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.

Safeguarding Mountain Ecosystems: A Global Challenge

publication

Safeguarding Mountain Ecosystems: A Global Challenge provides an overview of the relevant research in mountain regions worldwide, identifying existing challenges and providing an understanding of the diversity of mountain ecosystems in different regions. Mountain ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to modified climate conditions and other global changes (demographic, migration, urbanization). In...

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Restoring mountain ecosystems: celebrations to mark International Mountain Day

peak to peak

The December 2023 issue of Peak to Peak highlights the upcoming events to celebrate International Mountain Day. Top news stories cover innovation in mountains and communities coming together for change. This month's newsletter also features the work of two members of the Mountain Partnership, the International Network for Bamboo and...

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International Year of Camelids 2024 Opening Ceremony

event

The International Year of Camelids 2024 Opening Ceremony will be held in the Sheikh Zayed Centre at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters on 4 December 2023 from 12.30–14.00 CET. The event will be livestreamed online here.

The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC...

7th International Plant Functional Traits Course

event

The 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 Management

publication

In "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...

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Genetic conservation initiatives in mountain areas promote climate resilience

news

Indigenous 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...