Links

The following section provides links to the main organizations and activities that are involved with mountain issues.

Additional mountain information resources

International Mountain Day: It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'. This decision results from the success of the International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002). FAO was the designated lead coordinating agency for International Year of Mountains and is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA): the MA is an international work programme designed to meet the needs of decision makers and the public for scientific information concerning the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and options for responding to those changes. Chapter 27 contains useful information on Mountain Systems.

Mountain Agenda: the Mountain Agenda is an informal group of people with professional interests in sustainable mountain development, drawn from the academic and development communities. The group was created before The Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development, 1992) to raise the position of the mountains on the global agenda. The Mountain Agenda is the Editor of the “Mountains of the World” publications focussing on different mountain relevant issues including: tourism and sustainable mountain development, mountain forests, energy and transport, etc.

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) Mountain Watch: The first Mountain Watch report provides a highly visual, map-based overview of:
    • the ecological and social values of mountain ecosystems,
    • current and potential pressures facing mountain environments and people,
    • approaches to sustainable development in mountain areas.

International conventions and agreements

Agenda 21: Agenda 21 of the Earth’s Summit in Rio de Janeiro 1992 includes a chapter (13) on managing fragile ecosystems and sustainable mountain development.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): has initiated work on seven thematic work programmes, addressing marine and coastal biodiversity, agricultural biodiversity, forest biodiversity, island biodiversity, the biodiversity of inland waters, dry and sub-humid lands and mountain biodiversity.

International organizations, institutions and initiatives

Centre for Mountain Studies: the Centre is the first of its kind in the UK. Through research, consulting, teaching, and outreach, its aim is to be recognised globally as a centre of excellence on issues relating to sustainable development in mountain regions.

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR): its mission is to achieve sustainable food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through scientific research and research-related activities in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, policy, and environment.

EUROCLIM: Euroclim’s objective is to develop and validate an advanced system for climate monitoring and prediction for the support of a sustainable development and protection of the environment in Europe with a major focus on high-mountain-regions.

Division of Early Warning and Assessment of UNEP (DEWA): this web site provides several reports on the state of mountain forests and glaciers in Kenya and Tanzania.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): was the lead agency for the international year of mountains. As a UN agency charged with strengthening agriculture, improving nutrition and alleviating hunger, FAO has a long history of working in sustainable mountain development.

Global Mountain and Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA): is a global network on mountain biodiversity research which belongs to DIVERSITAS. GMBA aims to document the great biological richness of the mountains of the world and its change by direct and indirect human influences ("global change").

Global Observation Research in Alpine Environments (GLORIA): is a world-wide network of long-term observation sites to assess the impacts of climate change on high mountain vegetation and biodiversity.

GLOCHAMORE: the initiaitive aims to further our understanding of the causes and impacts of Global Changes in mountain regions. The project will strive to establish a framework for long-term research efforts by taking advantage of the infrastructure and ongoing research activities in UNESCO MAB Mountain Biosphere Reserves in European countries with the explicit goal of implementing the strategy in mountain Biosphere Reserves around the world, in both developed and developing countries.

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD): the primary objectives of the Centre is to help to promote the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of mountain populations", with a special focus on the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. ICIMOD has developed a Mountain Environment and Natural Resources' Information System (MENRIS) to promote the geo-information science, technology and application for sustainable mountain development. The MENRIS portal has been recently improved and can be accessed at http://menris.icimod.net

International Mountain Society (IMS): an association registered in Berne, Switzerland, for the purpose of advancing knowledge and disseminating information on mountain research and mountain development throughout the world. The IMS is a joint copyright holder and publisher of the Journal Mountain Research and Development (MRD).

International Permafrost Association (IPA): founded in 1983, IPA has as its objectives to foster the dissemination of knowledge concerning permafrost and to promote cooperation among persons and national or international organizations engaged in scientific investigation and engineering work on permafrost.

Joint Research Centre (JRC): the monitors vegetation cover for global change research and is providing relevant data and information on European mountain regions.

Mountain Forum: established in 1995 through international collaboration from non-government organizations, universities, governments, multilateral agencies, and the private sector. It is governed by a six-member International Board of Directors. The Mountain Forum has successfully built upon existing networks to carry out a wide array of activities connecting and empowering mountain supporters throughout the world.

