Glacier Ecosystem Services and WEF Security

Glaciers play a critical role in supporting ecosystems and human communities, particularly in mountainous regions & downstream areas in Himalayas, Alps, Andes and other mountain ranges worldwide. These ice reservoirs provide a broad spectrum of Glacier Ecosystem Services (GES) such as water supply for irrigation, hydropower generation, domestic use, streamflow regulation, spirituality & aesthetic values. In this session, we delve into vital functions of glacier-fed systems, examining how glacier meltwater sustains water, energy, & food security & are part of cultural and ancestral beliefs. Given the alarming rates of glacier loss ubiquitously observed globally, the session will also address the observed changes and projected impacts on GES. It will critically explore disruptions in GES analyzing cascading effects on local communities & regional economies. The session provides a platform for scientists & community partners to discuss GES in the context of rapid climatic & socio-economic changes & to enhance understanding & tools for adaptive & transformative responses to glacier loss & their associated services using quantitative and qualitative methods. We invite abstracts for oral presentations on conceptual frameworks & local, regional or transboundary scale case studies of GES exploring dynamics and changes using observations, integrated modelling, & qualitative analysis of socio-cultural values & adaptation strategies. Participants will gain insights into the dynamic relationships between glaciers, climate, & human adaptation from inter/transdisciplinary perspectives for long-term sustainability of glacier-dependent socio-ecological systems.