<
https://theconversation.com/the-high-and-mighty-himalayas-a-biodiversity-hotbed-facing-significant-challenges-226203>
"The Himalayas are home to a vast diversity of species, consisting of 10,000
vascular plants, 979 birds and 300 mammals, including the snow leopard, the red
panda, the Himalayan tahr and the Himalayan monal.
The region represents a huge mountain system extending 2,400 kilometres across
Nepal, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, Myanmar and Afghanistan. It has a number
of climate types and ecological zones, from tropical to alpine ecosystems
including ice and rocks in the uppermost zone. All these ecological zones are
compressed within a short elevation span.
The Himalayas — along with the related Tibetan Plateau — provide considerable
ecosystem services and as the “third pole” are also the source of most of
Asia’s major rivers, a fact that has earned it the additional moniker of
the
world’s water tower.
It is of urgent importance that these fragile ecosystems are conserved and
protected."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
