-term sustainability assessed.
The influence—and sometimes lack thereof—of current policies and their enforcement on local people’s adaptation ability need to be understood.

Day Three Presenters

2009-07-13T13:28:00.004-04:00

Pablo Lagos, Instituto Geofisico del Peru (IGP). Topic: Adaptation to the effects of glacier retreat in the Mantaro Valley
Mats Eriksson, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Topic: Impact of snow and ice melt on downstream water in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region
Alton Byers, The Mountain Institute (TMI). Topic: Climate, Culture, and Landscape Change in the Everest region of Nepal
Adina Rocoviteanu, University of Colorado at Boulder. Topic: Glaciers, sacred mountains, remote sensors, field techniques, and indigenous perspectives on climate change
Alejandra Martinez, Geophysics Institute of Peru (IGP). Topic: Economic impacts of climate change in the Mantaro Valley of Peru
Geranrdo Damonte, The Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE). Topic: Peasant community perspectives on natural resources
Juan Torres, Practical Action (ITDG). Topic: Mapping actors and actions in climate change research and action in Peru
Rerique Flores, National Agrarian University, La Molina (UNALM). Topic: Range management and hydrology: Potential adaptation strategies to climate change impacts in central Peru
Juan Guerrero Barrantes, National Agrarian University, La Molina (UNALM). Topic: Impacts of climate change in the Santa River watershed
Laura Avellaneda, Andean Community (CAN). Topic: Adaptation to the impact of rapid glacier retreat in the tropical Andes project (PRAA)
Julio Alegria, Institute for Water Management Promotion (IPROGA). Topic: Conflicts and water management in the context of climate change in Peru
Jennifer Lipton, Central Washington University. Topic: Environmental governance and Andean communities
Daniel Calahua, Peru Ministry of Environment. Topic: National policies to promote ecosystem and watershed management as climate change adaptation strategies in Peru

Day Two Photos and Reflections

2009-07-10T09:25:00.010-04:00

Marco Zapata

In the past we fought over oil. In the future we will be fighting over water.
The problem is not only water quantity; untreated waste is going directly into most rivers in the region.

Pradeep Mool

Himalayan glaciers are retreating at rates that are among the fastest in the world.
Glacial lake outbursts can destroy land, natural resources, and infrastructure up to 50 km downstream.

Teresa Ore

There is increasing demand for water in Peru and much concern and conflict over the prospect of privatization of water in the region.

John Gierke and Miriam Rios-Sanchez

Remote sensing provides capabilities for regional characterizations and monitoring of landscape hazards.
Advanced sensor technologies and digital image processing techniques can be used to characterize geologic structure.
Thermal imaging can be used to examine processes such as groundwater recharge/discharge systems.

Day Two Presenters

2009-07-10T00:50:00.008-04:00

Marco Zapata, National Water Authority. Topic: Glaciology in Peru

Pradeep Mool, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Topic: Overview of climate, glaciers, and glacial lakes in Nepal

Jeffrey Bury, University of California at Santa Cruz. Topic: Water supply and impacts on livelihood in the Andes

Teresa Ore, Institute for Water Management Promotion (IPROGA). Topic: Water and conflicts in the Andes

Xavier Zapata-Rios, Florida International University. Topic: Hydrology in the Andes

Alexander Herrera, Universidad de los Andes. Topic: Water management technologies in ancient Peru; archeological perspectives on adaptation to climate change

Ricardo Claverias, Centre for Research, Education, and Development (CIED). Topic: Andean cultural perspectives on water, glaciers, landscapes and climate

Carlos Amat y Leon, Universidad del Pacifico. Topic: Agriculture: Impacts and perspectives

Alexandra Ponette-Gonzalex, University of Texas. Topic: Ecosystems and biodiversity: Impacts and perspectives

Hector Vera, Servicio Nacional de Meteorological e Hidrologia (SENAMHI). Topic: Future demands of water in energy and other economic sectors

John Gierke and Miriam Rios-Sanchez, Michigan Technological University. Topic: Risk management: Impacts and perspectives

Day One of the Glacier Conference: Adapting to a World without Glaciers

2009-07-08T10:02:00.019-04:00

Day One Presenters:

Antonio Brack Egg, Peru’s Minister of Environment
Lonnie Thompson, Ohio State University
Marco Zapata, National Water Authority, Peru
Mark Carey, Washington & Lee University
Jeff Bury, University of California at Santa Cruz
Eduardo Durand, Ministry of Environment, Peru
Jorge Recharte, The Mountain Institute

Day One Photos:

Dr. Lonnie Thompson, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University

Dr. Antonio Brack Egg (left), Peru's Minister of Environment, and Dr. Jorge Recharte, TMI South America Director

Dr. Mark Carey reviewing the history of glacial lake disasters in Peru

Day One session at Pontifica Universidad Catolica Del Peru, Lima

Day One Reflections:

At the current rate of glacial recession, we can expect to lose all the world’s glaciers by 2030.
We’re not only losing these large storehouses of fresh water, but we are also losing the climate history recorded in the world’s glaciers.
Every one-degree increase in global temperature results in a 10 percent reduction in food production.
Those closest to the problem—the local people—are those furthest removed from the decision-making process. They are suffering the soonest and perhaps the most.
Peru is a global leader in addressing the impact of climate change on glaciers.
Thirty-four glacial lakes have been made safer through engineering projects that lower the water level in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca.

Adapting to a World Without Glaciers

2009-07-02T12:32:00.005-04:00

We welcome you to The Mountain Institute’s blog. We’d like to start by addressing one of the critical environmental issues of our time—the loss of glaciers worldwide.

By blogging with us, you can participate in an important discussion among global glacier experts who are meeting in Peru July 7 – 15. These glacier scientists, environmental policymakers and others from Europe, South America, Nepal, Pakistan, and the U.S. are meeting to design strategies that address the loss of glaciers worldwide.

The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that 80 percent of all glacial ice in the Himalayas and Tibet will be gone by 2035. Likewise, Andean glaciers are rapidly losing their ice cover and their rate of retreat has accelerated during the past decade. The combination of melting and unstable high-altitude snow, the rapid formation of dangerous glacial lakes, and the impacts on future water supplies all create conditions of deep concern for millions of people living in both the Andes mountains and coastal agricultural zones, as well as around the globe.

The attendees hope to use this conference to open regional and international dialogue on this pressing environmental matter. Please let us know your thoughts.