Future Sustainability Challenges in Hindu Kush-Himalaya - Impact of Global Changes on Mountains: Responses and Adaptation - page 260

Case study 7: Adaptive agricultural practice
According to Paustian et al. (2006) increasing productive, erosion control
measures, reduced tillage and improving cropping practices of agricultural
soil can capture CO 2 (Singh 2008). The fundamental approach that needs
to be incorporated in agricultural development programmes, for example
strengthening the ecological foundation of food security through sustainable
food system without undercutting the basic natural conditions needed
to produce food (e.g., water, soil formation, biodiversity). Broadly, these
are: i) resource base agriculture (e.g., water and land) and, ii) supporting
ecosystem services (e.g., soil formation and nutrient recycling; on-farm
and off-farm biodiversity; climate condition and processes) (UNEP 2012b).
Conclusion
The dynamic and complex HKH mountain system is vulnerable to global
changes. Globally dominating production and consumption, population
growth and urbanization are the main anthropogenic activities changing
the HKH environment. Since anthropogenic activities are the main engine
of changing the HKH region, it is imperative for decision makers to revisit
and redesign their growth and development strategy, along with new
approaches apart from the ongoing adaptation and mitigation measures.
All this however is not possible without bundling peace and security in
the region. Since, the HKH's environmental issues are transboundary,
regional cooperation is imperative for peace and security and for sustainable
development.
In addition, uncertainties about the rate and magnitude of climate
change and potential impacts, and inadequate scientific studies, are
hampering the development of future projections on likely impacts on
human and ecosystems. This in turn, hinders the effective action to adapt
to anticipated changes in the HKH region. The region needs transboundary
scientifi c cooperation to establish an effective communication between the
scientifi c community and policymakers to identify knowledge gaps for
better understanding the complexities of the HKH region, and allow policy
options based on appropriate scientifi c evidence.
References
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Impact of transient groundwater storage on the discharge of Himalayan rivers. Nature
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