Human activities are profoundly affecting the world’s climate, and mountains are a sensitive indicator of that effect. Because of their altitude, slope and orientation to the sun, mountain ecosystems are easily disrupted by variations in climate. Many scientists believe that the changes occurring in mountain ecosystems may provide an early glimpse of what could come to pass in lowland environments.
As the world heats up, mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, while rare plants and animals struggle to survive over ever diminishing areas, and mountain peoples, already among the world’s poorest citizens, face even greater hardships.
Changes in the volume of mountain glaciers and in their seasonal melting patterns have an impact on water resources in many parts of the world. Changes in water availability due to climate change are taking place at a time when pressure on water resources for irrigation and food production, industrialization and urbanization is increasing.
Understanding how climate change affects mountains is vital as governments and international organizations develop strategies to reverse current global warming trends, elaborating treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, local community empowerment can be an essential step towards building climate change resilience in mountains.
![]() Call for papers, mountain research and developmentnewsMountain Research and Development (MRD) are pleased to announce the call for papers on the role of culture in transformation towards sustainable development in mountains. Mountain communities are undergoing rapid sociocultural change, caused by drivers such as outmigration, urbanization, and increasing insertion into the market economy. Mountain cultural heritage... Read more » |
![]() Mountain Access Seminar in ChilenewsThe Government of Chile, the national committee for mountains in Chile with the support of the UN Environment, GEF project biological mountain corridors hosted the Seminario Acceso a las Montañas “Mountain Access Seminar”, on 3 August 2018. The Andes stretch along the eastern border of Chile; mountains are... Read more » |
![]() Rediscovering Nature and Culture in the ApenninesnewsAn inspiring project linking the rejuvenation of the mountains and socio-economic regeneration has sprung up in Italy in the wake of the 2016-2017 earthquakes, which created a national disaster in Italy. Le Erbe delle Sibilla (the herbs of Sibilla) project was created in June 2017 and is fully funded by the Earthquake...
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![]() Mountain Partnership at the United Nationspeak to peakIssue 118 – Month 8 – Year 2018 The August 2018 issue of Peak to Peak provides a brief overview of the "Leading Sustainable Mountain Development" side event that took place 16 July 2018 at the High-Level Political Forum in New York, USA. The newsletter continues with stories about the Andean monitoring... Download » |
![]() Our Journey 2017: Mountain Partnership SecretariatnewsThe Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) reflects on its key achievements in promoting sustainable mountain development last year in its 2017 annual report. “Our Journey 2017: Mountain Partnership Secretariat Annual Report”, the publication documents the Secretariat’s work in the areas of advocacy, communication and knowledge management, promoting International Mountain Day, brokering... Read more » |
![]() Our Journey in 2017: Mountain Partnership Secretariat Annual ReportpublicationThe Mountain Partnership Secretariat Annual Report outlines its key achievements in promoting sustainable mountain development last year in its 2017 annual report. The publication documents the Secretariat’s work in the areas of advocacy, communication and knowledge management, promoting International Mountain Day, brokering joint action and leading capacity development initiatives Compiled by...
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