Promoting science-based, community-driven approaches to climate change adaptation in glaciated mountain ranges: HiMAP

ABSTRACT

Glaciated mountains remain among the most under-studied regions in the world from a physical, social and climate change perspective, which complicates the development of appropriate adaptation and hazard mitigation approaches. The goal of the High Mountains Adaptation Partnership (HiMAP) project is to create conditions necessary for all the stakeholders who live in, or are dependent upon glacial watersheds, to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. This article documents the origins, establishment, implementation and experiences of the HiMAP in the Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone in Khumbu, Nepal, from its formation in March 2012 up to August 2014. Regardless of the Partnership's success, it is clear that glacier-dominated areas of the world will continue to pose unique challenges to highland and downstream communities as they adapt to the impacts of global climate change, particularly in terms of the increasing threats of glacial lake outburst floods. Given the critical importance of glaciated landscapes to the millions of people living in cities and communities downstream, this article demonstrates that interdisciplinary climate change research approaches and applied field projects are necessary for climate change adaptation initiatives to be effective.