A Glacial Warning

Endangered Vegetation

The region just beneath the glaciers, called the Afroalpine vegetation zone, has rare plants that only grow at specific elevations in East African highlands. These plants rely on glacial river water and there were initial concerns that there wouldn't be enough water. But Taylor and his colleagues found that the glaciers are already so small that their disappearance will barely affect the flow of alpine rivers.

However, the receding glaciers certainly act as a warning for the more direct consequences of global warming. As temperatures increase, plants that normally grow in lower montain zones will be able to grow at higher altitudes and will compete for limited space with existing plants. "Luckily vegetation responds pretty slowly," Taylor says. "The glaciers are much more sensitive than vegetation to changes in air temperature."

The Cause

Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is the major contributor to global warming since it creates a greenhouse effect where the sun's heat cannot escape through the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas increase CO2 levels in the atmosphere and most scientists now agree that they are the prime culprits for climate change.

Ironically, indigenous mountain communities like the BaKonzo people, who produce virtually no greenhouse gases, are likely to be the most affected by glacial loss. The glaciers give the BaKonzo their cultural identity, protect them from tropical diseases, storms and hostile tribes, and provide medicinal plants. Their tourism economy also depends on the glaciers, and they will suffer drastically when the glaciers disappear, since they will no longer be there for mountaineers and trekkers to admire.

Perhaps the damage to the Rwenzori glaciers cannot be reversed, but many environmentalists are urging people to take action before further damage is done. At sites like http://www.carbonfootprint.com, people can calculate their carbon footprint - a measure of how much carbon dioxide a person produces - and then hopefully think of ways to reduce their environmental impact.

There are many ways to reduce carbon emissions. Using public transportation rather than driving a car is one positive step as is recycling, switching to energy-efficient lightbulbs, avoiding unnecessary packaging and buying local food rather than produce shipped on planes from countries thousands of miles away. Planting trees, switching to renewable energy sources for electricity and investing in Sustainable Technology Development are also suggestions for offsetting one's carbon footprint.