Sustainable Mountain Development No. 56, ICIMOD, Winter 2009
end, if mechanisms could be developed to ensure that allows for regular and repeated monitoring of snow
environmental concerns are integrated in the process cover, which can be carried out by countries such as
of planning and implementation of artifi cial water China and India, with results shared with those lacking
storage systems, it may be appropriate to promote such technological infrastructure. Studies need to include
environmentally-friendly dams and reservoirs that could both ground-based and satellite-based monitoring. Well-
provide water storage, as well as fl ood control and equipped stations and long-term monitoring, networking,
hydro-energy benefi ts. and cooperation within and outside the region are
China and India are traditionally two leading producers
essential.
of rice in the world, most of the harvest coming from
Developing water storage systems and management
irrigated agriculture in the Ganges, Yangtze, and
strategies as options for climate change: It is necessary
Yellow river basins. Moreover, China and India are
to assess the social requirements for water in the context
today experiencing economic growth and are gaining
of climate change, and then to develop natural systems
in international importance. The development of these
and solutions for policymakers and stakeholders to take
two giants demands increasing ecosystem services,
the required steps to meet those needs through wise use
especially freshwater resources.
of high altitude wetlands, groundwater management,
and construction of water storage systems, in the best
The Himalayas – reconciling human demands
manner possible. Water storage, based on local
and the environment in a globally warmed world
practices, should be encouraged in the region.
Climate change clearly has a global dimension. While
In the end, the Himalayas may be an example of
the priority has to be adaptation, we are aware that
how humans and the environment collide in a globally
the Himalayas are suffering the consequences of a
warmed world. Can the world’s third pole be saved?
global phenomenon. Unfortunately, global instruments
What we do about this will probably determine what is
in relation to the Kyoto protocol do not yet benefi t the
going to happen to our world in the future.
mountains. There is a continuum between mitigation
and adaptation, where mountain systems should not be
sidelined in world actions. The mountains, especially the
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