Every spring, millions of birds traverse Central Asia—bar-headed geese flying above 7,000 m, Demoiselle cranes echoing across the valleys, and Sociable Lapwings wheeling through the skies, impressing visitors and birdwatchers with their beauty.
The updated Ecosystem Profile reveals the vital stopover habitats they rely on. Without healthy wetlands and meadows, these journeys could be cut short.
#WorldMigratoryBirdDay #CentralAsia #CEPF
👀 🌳 Curious about the future of sustainable fibres?
Over the past decade, man-made cellulosic fibres (#MMCFs) have gained increasing attention as more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional fibres such as cotton and synthetics. Derived from wood, they’re renewable and, when from responsible sources, offer a significantly lower environmental footprint.
Sustainably managed forests not only provide the raw material for MMCFs but can also maintain or even enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and help preserve soil and water quality.
📌 To learn more about the potential of wood-based fibres and what this means for the future of fashion and materials, visit the link in bio.
#SustainableFashion #ResponsibleSourcing
Zoï Johanna and Otto are in #Bhutan for the second Mountains Connect interregional workshop!
📸 1 and 2: The Mountains Connect group in a beautiful monastery at 3500 m altitude.
📸 3: The Latin connection at the Tiger’s nest: Cristina from Argentina; Luis Daniel from Venezuela and Johanna from Chile (and Switzerland)
📸 4: Dr Tashi and Dr Otto discuss #rangeland rehabilitation
📸 5: Johanna introducing Tamlar 2.0
We’re excited to connect with mountain communities from across the globe, to share stories and ideas for cooperation and #SustainableMountainDevelopment.
#MountainsConnect is funded by Adaptation at Altitude, a collaborative programme co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. This second workshop is supported by the UN Environment Programme, ICIMOD and the Royal Government of Bhutan.
For more information on Mountains Connect, see the link in bio.
⚠️ Air pollution is a significant health concern in the Western Balkans. The European Environment Agency (@onehealth_eu ) estimates that it leads to approximately 30,000 premature deaths annually in the region, with urban residents losing roughly 13-16 months of their lives.
🏭 The sources of air pollution in the region include coal-fired power plants, outdated industrial facilities, vehicular emissions from aging fleets, and residential heating systems.
To address this and other environmental challenges, the South-East European Sub-Regional Platform to Beat Pollution (SEEPP), which is a regional initiative led by UNEP and supported by the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, provides a strategic platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and joint action to tackle pollution through innovative solutions and evidence-based policies.
📌 See the new products developed for SEPP on our website. Link in bio.
@unitednationsvienna@ministeroambienteesicurezzaenergetica
Plant-based fibres, including bast fibres such as jute, flax, hemp, and others, account for about 5% of the global fibre market (excluding cotton and wood-based fibres). When cultivated responsibly, they can offer a significantly lower environmental impact than cotton, wool, or synthetic alternatives.
✅ Flax, in particular, stands out as a #CarbonSink crop, meaning it absorbs more CO2 than it emits during its growth cycle. It is also:
🦗 Naturally pest-resistant
☀️ Drought-tolerant
🌱 Regenerative for soil health
👩🌾 Suitable for short growing cycles and often used in intercropping systems
✅ Hemp further supports #SoilHealth and #biodiversity, suppresses weeds naturally, and fits well into crop rotation systems, helping boost yields.
📌 Find out more about the links between fibres, land use, and sustainability in the report developed for the @UNCCD . Link in bio!
Zoï Alexandra Mackey and Otto Simonett (and our Board chairman, Jörg Balsiger) traveled to #Andorra de la Vella for the Seventh Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership of the United Nations (@unmountainsmatter ).
This meeting takes place once every four years and helps showcase the work of #MountainPartnership members and strengthen partnerships across sectors and regions.
Alex moderated the side event "Adaptation at Altitude: connecting the world’s mountains for knowledge exchange and climate action", which gave us the opportunity to showcase the work of Adaptation at Altitude's partners on #ClimateChange #adaptation in mountain countries.
For more information, see the link in bio!
#MountainsMatter #OurChangingMountains #AdaptationAtAltitude
🧶Primarily obtained from sheep, but also from goats, yaks, camels, and alpacas, wool enjoys a strong reputation as a natural, environmentally friendly material.
⚠ The reality, however, is more nuanced. Unsustainable wool production can contribute to overgrazing, deforestation and habitat loss, water and soil pollution, biodiversity loss, and methane emissions.
🌱 At the same time, better practices can reduce these impacts. Sustainable grazing, well-managed rangelands, and the adoption of voluntary standards can help minimize risks to land and ecosystems.
📌 Learn more about the links between wool, land use, and sustainability in this report developed for the @unccd (link in bio).
Happy #WorldMetDay! 🌍
From flood warnings to agricultural planning to disaster preparedness, every day, meteorologists, hydrologists, and climate scientists generate data that shapes decisions and saves lives.
This year's theme reminds us that observations only become resilience when people and communities know how to act on them. Zoï worked to enhance the visibility of climate services and hydromet information in Central Asia, helping weather-sensitive sectors find, understand, and use the data available to them.
Want to know more? 👉 See the link in bio!
📸 Data collection at weather station in Talas valley. Credits: GFDRR / World Bank Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
🦎🎉Today is #WorldWildlifeDay!
📖 To mark the date, we invite you to read our report "Sustainable use and conservation of flora and fauna in Central Asia regions bordering Afghanistan", created together with the @osceorg .
👉 This report provides useful information for local people, communities, and young people in southern #CentralAsia. The countries covered are all part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (@cites ).
If you want to understand 🚨the threats that put species and ecosystems at risk, 💡what can be done to help, and 🤝how governments and communities can work together for conservation, this report is a good place to start. Link in bio!
In artisanal and small-scale gold mining, women play a key role in processing but often face serious risks from #MercuryExposure. The Minamata Convention’s Gender Action Plan provides a blueprint for actions to promote #GenderEquality, supporting and advancing a gender-responsive implementation of the #MinamataConvention.
Visit the link in bio to explore a series of visuals for the Convention.
🦎In two weeks, we will celebrate #WorldWildlifeDay! 🎉The date marks the signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (#CITES) in 1973. Today, CITES is one of the conservation agreements with the largest membership, bringing together 185 Parties committed to ensuring that international trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants.
Visit the link in the bio to learn how we support the @cites Secretariat!
👖Cotton is the most used natural fibre in the world and the second most produced fibre in the textile industry. The fabric is comfortable, breathable, and hard-wearing.
Yet its cultivation comes at a cost to the land: large-scale cultivation depletes water resources in drier regions, and the industry depends heavily on chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides.
📌 Are you interested in learning more about conventional cotton farming and the alternatives to it? Read our report developed in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (@unccd ) : /product/unccd-fashion-land/
Sources:
13. Cotton Today (2024). Protecting Global Agricultural Land.
/our-sustainability-story/
land/
14. Textile Exchange (2024). Materials Market Report. https://
textileexchange.org/knowledge-center/reports/materials-market-report-2024/
15. UNEP (2021). Sustainable Fashion Communication Strategy 2021 – 2024. /bitstream/
handle/20.500.11822/41076/Sustainable_Fashion_Strategy.
pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
16. Better Cotton (n.d.). Pesticides and Crop Protection. https://
bettercotton.org/field-level-results-impact/key-sustainability-issues/pesticides-and-crop-protection-in-cotton-farming/
17. Benavidez Clayton, E. (2023). How Much Water Does Cotton
Use? Better Cotton.
/world-water-day-2023-how-muchwater-does-cotton-use/
#sustainablefashion
