What makes the Himalayan mountain ecosystem fragile?
The Himalayan mountain system is geologically young and still at a formative stage. This translates into seismic activities and a high incidence of erosion. The fragility also refers to other phenomena: the Himalayas due to the enormous differences in altitudes and microclimates harbour an enormous biodiversity and cultural and biological wealth within a very limited geographic space. This diversity is easily affected by changing temperature and precipitation patterns and this, together with the increased risks of natural hazards, makes the Himalayan region among the most vulnerable areas for climate change, similar to some coastal areas. What will be the impact of glacial melting on the biodiversity of the region? Glacier melting has little direct impact on biodiversity except for large-scale habitat destruction through flash floods. More important are the indirect consequences due to the loss of wetland habitats and lack of water when the glaciers disappear. Glaciers and biodiversity