Mountain Institute: the Mountain Institute's mission is to advance mountain cultures and preserve mountain environments.

Mountain Partnership: the Mountain Partnership is a voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain people and protecting mountain environments around the world.

Mountain-Portal: a non-profit operation devoted to raising public awareness of the need to make the development of mountain peoples and their environments sustainable in a threatened future.

People and planet: this provides a global review and internet gateway into the issues of population, poverty, health, consumption and the environment. It is published by Planet 21, an independent non-profit company and a registered British charity recognized by the United Nations. The web site contains a special section on Mountains.

Mountains and Mountain Forests: WCMC and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC are maintaining a web page that provides data and maps on mountains and mountain forests.

Mountain Research Group (MRG): a special interest group on mountains of the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG).

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI): a new multidisciplinary scientific organization that addresses global change issues in mountain regions around the world.

Mountain voices: this website presents interviews with over 300 people who live in mountain and highland regions around the world. Their testimonies offer a personal perspective on change and development.

TerraDat: established in the UK in 1992 and it aims to provide the highest quality non-destructive geophysical surveys. Its research activities focus on natural hazards mainly on the permafrost active layer and thermal state in the Alps.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): this portal provides access to the major events held on mountain issues and presents information on mountain environments and development.

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) Tropical montane cloud forest: The Mountain Cloud Forest Initiative of UNEP WCMC aims to stimulate wider cooperation and greater action to promote the conservation, restoration and sustainable development of mountain cloud forests on a global scale. The web page provides information on montane cloud forests as well as cloud forest distribution maps.

Worldbank: the World Bank’s mountain projects include the establishment and strengthening of new protected natural areas and biological corridors; improved management of 'paper parks' and existing protected areas; conservation of medicinal plants; and promoting community management of mountain protected areas and indigenous reserves.

World Conservation Union (IUCN) Mountain Taskforce: the objectives of the Mountain Initiative Taskforce are to coordinate, promote and facilitate communications among and between components of IUCN's programme and other institutions to provide integrated policy guidance on mountain ecosystems; to conserve mountain ecosystems at the regional scale and enhance the livelihoods of the people who depend on them and to contribute effectively to International Partnership on Mountain Conservation and Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions.

World Mountain People Association: the association is a response to a major challenge: going beyond the differences in mountain regions and their situation to bring mountain peoples together in a common project based on stronger solidarity and a common vision of the place of mountain regions in contemporary society.

World Resources Institute (WRI): it explores issues at the intersection of environmental protection and economic development. Work focuses on protecting Earth's living systems, increasing access to information, reversing global warming, and creating sustainable enterprise and opportunity.

North America

Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research: the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, located at the University of Colorado, strives for excellence in research, education, and societal outreach. The Institute facilitates and accomplishes interdisciplinary studies offering special expertise in high-altitude and high-latitude regions of the world. INSTAAR also offers excellence in global and environmental research including non-cold-region Quaternary studies and geochronology, earth-system dynamics, landscape and seascape evolution, and climate dynamics.

Mountain Studies Institute (MSI): established in 2002 in Silverton, Colorado, MSI is an independent, non-advocacy, non-profit mountain research and education institution. MSI’s mission is to enhance understanding and sustainable use of the San Juan Mountains through research and education. The MSI’s web sites provide data on climate, air quality, hydrology, demography including a GIS database.

Sierra Nevada Research Centre: the Sierra Nevada Research Centre conducts research in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, an ecoregion of national and international significance. With a full spectrum of research initiatives from long-term, fundamental research to short-term, tactical applications, the Centre seeks to support conservation, restoration, and sustainable utilization of lands within the Sierra Nevada ecoregion.

The Banff Centre: the Banff Centre is an incubator of creativity that inspires and empowers artists, the mountain community, and business and community leaders from Alberta, Canada, and around the world. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Centre provides a unique learning environment where individuals and groups pursue personal and professional development, create new work, engage in applied research, share ideas and experiences, and celebrate accomplishments through performances, exhibitions, and special events.

United States Geological Survey (USGS): a federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment.

Central and South America

Agricultura Sostenible Campesina de Montaña (ASOCAM): is a network of 38 institutions and projects in Latin America working on sustainable agriculture in mountain regions supported by the Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP): the International Potato Centre seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security on a sustained basis in developing countries through scientific research and related activities on potato, sweet potato, other root and tuber crops, and on the improved management of natural resources in the Andes and other mountain areas.

