Mountains are critical ecosystems that provide essential services and serve as home to approximately 15% of the global population (FAO, 2022). These communities are the most vulnerable to climate change, as rising temperatures accelerate glacier retreat, biodiversity loss, and disruptions to water cycles (IPCC, 2023). This has impacts on the 1.5 billion people who depend on mountain ecosystems for water, food, and energy (Viviroli et al., 2020).

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is rich in terms of nature and culture. Mountains, rich in water, minerals, forests, and biodiversity resources, provide numerous ecosystem services and benefits to mountain communities and beyond. However, this region is experiencing significant climate change impacts, having consequences on ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions.

In the last 30 years, around 24% glaciers of Nepal have retreated, significantly impacting water availability (National Environment Report, 2023). Unpredictable extreme weather events including heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, and inundation have been causing loss of life and property downstream.

Community-led initiatives are a critical approach to building resilience in the mountains. This approach recognizes the importance of local knowledge, values, and experiences, empowering local communities to identify, plan and implement climate change adaptation strategies based on their specific needs and contexts. These initiatives promote nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation that are culturally rich, economically viable, and socially acceptable to the local context. They help strengthen community capacities, foster a collective sense of responsibility, encourage farmers to learn by doing, promote participatory learning, and peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge. The Community Forestry Program of Nepal is a prominent example in which local communities manage forest resources to reduce deforestation, mitigate soil erosion, and support sustainable livelihoods. Similar community examples can also be observed in drinking water supply, farmer groups and nature-based homestay communities in the mountains.

Objectives:

1. Encourage community-led adaptation initiatives in the mountain regions aiming for mountain resilience and long-term sustainability of the resources.
2. Explore the traditional knowledge, skills, values, and norms in participatory approaches in designing context-specific adaptation strategies among policymakers, researchers, and local stakeholders.