Interpreting mountain treelines in a changing world

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About the launch

In conjunction with the International Day of Forests on 21 March 2022, we are supporting the virtual launch of the book ‘Interpreting mountain treelines in a changing world.’ The book, authored by a team of experts* and led by Prof. Surendra P. Singh, draws upon studies on mountain treelines from all around the world and recent research in the Indian Himalayan Region. The study was supported under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi, and involved 11 Principal Investigators from six research organizations. ICIMOD supported the publication of this book and provided technical and editorial inputs.

With this book launch, we aim to make the public familiar with treeline ecosystems and urge policymakers to treat treelines as a separate entity of study, management, and conservation, with an emphasis on transboundary cooperation.

This year’s theme for International Day of Forests is “Forests and sustainable production and consumption.” The day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests and their sustainable use.

Objectives

• Share our understanding of Himalayan treelines
• Emphasize the need for collaborative research and transboundary cooperation

Background

Treelines in the mountains represent a conspicuous physiognomic discontinuum, where forests give way to small herbaceous plants of alpine grasslands. Due to cold temperatures at a certain elevation, plants fail to grow woody and tall (>3 m). Widely thought to be constructed by heat deficiency, treelines have received significant attention in the wake of climate change, as mountains face the impacts of climatic warming. The highest treelines of the Northern Hemisphere are in the Himalayas, which stretch across thousands of kilometres but are under-researched.

Agenda

14:00–16:30 (NPT); 13:45–16:15 (IST)