Consortium for the Sustainable Development of Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN): is a diverse and dynamic assembly of partners from the public and private sectors which under a common approach and effort make and coordinate operations in investigation, qualification, development and initiatives of policies that help the sustainable socioeconomic advance, with the purpose of contributing to the fairness and well-being of the Andean ecoregion population.

Europe

Alpine Convention: is an international agreement for the protection of the alpine natural area and to promote sustainable development in the Alps.

Carpathian Convention and Ecoregion Initiative: The Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative (CEI) is a group of more than 50 organizations from seven Carpathian countries launched in 1999 under the leadership of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme Office in Vienna. It aims to take a complex, multidisciplinary ecoregional approach to conserve the Carpathian mountain range, and works on protected area management, forestry best practices, species/biodiversity, tourism, socio-economics, capacity-building and education. The activities of CEI garnered internationally recognized results and high-level political support culminating in the form of the Carpathian Convention, signed in May 2003 in Kyiv.

CIPRA International: is an international non-governmental commission for the protection of the Alps and for sustainable development in the Alps. There are seven national CIPRA branches in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy as well as the South Tyrol regional branch, all of which represent over 160 member organizations.

Eurmontana: is a European association for cooperation between mountain territories. Eurmontana acts to promote economic, social, cultural and environmental interests of mountain areas and in this capacity advocates global and sustainable rural development – which is indivisible from the agricultural development of these regions.

Federal Institute for Less Favoured and Mountainous Areas: a research unit affiliated with the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, BABF undertakes basic research and assessment of agricultural policies, rural and mountain development and regional planning.

Sistema Informativo della Montagna (SIM): supplies diverse services and acts as interchange between different administrational units (Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, province and mountain communities).

Swiss Alpine Studies: this Web site provides information about people, projects, programmes, events, metadata, and publications relating primarily to Swiss mountain research.

Unione Nazionale Comunità Comuni Enti Montani (UNCEM): an Italian national organization which represents the interests of mountain communities, districts and bodies and promotes the socio-economic development and environmental protection of the country’s mountain regions.

Africa

East African Highland Initiative (AHI): an ecoregional research programme that focuses on improving livelihoods and reversing natural resource degradation in the intensively cultivated highlands of East and Central Africa.

Lesotho Mountain Research Group (LMRG): the objectives of the LMRG are to facilitate liaison and communication between human and natural scientists working in the mountains of Lesotho; to maximize the efficiency, scope and applicability of research efforts in the mountains through interdisciplinary research; to provide a database of past, present and proposed research projects pertaining to the mountain environment (for local and foreign academic institutions and other non-academic parties) and to encourage and facilitate data sharing.

Asia

Asia Pacific Mountain Forum: the forum is coordinated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), it is an informal forum for information exchange and knowledge sharing on the sustainable development of mountain areas in the Asia/Pacific region among people and organizations working in or associated with these areas.

Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN): the network has the mission to generate, aggregate, and disseminate knowledge for sustainable development of upland and mountain areas of Asia/Pacific as well as to facilitate networking amongst the members and subscribers of this knowledge network for the same.

Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP): its mission is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources in the mountain regions of Central Asia.

Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP): its goal is to protect biodiversity and ensure its sustainable use in Pakistan’s Karakorum, Hindu Kush, and Western Himalayas mountain ranges through community-based conservation approach.

Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF): devoted to scientific study and action for conservation of India's wildlife and natural ecosystems. NCF is a non-profit organization that believes in generating scientific knowledge of conservation issues and translating this knowledge of ecology and society into on-ground conservation action. NCF is doing high altitude survey on wildlife of Western Arunachal Pradesh.

Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN): one of the largest national non-government organizations working in Nepal. It has been able to reach more than 600,000 rural people in Nepal; devoted to helping people in marginalized communities improve their lives and achieve lasting victories over poverty. Its objectives are to implement integrated community development programmes focusing in community health, awareness, education, livelihoods and self-government, and work on policy advocacy front.

Snow Leopard Network (SLN): a partnership of organizations and individuals from government and private sector who work together for the effective conservation of the snow leopard, its prey, and their natural habitat to the benefit of people and biodiversity.