🌍 Introduction
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), home to glaciers and ancient cultures, is facing climate shifts that threaten traditional agriculture. Melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, and extreme events are altering centuries-old livelihoods.
🔥 Climate Change in Gilgit-Baltistan
- 🌡 Temperature Rise: +1.5°C in 50 years
- ❄️ Glacial Retreat: 3,000+ small glaciers shrinking
- 🌧 Erratic Rainfall: Causes floods & droughts
- 🌪 GLOFs: Over 50 glacial lakes at risk
- 🌾 Shorter growing seasons
🌿 Traditional Agriculture in GB
- Barley, maize, and potato in valleys
- Apricots, apples, and almonds as cash crops
- Use of karez and glacier-fed canals
- Seed saving and composting traditions
🚨 Climate Impacts
- ❄️ Water shortages from early glacier melt
- 🐛 New pests & diseases in fruit trees
- 🍎 Lower yields of apples and apricots
- 📉 Loss of indigenous climate knowledge
- 👣 Youth migration due to agri-collapse
👥 Voices from the Ground
“Our fruit trees bloom earlier now, but late frost destroys the blossoms.” — Farmer, Hunza Valley
“Water from glaciers comes too early and is gone by July.” — Elder, Ghizer
📊 At-Risk Areas
| Region | Primary Threats |
|---|---|
| Hunza | Glacier melt, heat stress, GLOFs |
| Skardu | Water shortages, changing zones |
| Astore | Late frost, low apple yield |
| Ghizer | Soil erosion, declining apricots |
📘 Policy Recommendations
- ✅ Climate observatories with local youth
- ✅ Indigenous seed banks
- ✅ Restore glacier irrigation channels
- ✅ Revive agroecological traditions
- ✅ Early warning systems for GLOFs
- ✅ Train women in climate-smart agriculture
- ✅ Eco-friendly agri-tourism policies
🏔 Climate Education: A Path Forward
EarthWarriorz.org can lead climate camps, train youth, and create child-friendly content in local languages like Shina and Burushaski to preserve traditional knowledge.
🌿 Support indigenous farmers in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Join us in building resilient communities through education, action, and collaboration.
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