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.
![]() Training for changepublicationThis fact sheet is published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It details the Secretariat's capacity development initiatives aimed at enhancing expertise in sustainable mountain development and addressing the limited availability of specialized courses on mountain themes. Each year, the Secretariat... Download » |
![]() The Mountain PartnershippublicationThis fact sheet, published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, outlines the mission and impact of the Mountain Partnership. Established in 2002, the Mountain Partnership boasts over 550 members, including governments, intergovernmental agencies, institutions and civil society organizations. It harnesses the... Download » |
![]() Championing the global mountain agendapublicationThis fact sheet is published by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It highlights the Mountain Partnership’s advocacy activities aimed at increasing global attention and securing tangible commitments for sustainable mountain development. As the only United Nations alliance dedicated to mountains, the... Download » |
![]() The Mountain FacilitypublicationPublished by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this fact sheet introduces the Mountain Facility, a global financing mechanism designed to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of small mountain producers. Mountains, home to 1.1 billion people and strategic natural resources, face escalating... Download » |
![]() 27th session of the FAO Committee on ForestryeventThe 27th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) wil be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy from 22-26 July in a hybrid format. COFO 27 brings together high-level representatives, heads of forest services, government officials and partner organizations to identify emerging policy and technical guidance, seek solutions,... Read more » |
![]() Mountain Partnership project highlighted at The World Farmers Markets Coalition Second General AssemblynewsOn 12 July 2024, industry leaders, agriculture experts and farmers gathered from around the world for an event focused on leveraging partnerships to enhance local food systems. The event featured a series of roundtable discussions aimed at identifying and forging new alliances. The first roundtable discussion explored the challenges and opportunities... Read more » |
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