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.

Winner of GROW Summer School agrobiodiversity innovation contest announced

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The October 2021 issue of Peak to Peak announces the winner of the GROW Summer School agrobiodiversity innovation contest. Top news stories cover two mountain-related UNFCCC Pre-Cop26 side events and updates on mountains in the Expo 2020 Dubai programme. Peak to Peak continues with a look at upcoming events in...

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Spotlighting solutions for building resilience in mountains at High Summit COP26

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Diversification of livelihoods, capacity development, investments and pro-mountain policies are needed to build the resilience of mountain peoples to shocks and global changes, Mountain Partnership Secretariat Programme Officer Rosalaura Romeo said at the High Summit COP26.

Romeo discussed the socioeconomic impacts of climate change in mountain regions during the panel session...

Fourth annual GROW Summer School opens online

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The fourth annual GROW Summer School “Agrobiodiversity in a changing climate” opens online today with 30 participants attending from 21 countries. The two-week course equips practitioners with the necessary tools, knowledge and understanding to enhance productivity and improve marketing strategies in sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

The 2021 GROW course focuses...

Philippine mountain producers engage in national Participatory Guarantee System

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The September 2021 issue of Peak to Peak highlights the Philippines' growing national recognition of Participatory Guarantee Systems as an option for small-scale farmers and fisherfolk to get organic certification, including Mountain Partnership Products producers. Top news stories cover the first ever Latin American edition of IPROMO, a new database...

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Philippine mountain producers engage in national Participatory Guarantee System

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Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are gaining recognition and empowering small-scale organic farmers and fisherfolk in the Philippines, including Mountain Partnership Products (MPP) producers.

According to IFOAM - Organics International – a member of the Mountain Partnership and the only organization worldwide collecting, compiling and publishing global data about PGS initiatives...

Mountain Partnership’s UN Food Systems Pre-Summit event on food systems in mountains

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The August 2021 issue of Peak to Peak highlights the outcomes of the Mountain Partnership's UN Food Systems Pre-Summit parallel session on mountains and sustainable food systems. Top news stories cover a side event on mountains held in the margins of the 2021 High-level Political Forum, an overview of the...