Permafrost under high altitude pastures can retain water in the active layer, the uppermost ground layer that freezes in the winter and thaws in the summer, supporting vegetation such as mosses, lichens and dwarf shrubs. But when permafrost disappears, the water can drain freely, the ground becomes drier and vegetation changes, with impacts on herding communities and the ecosystem as a whole.

In the mountains, permafrost stabilizes rock slopes, moraines and debris-covered slopes. For instance, moraines consist of loose sediment often held together by permafrost. When permafrost thaws, slopes become more vulnerable to erosion. Debris and sediment may deposit slowly in nearby rivers or slide downhill catastrophically, destroying homes, bridges and roads. Loss of permafrost can also increase the likelihood of outburst floods of glacial lakes.