NASA LCLUC Central Asia Webinar Featuring Dr. Geoffrey Henebry
Thu, March 25, 2021 11:00 AM at Virtual
Join the NASA LCLUC Central Asia Webinar Series as Dr. Geoffrey Henebry of the MSU Department of Geography, Environment, & Spatial Science and the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations presents "Understanding the Twin Challenges Facing Agropastoralism in Montane Central Asia: Environmental Change and Globalization".
Abstract:
Central Asia has long been a bit of a mystery. Once a center of empire, it has been at the periphery for centuries. The Fifth IPCC Assessment Report documented how much less was known about the myriad aspects of climate change in Central Asia than anywhere else in Asia. We will soon know whether AR6 will shed more light on prospects of Central Asia in the coming decades. Montane agropastoralism has been a traditional livelihood in the mountains of Central Asia that has persevered in the face of many external challenges. Although environmental changes threaten the highland pastures that are the resource base of montane agropastoralism, the bigger threat may arise from economic globalization, young people moving from rural to urban areas seeking jobs, and sending of money back home in the form of remittances. This webinar will present recent environmental changes in montane Central Asia, examine linkages between snow seasonality and subsequent pasture productivity, and review trends of socioeconomic indicators-including remittances-in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.