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.
![]() United Nations General Assembly Report: Sustainable mountain development (2022)publicationReport of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Mountain Development Download » |
![]() Mountain representatives to meet in Aspen for Mountain Partnership Global Meetingpeak to peakThe September 2022 issue of Peak to Peak provides an overview of what to expect at the upcoming Mountain Partnership Global Meeting, to be held on 26-29 September 2022 in Aspen. Top news stories include a feature story on the latest film festival to become a member of the Mountain... Download » |
![]() Main proceedings from the HLPF side event on mountainspeak to peakThe August 2022 issue of Peak to Peak shares the main proceedings from the side event on mountains organized by the Government of Andorra and the Mountain Partnership at the High-level Political Forum 2022. Top news stories cover a call for grant applications through the newly launched Mountain Facility Investment... Download » |
![]() Register for the Mountain Partnership Global Meetingpeak to peakThe July 2022 issue of Peak to Peak invites all Mountain Partnership members to register for the upcoming 6th Mountain Partnership Global Meeting, which will be held at the Aspen Meadows, the campus of the Aspen Institute, in Aspen, Colorado, United States of America on 26-29 September 2022. Top news... Download » |
![]() Kyrgyz Republic presents “Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions”peak to peakThe June 2022 issue of Peak to Peak opens with an overview of an event hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations to present the concept of the "Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions" to the permanent missions of the United... Download » |
![]() Launching event of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Developmentpeak to peakThe May 2022 issue of Peak to Peak highlights the opening ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022. Top news stories cover the release of the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment's new global mountain inventory, a workshop hosted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Network... Download » |
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