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.
.png "Caucasus Environment Outlook - Second edition")
Caucasus Environment Outlook - Second editionpublicationThe second edition of the Caucasus Environment Outlook (CEO-2) emphasizes, across its nine chapters, the importance of regional environmental monitoring through a participatory and consultative approach. It explores recent regional developments and environmental assessments related to population, urbanization, economic development, climate change, land cover, biodiversity, air quality, freshwater, and cross-cutting... Download » |
International conference "Mountains: Biodiversity, landscapes and culture"eventThe Sustainable Caucasus has combined efforts with Qərbi Kaspi Universiteti/Western Caspian University to co-host The 2nd International Conference "Mountains: Biodiversity, Landscapes, and Cultures" to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, 5 to 6 November, 2024. The event is designed to foster connections between knowledge sources and cultivate narratives, pathways and visions for...
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Forum Bioeconomia delle ForesteeventOn Wednesday, 30 October 2024, the VII National Forum on Sustainable Forest Management will take place at Libreria Spazio Sette, Rome. Organized by Legambiente Nazionale, this year’s forum is themed "Conserve, Regenerate, and Rebuild." The forum will focus on strategies for sustainable forest management, addressing Italy’s forest heritage, and sharing best...
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A Scientific Assessment of the Third Pole EnvironmentpublicationThe Third Pole encompasses the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas, including the Pamir–Hindu Kush mountain ranges in the west, the Hengduan mountains in the east, the Tienshan and Qilian mountains in the north, and the Himalayas in the south. It contains the largest ice mass outside the polar regions, provides freshwater resources to more than two billion people, regulates the climate, protects biodiversity, and holds... Download » |
CBD COP 16 side event: Global Mountain Governance: Importance for Building Synergies between Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change AdaptationeventThe event "Global Mountain Governance: Importance for Building Synergies between Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation" will take place on 23 October 2024 from 18.00 to 19.30 in the Blue Zone during CBD COP 16. This session will address the critical need to enhance regional mountain governance and further interregional...
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UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 (CBD COP 16)eventThe UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 will be held in Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024. The conference will encompass the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as...
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