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.
![]() Elevating Mountains in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework 2.0publicationWith the Aichi Biodiversity Targets coming to an end in 2020, the world is preparing for a new set of ambitious biodiversity targets and goals to follow. This brief, prepared for the second Open-Ended Working Group meeting on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in February 2020, highlights how mountains are... Download » |
![]() Mainstreaming mountain biodiversitypeak to peakThis issue of Peak to Peak kicks off with a recap of the Informal Mountain Gathering, held on the sidelines of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework at FAO headquarters. This month's Members' Voices features Bibiana Vilá, a biologist in Argentina specializing in vicuñas. The newsletter... Download » |
![]() Nepal targets sustainable summits in 2020peak to peakThis issue of Peak to Peak highlights Nepal's 2020 "Visit Nepal Year", a large-scale sustainable tourism campaign. The newsletter also features the first Mountain Partnership Products (MPP) Initiative Producer Story about women producers of stingless bee honey in Bolivia. Peak to Peak February 2020 also features news about Participatory Guarantee... Download » |
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2019: Sustainable mountain developmentpublicationReport of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Mountain Development
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![]() International Mountain Day 2019 Einaudi concert in Milanpeak to peakThe December 2019 issue of Peak to Peak highlights International Mountain Day, held every year on 11 December. The newsletter includes an announcement of the Einaudi concert to be held in Milan to celebrate this year's IMD. The newsletter continues with the Members' Voices section, this month featuring a college... Download » |
![]() WMO Summit identifies priority action for high mountainspeak to peakThe November 2019 issue of Peak to Peak begins with an overview of the WMO High Mountain Summit, which concluded with the adoption of a Call for Action on High Mountain Weather, Climate and Water, and a roadmap of priority activities. The newsletter continues with the Members' Voices section, this... Download » |
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