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.
UNESCO conference calls for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate changenewsOn 28 June, some 280 high-level experts from 80 countries attending an international conference in Dresden, Germany approved a declaration claiming for better protection of biological diversity when mitigating climate change. The two-day conference was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the German Ministry for... Read more » |
New book on Biological Diversity in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries now releasednewsA new book titled ‘Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity: A retrospective analysis in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan countries’ by Bharat H. Desai, Krishna Prasad Oli, Yang Yongping, Nakul Chettri and Eklabya Sharma has been released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The book’s focus is on... Read more » |
Climate Change threatens a fragile ecosystem in the AndesnewsRecent studies by the Antioquia Engineering School in Colombia revealed the Páramo, a fragile ecosystem in the Andes, is extremely threatened by climate change. The Páramo is located above the highest part of the tree belt and the perpetual snow in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It... Read more » |
International Conference on East Africa Mountains – 14 - 16 November 2011, Mbale, UgandanewsFrom 14 to 16 November 2011, the International Conference on East Africa Mountains (ICEAM 201) will be held in Mbale, Uganda. The conference is being organized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the French Institute for Research in Africa (INFRA) Nairobi in cooperation with several universities (Makerere University Kampala,... Read more » |
World Environment Day 2011 - Forests: Nature at Your Service - 5 JunenewsThe World Environment Day (WED) has been launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 1972 and celebrated every year on 5 June. WED aims to stimulate public awareness on environmental issues and to urge politics to act in favour of these. This year’s theme is dedicated to: “Forests:... Read more » |
ICIMOD Annual Report 2010 now releasednewsThe ICIMOD Annual Report 2010 has been released. The Report deals with ICIMOD’s evolution over the years, with a focus on the themes of biodiversity, youth engagement, and remote sensing. ICIMOD's role in support of the Convention on Biological Diversity is highlighted, and especially advocacy for mountain biodiversity and participation... Read more » |
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