Private

FS 3.170

Approaching cold mountains through local knowledge exchange and collaboration

Details

Full Title
FS 3.170: Diversifying expertise on cold mountain regions - Decentering scientific epistemologies through local knowledge and collaboration on eye level
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Anna-Maria Walter
Co-Conveners
Jakob Steiner, Roopam Shukla, Andrei Vinogradov, Suryanarayanan Balasubramania,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
---
Thematic Focus
Adaptation, Cryo- & Hydrosphere, Culture, Low-to-no-snow, Socio-Ecology
Keywords
glaciers, cryosphere, indigenous knowledge, collaboration, knowledge resource

Description

Nothing captures common attention for anthropogenic global warming like the changing cryosphere: glaciers are receding, permafrost is thawing, snow in winter is becoming less reliable, avalanche patterns are shifting. To understand the socioecological implications of these changes, there is a need to listen to the people who have lived with snow and ice for centuries. Their intimate knowledge adds cosmological, sensory and practical dimensions to the technoscientific approaches of glaciologists. Local communities are the ones who have to adapt to changing scenarios, and often do so in ingenious ways. Exchange with them – or the absence of it – influences the way scientists do and communicate the relevance of their work. We invite contributions from mountain ranges around the world, featuring different disciplinary backgrounds, and especially welcome voices of underrepresented communities and non-conventional research designs. What are instructive examples of bottom-up approaches to ice and snow (high pastures, mountain passes, etc.)? Which resources can be drawn upon? What kind of twists and turns does Indigenous knowledge take when trying to reach the international scientific community? How can exchange between different types of cryo-experts happen on eye level? We aim to challenge and advance cryosphere sciences by widening their epistemological base. Initiating avenues for exchange and collaboration as well as supporting local initiatives are important steps in overcoming hierarchical modes of knowledge exchange and to question (post)colonial modes of epistemological sovereignty.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.5700

Local narratives of seeding and receding glaciers

Zakir Zakir Hussain

Abstract/Description

“When I was a boy, in 1970s, the tail of our Gang Singe Glacier was at Bonbong that has now receded about 1.5 kilometers, if it continues, I fear we will end up having no glacier source for water upstream,” says Akhon Hassan (67 yrs) of Chunda. An interesting comment made by Mr. Bashir (65 yrs) of Kuru: “Our grandfathers grafted a glacier but interestingly it was a male glacier only. It spurts here and there, lifts boulders but does not give water, probably we need to graft another (female) glacier”, so after marriage it can give water for our needs. These kinds of ethnographic accounts and narratives based on the personal observations, experiences and inferences of local communities living in the neighborhood of glaciers for decades have deeper meanings and implications to understand climate change. If such statements are analyzed and decoded, workable local and indigenous solutions can be found that would be sustainable, eco-friendly and cost effective in nature. The drive of Ice-Reservoirs making by University of Baltistan is based on such indigenous insights. Other than Glacier Grafting, Ice-Towering and Avalanche Harvesting techniques, I have successfully experimented to grow irrigation scale ice-reservoirs in Baltistan. This paper presents an overview of these case studies.

ID: 3.11254

Cross-border harmonization of site-specific avalanche risk assessment: the CAIROS project promotes the role of local avalanche commissions

Michael Winkler
Schwarz, Jakob; Gasperi, Alice

Abstract/Description

Site-specific avalanche risk assessment by panels of local people has a long tradition in many alpine regions. These risk managers are often referred to as avalanche commissions. Their decisions are significant for a functioning everyday life in mountainous regions in wintertime: they ensure a responsible use of infrastructures, transportation of people and goods, tourism, energy supply, etc. The avalanche commissioners’ job is assessing the local risk and suggesting proper mitigation measures to minimize it.

Avalanche commissions aggregate their own observations and expertise, weather station data, forecasts and model outputs as well as the information provided by the regional avalanche warning services. Documentation and proper communication are key. In this context, national and provincial borders often encumber the cooperation between neighboring avalanche commissions and introduce unnecessary complications.

