Along with representatives from UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, OSCE, national hydrometeorological services and other research institutes, scientists from GFZ and CAIAG had been invited to participate in the UNDP workshop. They presented the climate and glacier-related research activities in the frame of the CAWa project as well as the international research works carried out at the glacier observatory of Inylchek glacier under coordination of GFZ and CAIAG.

At the workshop, a synthesis of all available information on glacial melting in Central Asia was presented. Research gaps were identified and cost-effective monitoring strategies discussed. Based on the results of the workshop, UNDP will prepare the second project phase of their on-going glacier melting study subproject with a special emphasize on the improvement of data collection and sharing in the future.

Getting the big picture of climate change impact on glaciers will allow countries to better quantify the risks posed by a reduction of water flow from glaciers – and respond. (For details on the workshop and the CA-CRM programme see http://europeandcis.undp.org)