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Land policy analyses
In
Bolivia
, Law 300 states that the Plurinational
Authority of Mother Earth is responsible for
implementing a Joint Mitigation and Adaptation
Mechanism for the integrated and sustainable
management of the forest and Mother Earth.
This mechanism aims to conserve, protect and
restore biodiversity and ecological functions by
facilitating optimal land use. These uses would be
part of sustainable production systems, and include
agricultural and forestry practices for reducing
deforestation and forest degradation as part of
mitigation and adaptation strategies (Asamblea
Legislativa Plurinacional de Bolivia, 2012). Land,
however, is only referred to in the mechanism as it
relates to production or other important resources
(e.g. forests). This perspective overlooks the
importance of soils for responding to climate change,
and indicates a potential gap for action. However,
this may be solved by the programme Sustainable
Management and Use of the Land. This programme
is part of the Patriotic Agenda’s strategy, Agrarian
and productive development. Additionally, there
is a specific objective to support communitarian
economic entrepreneurs who favour food sovereignty
and security (Ministerio de Autonomías, 2013).
Colombia
has a National Policy for the Integrated
Environmental Management of Land (GIAS),
which is governed by the Ministry of Environment
and Sustainable Development (MADS). This
policy prioritizes sustainable agriculture and
forest management, which may be considered
an adaptation measure. It may also contribute
to mitigation through carbon sequestration. The
main goal of this policy is disaster risk reduction
(Ministerio de Salud y Proteccion Social, 2012). The
policy includes a sustainability principle, with one
of its key elements being climate change resilience.
The
UNESCO
International
Hydrology
Programme (IHP) project “The Impact of
Glacier Retreat in the Andes: International
Multidisciplinary Network for Adaptation
Strategies” aims to identify the vulnerability of
glaciers to climate change, as well as to facilitate
adaptation policies targeting glacial melting. To
identify these policies, a set of regional activities
were organized since 2012, strengthening the
science-policy dialogue in the Andean Region.
Four background papers were developed to
identify the current gaps and opportunities related
to climate change effects on water resources
and adaptation potential. The papers were later
transformed into policy briefs to inform decision
makers. The first policy brief dealt with ‘Mapping
of vulnerability of water resources to global
changes in the Andean Region’ and focused on
the physical environment. The second brief was
entitled ‘Policy needs for adaptation strategies
in water resources management’, and addressed
current policies in different countries to identify
gaps to meet future conditions . The third paper
dealt with ‘Education and curriculum needs’ on
water resources, and snow and glacier issues,
The Impact of Glacier Retreat in the Andes: International
Multidisciplinary Network for Adaptation Strategies
CASE STUDY
showing current gaps. The last paper documented
‘Climate Change Adaptation local practices in the
Andean Region’.
Complementary to this effort, a regional
assessment of the vulnerability of Andean natural
resources (water and environmental resources)
to glacier melt was finalized. This has led to the
identification of areas with higher vulnerability to
glacier retreat, and areas for follow-up activities
to develop adaptation strategies. A website was
created to present these outcomes (http://unesco.
envisim.com/) and a final document is being
created for public diffusion, in collaboration with
GRID-Arendal. A scientific paper has also been
submitted for peer review titled “Tracing the
white water: Tropical glacier melt contribution to
human water use” (Buytaert et al., forthcoming).
Based on the capacity building realized as part
of the project, and in collaboration with the
project partners and the Andean Climate Change
Interamerican Observatory Network project
(ACCION) in particular, a manual for analysing
glacier mass balance is under development and
will be released in 2015.
Peru recently established the National Institute for
Research on Glaciers and Mountain Ecosystems
(INAIGEM).
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This institute is responsible for
generating and consolidating scientific knowledge on
climate change to improve conservation and resource
use in glaciers and mountain areas. It is expected that
it will coordinate with initiatives led by the General
Directorate of Climate Change, Desertification and
Water Resources on mountains and climate change.
Another potential partner is the Working Group on
Mountain Ecosystems, which was recently created
within theNational Commission of Biological Diversity.