The fall of the water. Emerging threats to the water resources and biodiversity at the roof of the world to Asia's lowland from land-use changes associated with large-scale settlement and piecemeal development
The next few decades will see a large scale threat to water sources and biodiversity in the Himalayas and surrounding low lands. Nearly half of the world population depends on these water sources. This is the conclusion of a study written by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in conjunction with a number of organisations, including the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP).
The most significant threats include an unregulated growth in roads, settlements, overgrazing, agriculture and deforestation. In combination with climate change this will lead to an increase in disasters due to drought and flooding. The productivity of agricultural land is also expected to be affected.
As these developments will take place in what have until now been natural areas with a high biodiversity. This will involve a considerable loss of wildlife and biodiversity. Model calculations of the MNP show that up until 2030 in the low lands an average of 40-80% of the original species populations will disappear; for the high lands, the number is 20-40%. There is an increased chance for vulnerable species, such as the Snow leopard, black neck crane and Przewalski's Gazelle to become extinct.
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- Publication title
- The fall of the water. Emerging threats to the water resources and biodiversity at the roof of the world to Asia's lowland from land-use changes associated with large-scale settlement and piecemeal development
- Publication date
- 18 October 2005
- Publication type
- Publication
- Magazine
- Global Methodology for Mapping Human Impacts on the Biosphere GLOBIO. UNEP GRID-Arendal, 2005
- Product number
- 91598