Global News
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The Mountain Research Initiative Coordination Office was extremely saddened to hear news of the flood/debris flow disaster that occurred in the mountainous Chamoli district of Uttarakhand State, India, on the morning of 7 February 20211.
At the time of writing (11 February), 34 people are known to have lost their lives, and at least 174 people remain missing2. Two hydropower stations and other infrastructure, including roads and bridges, were destroyed. We hope that the remainder of the rescue and recovery operation will proceed as efficiently as the challenging circumstances in this fragile social-ecological system allow. Several members of the MRI network, in conjunction with Indian scientists, are contributing to develop an understanding of the event and its impacts.
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The Biosphere Futures database, a global collection of social-ecological scenarios "creating a commons to strengthen the practice," is seeking scenario and case study contributions from the mountain research community.
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Nearly a quarter of Italian alpine plant species are threatened by glacier retreat, according to a new study from Stanford University. Glaciers around the world are predicted to disappear within the next decade and the consequences for the plants, animals, and societies surrounding them are still uncertain. By combining historical records, current surveys, and computational models, the researchers’ findings may help guide conservation efforts.
Beyond the ski slopes, one of the most iconic symbols of the Alps are the alpine flowers. These plants are not only beautiful–they are also used in liqueurs and medicines, and they form the foundation of the local food chains. But a recent study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution shows that, although plant diversity may initially increase with glacier retreat, many of these species may soon become endangered.
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The Pathways of Transformation in the Alps (PORTAL) project, hosted by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), seeks the mountain research community's input to assess nature-based solutions and their potential for transformative change in the Alps.
The following questionnaire serves to identify nature-based adaptation initiatives in the Alps. The Alps, and the people that depend on its biodiversity and ecosystem services, are highly sensitive to climate change and therefore are pioneering multiple adaptation actions.
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The ISC's World Data System and Committee on Data are pleased to announce that the Call for Session Proposals is now open for SciDataCon 2021, which is an integral part of International Data Week 2021 (8–11 November 2021; Seoul). The overarching theme of IDW 2021 and SciDataCon is Data to Improve our World. Session proposal submission is now open and closes 31 March 2021.
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The rate at which ice is disappearing across the planet is speeding up, according to new research led by scientists from the University of Leeds and published in the journal The Cryosphere.
The findings also reveal that the Earth lost 28 trillion tonnes of ice between 1994 and 2017 – equivalent to a sheet of ice 100 metres thick covering the whole of the UK.
The research is the first of its kind to carry out a survey of global ice loss using satellite data.
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Registration to participate in the external review of the second order draft of the IPBES Values Assessment and the first order draft of the Summary for Policymakers is now open. The review period runs from 20 January to 19 March 2021.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has issued a call for expert reviewers for the IPBES Values Assessment, a methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
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A capacity-building project coordinated by the University of Bayreuth is working to develop scientifically-based further education programs in Tanzania in order to develop the next generation of experts needed to ensure the long-term preservation of the country's biodiversity.
Biodiversity is a central ecological and economic resource for Tanzania, thanks to its extensive nature reserves. For its long-term preservation, the East African country needs experts who can develop and implement effective strategies and measures. As part of a new project funded by the EU to the tune of up to € 790,000, the University of Bayreuth is working towards establishing commensurate courses of study at universities in Tanzania. In doing so, it will work closely with European and Tanzanian partners in research and on the ground.
