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.
Nominations open for Mountain Protection AwardnewsThe International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) is now accepting applications for the 2018 Mountain Protection Award. Interested individuals or organizations should submit their nomination by 25 June 2018. The winning project will be announced at the UIAA General Assembly in October and will receive a $5 000...
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Forgotten fruits and agrobiodiversity: resources worth savingeventOn the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2018, the Fondazione Fabbrica Italiana Contadina, ARPA Emilia Romagna, FICO, Fondazione FICO and the Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) are organizing the conference “Forgotten fruits and agrobiodiversity: resources worth saving” in Bologna, Italy. The conference...
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Mountain biodiversity and well-being surveynewsThe Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) is carrying out a global assessment of the state of, trends in and relations between biodiversity, ecosystem services, human well-being and direct drivers in the world's mountains. They have created a survey that will allow those interested to share their knowledge about...
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MP Steering Committee meets in Romepeak to peakIssue 115 – Month 5 – Year 2018 The May 2018 issue of Peak to Peak provides a brief overview of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee meeting held in Rome, Italy, on 23–24 April. The newsletter continues with stories about the 2018 International Mountain Day theme; the baseline data... Download » |
Sustainability of Smallholder Livelihoods in the Ecuadorian HighlandspublicationSmallholder farming constitutes an important but marginalized sector, responsible for most of the world’s agricultural production. This has a significant influence in the land use and land cover change process and agrobiodiversity conservation, especially in mountainous regions of developing countries. The maintenance of sustainable smallholder farming systems represents a key... Download » |
Mountain Research and Development issue onlinenewsThe papers in the latest issue of the journal Mountain Research and Development (MRD) analyze gender-inclusive nettle value chain development in western Nepal, discuss the impact of Swiss government policy on maintaining high-mountain pasturing in the Alps, present an agronomic study of an endangered landrace of runner bean in Italy...
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