The Interreg project CAIROS aims to foster cross-border collaboration between multinational and multilingual regions within the European Union. Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino represent such an “EU region” with many historic, cultural and geographic similarities. Standardizing the working methods and training of avalanche commissions across the Austrian-Italian border is a major goal of the project. This will support consistent decisions and, consequently, a greater acceptance of potential restrictions by the public. During the CAIROS project, a general survey of the avalanche commissions in the project area is conducted. Furthermore, the project is based on three main pillars: (1) a training curriculum that can be used in all three regions despite legal and organizational differences, (2) a common software platform to facilitate information gathering, decision-making, documentation and communication, taking an open-source and mobile-first approach, (3) easy-to-use daily avalanche simulations derivated from the open-source avalanche simulation tool AvaFrame.

With its contribution to IMC 2025, the CAIROS team would like to highlight the proven system of avalanche commissions as a risk-conscious, site-specific approach to mitigate avalanche hazards incorporating the knowledge of the native population.

ID: 3.11693

A youth-based glacio-hydrological monitoring program in Tongait KakKasuangita SilakKijapvinga (Torngat Mountains National Park), Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada

Nicole Gaul
Way, Robert; Trant, Andrew; Le, Nhu; Barone, Katryna; Barrand, Nicholas; Mallalieu, Joseph; Saunders, Michelle; Rendell, Erin; Wang, Yifeng; Lightfoot, Holly; Denniston, Melissa; Jacque, Ella; Jacque, Hanson; Sheppard, Jessica; Wyatt, Kayla

Abstract/Description

The Tongait KakKasuangita SilakKijapvinga (Torngat Mountains National Park) is a remote Arctic cordilleran landscape in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, and the historic homelands of the Avanimiut who were forcibly removed in the mid 1900s. The Park is cooperatively managed by the Inuit of Nunatsiavut (Labrador), the Inuit of Nunavik (Québec), and Parks Canada. The Park contains 105 small glaciers (simmik or aujuituk in Inuttitut) that remain locally significant for their meltwater contributions to watersheds, hosting cultural keystone species like tuttuk (Caribou), ikKaluk (Arctic char), and aKiggik (Ptarmigan).

Regional climate warming has likely impacted Torngat glaciers, but their current state remains uncertain due to a lack of recent observations. Glaciological mass balance records from the 1980s suggest a net balance; however, geodetic mass balance surveys in the late-2000s showed ice thinning. Climate-driven changes to snow and ice may shift these glacio-hydrological systems from meltwater-driven to precipitation-driven, with effects on ecosystem services, connected habitats, and community resource use. Further, warmer streamflow could impact cold-water fish species, like ikKaluk, while changes to snow may alter riparian and upland habitat. This work contributes to building an integrated monitoring framework that will evaluate climate change impacts on upstream systems and support Inuit-led efforts to maintain ecological integrity in the Torngat Mountains, a goal recently identified in the Park’s 2023 Management Plan.

We report on a new participatory glacio-hydrological monitoring program which aims to establish mass balance, meteorological, and watershed monitoring for a small cirque glacier in the southern end of the Torngat Mountains. Our approach focuses on piloting participatory and community-based research methods to support capacity building, and empower Inuit Youth Research Technicians to contribute, direct, and maintain robust glacio-hydrological monitoring programs well beyond this project. Preliminary results will include uncrewed aerial vehicle-derived changes in glacier surface elevation from 2023, 2024, and 2025, a ground penetrating radar survey, and downstream LiDAR-based water level monitoring. This collaborative research enables University researchers, Government staff, and Inuit youth to develop a unique and interdisciplinary monitoring program in one of the most understudied glacierized regions in Canada.

