Mountain biodiversity
Mountains loom large in some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes. Their unique topography, compressed climatic zones and isolation have created the conditions for a wide spectrum of life forms.
Half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in mountains and mountains support approximately one-quarter of terrestrial biological diversity. Mountains are home to rare species of plants and animals. These include increasingly rare animals such as gorillas, mountain lions, and the majestic tahr or strikingly beautiful plants such as orchids and lobelias.
A large portion of the world's most precious gene pools (for agriculture and medicine) are preserved in mountains. Crops that are important for food security, such as maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes and apples, have been diversified in mountains and an array of domestic animals - sheep, goats, yaks, llamas and alpacas - have originated or been diversified in mountains. Other crops, such as wheat, rye, rice, oats and grapes, have found new homes in the mountains and evolved into many varieties. Coffee and tea, with their roots in Ethiopia and the Himalayan region, are mountain crops as well. Medicinal plants are one of the most valuable resources from high altitudes. This rich biodiversity holds cultural, ecological and economic value. In the Andes, for example, farmers know of as many as 200 different varieties of Indigenous Peoples' potatoes and, in Nepal, they farm approximately 2 000 varieties of rice.
Climate change, poverty, commercial mining, logging and poaching all exact a heavy toll on mountain biodiversity. The sustainable management of mountain biodiversity has increasingly been recognized as a global priority. The Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a Programme of Work on Mountain Biological Diversity in 2004, which includes a set of actions and targets addressing characteristics and problems that are specific to mountain ecosystems.
7th International Plant Functional Traits CourseeventThe 7th International Plant Functional Traits Course (PFTC) will be held on 1-19 December 2023, at the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. PFTCs offer hands-on training in applications of plant functional trait ecology within a real-life field research project setting. During this course, students will collect and explore plant functional trait...
|
Mountain Ecosystems and Resources ManagementpublicationIn "Mountain Ecosystems & Resources Management", readers embark on a journey through the intricate world of mountain ecosystems and the essential strategies for responsible resource management. This book aims to serve as a guide for understanding the unique dynamics of these landscapes and the challenges they face in an ever-changing... Download » |
Genetic conservation initiatives in mountain areas promote climate resiliencenewsIndigenous Peoples and local communities engage in vital efforts to preserve plant genetic resources (PGR) at their centres of origin, ensuring the conservation of diversity. However, there lacks a standardized system for preserving PGR on Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' land. On 23 November 2023, experts working on the ground presented...
|
University of Calgary publishes an assessment of Canadian mountainsnewsMountain Partnership member the University of Calgary published The Canadian Mountain Assessment, a first-of-its-kind look at what is known, what is not known, and what needs to be known about mountain systems in Canada. The new collection of knowledge clarifies challenges and opportunities specific to mountain systems and...
|
Cultivating change with innovation and technology at Expo Doha Qatar 2023newsAgrobiodiversity and innovation took centre stage at a dynamic workshop in the Italian Pavilion at Expo Doha Qatar 2023 on 22 November 2023. This workshop, organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), showcased new technologies and innovative initiatives focused on agrobiodiversity. Speakers provided concrete...
|
.png "Expo 2023 Doha: Agrobiodiversity and innovation workshop")
Expo 2023 Doha: Agrobiodiversity and innovation workshopeventAs part of the GROW - Agrobiodiversity in a Changing Climate course, this workshop, hosted at the Italian Pavilion in Expo 2023 Doha, will showcase innovative initiatives and technology applications focused on agrobiodiversity as potential solutions for addressing food insecurity. It will explore the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence...
|
Mountain Partnership
| Our work
| Focus areas
| Follow Us
Subscribe to Peak to Peak Newsletter
|