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High altitude wetlands and water towers Impacts of climate change have been noticed on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Himalayan high altitude wetlands provide a freshwater reserve affecting almost one-third of humanity in the river basins downstream. There is considerable evidence that loss of Himalayan wetlands can lead first to increased flooding and later to lack of river water, especially during dry seasons in the downstream thereby requiring significant efforts to lessen both at source and the downstream. IUCN Nepal, in conjunction with Himalayan Water and Nature Initiatives (WANI), organised a one-day multi-stakeholder consultation workshop on the “Role of high altitude Himalayan region wetlands as water towers” in Kathmandu to encourage state and non-state stakeholders to navigate ways for implementing climate change adaptation, economic valuation of ecosystem resources, environmental flows and payment for watershed services in Nepal. The workshop brought together experts from climate change, water, environment, dams and development arena. The workshop was organised with the objectives of sharing information and develop way forward for (i) adaptation of water resources management to climate change; (ii) counting ecosystem as water infrastructure; (iii) essentials of environmental flow; and (iv) establishing payment for watershed services. Welcoming the participants, Mr. Prabhu Budhathoki, Country Representative of IUCN Nepal, highlighted the importance of water and ecosystems to human beings, causes and consequences of climate change in the mountains, cautioned about the possible impact of climate change on the mountain civilisation and urged the participants for active participation. During the thematic presentations, participants raised issues on the ways to promote Clean Development Mechanism, to reward the upland conservation activities and penalise the unwanted human activities in the upland private lands. Participants also showed their concerns about the possible impacts of introduced exotic fish species on indigenous species in Kulekhani reservoir, and ways to account the loss of indigenous species. The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations on hydrological functions of wetlands, impacts of climate change, integration of payment for environmental services with the watershed conservation practices, classified classification of environmental-flow through policy and legal measures, and preparation of coping strategies for alternative livelihoods. For more information, please contact:
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