ID: 3.12086

Disaster, Liminality and Wakhis in the High Mountain Asia: A Networked and Discursive approach to Resilience

Sultan Ahmed

Abstract/Description

This study investigates the resilience of the Wakhi community in High Mountain Asia, analyzing the multifaceted challenges posed by disasters through the lens of spatial, temporal, political, cultural, and environmental liminality, as well as Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA). The Pamirian Knot, a geographical threshold between South and Central Asia, embodies spatial liminality, where the region’s landscape exacerbates hazardous events such as floods, avalanches and landslides. Temporally, the Wakhi’s historical experiences at the crossroads of empires and state building processes highlight their adaptive responses to external pressures and disaster events. Culturally, the community navigates the balance between Indigenous Knowledge and modern disaster management strategies. Politically, shifting geopolitical interests and varying governance structures across four countries influence disaster response and community dynamics. Environmentally, climate change exacerbates hazardous events, heightening community fears and transforming risk landscapes. By applying ANT, this study maps the relational networks that shape disaster resilience, emphasizing the interplay between human actors (e.g., organizations, government, community groups) and non-human actors (e.g., climate change, infrastructure, technologies). Through FDA, it critiques dominant disaster management discourses, highlighting how colonial and post-colonial narratives marginalize the Wakhi’s Indigenous Knowledge. The research underscores the need to reclaim Indigenous practices and promoting culturally sensitive approaches to enhance resilience. Through detailed case studies of specific disasters, the study illustrates community responses and outcomes, offering insights into effective practices for disaster risk communication and resilience. The findings emphasize the need for integrated approaches that consider all dimensions of liminality, networked interactions and discursive power dynamics to support the Wakhi community’s resilience. This study contributes to the broader understanding of disaster resilience in marginalized regions advocating for policies and practices that empower local communities and respect their cultural heritage. Future research should continue to explore the interconnectedness of these factors and promote interdisciplinary and participatory approaches to studying disaster resilience.

ID: 3.12728

Bridging Science and Youth: Communicating Antibiotic Resistance in Alpine Regions

Daniel Gattinger
Schlenz, Valentin; Weil, Tobias; Sattler, Birgit

Abstract/Description

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest global threats of the 21st century, affecting not only human health but also ecosystems worldwide. Even relatively remote environments, such as glacial and alpine regions, harbor bacterial communities with both intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms. Alpine glaciers serve as valuable indicators of how antibiotic resistance spreads in natural environments far from urbanized areas. For a long time, the role of bacteria in these regions has been underestimated. Yet, glacial meltwater can act as a pathway for resistant microbes to enter downstream ecosystems, potentially increasing selective pressure and accelerating resistance spread. Our research has shown that glacier bacteria can withstand up to eight different antibiotics, including last-resort substances, underscoring the urgent need to better understand these regions in the fight against global antibiotic resistance.
However, as a “One Health” issue, addressing antibiotic resistance requires a collaborative effort among science, healthcare, policymakers, and the general public. Therefore, effective communication is crucial to ensure awareness and behavioral change. Young people, particularly teenagers, represent a key but often overlooked audience in this dialogue. However, their engagement is essential, as they will shape future policies, consumption patterns, and scientific progress.
Here, we explore strategies to effectively communicate the complexities of antibiotic resistance in alpine regions to young audiences. Initiatives such as youth-friendly journal editions (e.g., Frontiers for Young Minds), and interactive outreach activities, can bridge the gap between research and public understanding. By incorporating the challenges and opportunities of these remote landscapes – such as antibiotic dispersal in glacier ecosystems, the role of human activities (e.g., tourism), and the resilience of high-altitude microbial communities – we can make scientific knowledge more tangible and relevant. Approaching young people through reliable communication pathways can foster a better understanding of complex scientific “One Health” challenges, strengthening knowledge on environmental antibiotic resistance, the benefits and risks of antibiotic use, and ways to minimize secondary harms.

FS 3.168: A multidisciplinary approach to the science and conservation of global mountain spring ecosystems

FS 3.172: Speaking stones: The archaeology and anthropology of rock art in high mountain environments

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.170

Approaching cold mountains through local knowledge exchange and collaboration

Details

Full Title

Scheduled

Location

Convener

Co-Conveners

Assigned to Synthesis Workshop

Thematic Focus

Keywords

Description

Submitted Abstracts

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

Abstract/Description

About us

Share this content

General Info

General Info

Get in contact

Personal Details

Address

Preferences