Focal points: Gregory B. Greenwood and Claudia Drexler
Mountain
Research Initiative
The
Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) is a multidisciplinary
scientific organization that addresses global change issues
in mountain regions around the world. MRI is funded by the
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), and endorsed
by the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme, the
International Human Dimensions Programme, GTOS and UNESCO’s
Man and the Biosphere Programme. MRI’s vision is a
global change scientific programme that detects the signals
of global change, defines the consequences, and supports
sustainable resource management.
GLOCHAMORE
The
Global Change in Mountain Regions (GLOCHAMORE) project was
supported by the EU's Sixth Framework Programme, and managed
by MRI and the University of Vienna since 2003, with the
support of scientists and site managers of more than 50
nations. The aim has been to develop an integrated and implementable
research strategy that would enable better understanding
of the causes and consequences of global change. Critical
to strategy development was the participation of 28 UNESCO
Mountain Biosphere Reserves (MBRs) and the integration of
activities and knowledge from both natural and social sciences.
Thematic
workshops
As part of GLOCHAMORE,
MRI co-organized four thematic workshops (see below), focused
on the four key global change research activities: monitoring;
process studies; modelling; and sustainable natural resource
management. These four activities were defined in the founding
report of MRI (IGBP Report 49). Through these workshops
MRI tapped the knowledge of global change researchers and
reserve managers from industrialized and developing countries,
as well as enhancing awareness of global change in the mountains
community.
Monitoring
The monitoring workshop (Vienna, Austria, May 2004) proposed
monitoring at several different intensities for the alpine
cryosphere, mountain waters and terrestrial ecosystems.
An example taken from the workshop report for glaciers appears
in the table top right.
Land
use and land cover mapping and GIS
The modelling workshop (L'Aquila, Italy, November 2004)
emphasized, inter alia, the importance of land use and land
cover change (LUCC) mapping and GIS. Land use is such a
fundamental feature of biosphere reserves and their environment
that mapping rather than sampling is required. Beyond that,
participants felt that without basic GIS skills and hardware
at each biosphere reserve, it would nearly impossible for
MBRs to monitor current conditions or project future conditions.
Socio-economic
variables
Socio-economic monitoring was central to the workshop on
sustainable development (Granada, Spain, March 2005). Minimal,
medium and maximal lists of socio-economic indicators were
generated, from simple population variables such as total
number, age structure and gender structure, to more complex
variables such as agricultural productivity and land tenure.
These socio-economic indicators were further reviewed by
regional breakout groups for relevance in different regions
of the world.
Process
studies
The last GLOCHAMORE workshop focused on Process studies
(Samedan, Switzerland, July 2005).
GLOCHAMORE
and TEMS
GTOS participated in the final deliberations
of GLOCHAMORE to ensure mutual reinforcement of overall
aims, strengthening the TEMS Mountain Module and the conclusions
in the GLOCHAMORE report. The final GLOCHAMORE research
strategy contains proposals for environmental and social
monitoring that should contribute to the Mountain Module
of TEMS with respect to its use for global change. These
monitoring recommendations will assist site managers to
track the impacts of global change on their reserves –
an important first step towards developing effective adaptation
programmes.
Publication
of the Research Strategy
The
Open Science Conference (OSC) on Global Change in Mountain
Regions (Perth, Scotland, UK, October 2005) was the final
GLOCHAMORE activity. The conference synthesized the work
of the previous two years and finalized the GLOCHAMORE Research
Strategy, published in December 2005. The document is organized
by themes, starting with drivers of global change, continuing
with the impacts on ecosystems, their goods and services
and on people's well-being, and closing with themes related
to adaptation. The strategy provides researchers and managers
with a planning and implementation guide for global change
research.
Links
MRI
GLOCHAMORE
strategy
Meetings
GLORIA
