News

Instituto de Montaña to continue The Mountain Institute's legacy

13.01.2021

The Mountain Institute (TMI) is concluding its role as a nonprofit organization based in the United States of America after nearly 50 years of protecting critical mountain ecosystems and promoting prosperous livelihoods to create resilient mountain communities. Its main operations, online platforms, key programmes and legacy continue and are now embedded into its former Andes Programme, the Instituto de Montaña in Peru. This transition is the culmination of a process begun several years ago.

According to TMI Board Chair, Augusta Molnar, “The founding mission of TMI will continue to be realized through the vital work and outstanding leadership of the Instituto de Montaña. The transition will continue practical solutions needed for mountain people and ecosystems and will draw on our decades of specialized work and extensive networks of partners, donors and stakeholders. We are fully confident that TMI’s legacy is in good hands with the Instituto de Montaña team based in Peru. They are uniquely qualified to steward this transition, providing continuity, fiscal excellence and expertise.”

Founded in 1972, TMI grew to encompass innovative programmes and projects in the world’s longest, oldest and tallest mountains. The Mountain Institute’s original Appalachian Programme evolved into its own non-profit, launched in 2017. Its Himalayan Programme, established in 1983, transferred key projects to trusted NGO partners in 2020. The Institute’s ongoing projects in the US West will continue, guided by representatives of the Southern Paiute and by long-term programme leaders based at Portland State University, Oregon.

Instituto de Montaña was established as TMI’s Andes Programme in 1996 and over the years has become well known and influential in the Andean region. The Instituto has won international awards for its work in remote mountain districts and will carry on TMI’s legacy, building on existing sustainable development and conservation projects in the region.

According to Instituto de Montaña’s Executive Director, Jorge Recharte, “TMI’s inspiring history has been based on a deep dedication to the people and environments of the most extraordinary mountains of our planet. This work will continue to unfold through Instituto de Montaña and its staff. We will maintain the same trusted connections and are well-prepared and positioned to continue TMI’s decades of partnership with mountain peoples in the Andes and other key mountain regions. In a time of dramatic global shifts and history-making changes, we are deeply committed to sharing the expertise we have gained through our long experience as part of TMI. As an advocate for mountain peoples, we look forward to working with them as they continue to care for their communities and environments.”

To learn more about Instituto de Montaña and to support their work, please visit their Spanish-language website or www.mountain.org (English). To follow their progress, check out the Instituto on Twitter and Facebook — in Spanish and English.

News by The Mountain Institute; photo by Alma Karsymbek