Abstract ID: 3.13815 | Accepted as Talk | Requested as: Poster | TBA | TBA

Mountain communities have long developed innovative strategies to adapt to extreme environments and shifting climatic conditions. As climate change accelerates glacier retreat, disrupts water cycles, and increases disaster risks, harnessing Indigenous and local knowledge is essential for building resilience. This presentation explores community-led solutions in different mountain regions, as captured through the Walk of Water photostory contest organized by Onewater and UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme. In Ladakh, India, communities construct ice stupas—artificial glaciers that store winter water and release it gradually for crops in spring, securing irrigation during critical months. Additionally, local water watchmen redirect streamflows to shaded areas, extending the lifespan of seasonal ice and optimizing water availability. In the Peruvian Andes, Indigenous communities in Cusco revive ancestral practices by planting Queñual trees, a high-altitude native species that enhances water retention and ecosystem stability. They also implement traditional rainwater harvesting techniques, reinforcing both environmental conservation and cultural identity. These examples underscore the importance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern climate adaptation strategies. By amplifying these stories and fostering cross-regional knowledge exchange, this session aims to highlight how Indigenous and local wisdom can complement scientific approaches, shaping more effective and community-centered solutions for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in mountain regions.