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In 2022 we are celebrating the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development!
Mapping habitats sensitive to overgrazing in the Swiss Northern Alps using habitat suitability modeling
Scientists' warning of threats to mountains
Population genomics reveal deep divergence and strong geographical structure in gentians in the Hengduan Mountains
Nature’s contributions to people and the sustainable development goals in Nepal
Protected areas in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: a regional assessment of the status, distribution, and gaps
Rising slopes—Bibliometrics of mountain research 1900–2019
Responses in ecosystem services to projected land cover changes on the Tibetan Plateau
Biodiversity cradles and museums segregating within hotspots of endemism
Land use and land cover change in a tropical mountain landscape of northern Ecuador: altitudinal patterns and driving forces
Climate, immigration and speciation shape terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in the European Alps
Community-based institutions shape cheese co-production in a french alpine valley
Human populations in the world’s mountains: spatio-temporal patterns and potential controls
Genomic divergence of Stellera chamaejasme through local selection across the Qinghai–Tibet plateau and northern China
Modeling the distribution of coprophagous beetle species in the Western Swiss Alps
Interspecific competition limits bird species’ ranges in tropical mountains
Holocene fires and ecological novelty in the High Colombian Cordillera Oriental
Hiking and livestock favor non-native plants in the high Andes
From white to green: Snow cover loss and increased vegetation productivity in the European Alps
Conserving ecosystem diversity in the tropical Andes
The effects of a half century of warming and fire exclusion on montane forests of the Klamath Mountains, California, USA
Limited decadal growth of mountain birch saplings has minor impact on surrounding tundra vegetation
The Limpopo–Mpumalanga–Eswatini Escarpment—Extra-ordinary endemic plant richness and extinction risk in a summer rainfall montane region of Southern Africa
The early Oligocene establishment of modern topography and plant diversity on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau
Lowland plant arrival in alpine ecosystems facilitates a decrease in soil carbon content under experimental climate warming
What does the future hold for Páramo plants? A modelling approach
A hierarchical inventory of the world’s mountains for global comparative mountain science
The functioning of different beetle (Coleoptera) sampling methods across altitudinal gradients in Peninsular Malaysia
Priority conservation areas for Cedrus atlantica in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Taxonomic synopsis of Berberis (Berberidaceae) from the northern Hengduan Mountains region in China, with descriptions of seven new species
Adaptive responses drive the success of polyploid yellowcresses (Rorippa, Brassicaceae) in the Hengduan Mountains, a temperate biodiversity hotspot
Stakeholder perspectives on nature, people and sustainability at Mount Kilimanjaro
Elevational patterns of phylogenetic structure of angiosperms in a biodiversity hotspot in eastern Himalaya
The International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Austria, September 2019 (IMC2019): A Synthesis with Recommendations for Research
Effectiveness of protected areas in preventing forest loss in a tropical mountain region
Intraspecific trait variation in alpine plants relates to their elevational distribution
Understanding climate change impacts on biome and plant distributions in the Andes: challenges and opportunities
The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes
Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring plant species distributions along elevation gradients
Classification and sensitivity of taxonomic and functional diversity indices of anurans in the Andean coffee cultural landscape
The contribution of landscape features, climate and topography in shaping taxonomical and functional diversity of avian communities in a heterogeneous Alpine region
Winters are changing: snow effects on Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems
Climate changes and their elevational patterns in the mountains of the world
Distribution dynamics of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) I.M.Johnst. and associated plant communities in Trans-Himalayan Ladakh region in relation to local livelihoods under climate change
Effects of land use and climate on carbon and nitrogen pool partitioning in European mountain grasslands
Ericaceous vegetation of the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia will prevail in the face of climate change
Diversity-accuracy assessment of multiple classifier systems for the land cover classification of the Khumbu region in the Himalayas
Insect herbivory increases from forest to alpine tundra in Arctic mountains
Vegetation expansion in the subnival Hindu Kush Himalaya
Mapping plant diversity based on combined SENTINEL-1/2 data—opportunities for subtropical mountainous forests
Stoneflies in the genus Lednia (Plecoptera: Nemouridae): sentinels of climate change impacts on mountain stream biodiversity
Complementary effects of tree species on canopy rainfall partitioning: New insights for ecological restoration in Andean ecosystems
Forest restoration enhances plant diversity and carbon stock in the sub-tropical forests of western Himalaya
Species divergence with gene flow and hybrid speciation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Using the ecosystem services concept to assess transformation of agricultural landscapes in the european Alps
Directional turnover towards larger-ranged plants over time and across habitats
Drivers of change in mountain and upland bird populations in Europe
The role of abiotic variables in an emerging global amphibian fungal disease in mountains
Deforestation and fragmentation in the most biodiverse areas in the Western Cordillera of Antioquia (Colombia)
Non-governmental organizations improve the social-ecological fit of institutions conserving the Andean bear in Colombia
Rarity up in the mountain: Ecological niche modeling, phenology, and reproductive biology of the most commercialized Masdevallia species
On September 16th the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions and the Mountain Partnership are co-organizing an event to contribute in implementing the UN resolution on International Mountain Year, raising awareness of the importance of the protection of mountain ecosystem, with a focus on mountain biodiversity and climate change issues, providing an overview of the main achievements of the past years at global and regional level, and discussing the main challenges and the way forward. Interested in joining? Registration is open until 13 September. Click to register...
The 2022 Workshop on Earth Observation for Ecosystem Accounting (28.11-01.12.2022, online) will bring together experts in EO and in Ecosystem Accounting to discuss the key challenges to be addressed to use EO in compiling national ecosystem accounts to support national policies. The Workshop will introduce the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework , present on-going efforts to harness the potential of EO in ecosystem accounting, showcase practical examples of EO applications for Ecosystem Accounting, and review the main challenges for an effective use of EO in compiling national ecosystem accounts. The workshop will address the use of EO for ecosystem accounts in all realms. Abstract deadline: 12th September 2022. Read more and register...
Participants at the World Biodiversity Forum 2022 in Davos have adopted the final conference resolution by acclamation. Amongst a number of other recommendations towards the safeguard of biodiversity worldwide, this resolution recognizes the importance of mountain biodiversity and its conservation. Read more...
The Grassroots Institute is co-organizing the hyrbid Summer Field School on Mountain Ecosystems & Resource Management at Igman Mountain in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 10-19 September 2023. This international training programme examines mountain ecosystems in the contexts of sustainable development and natural resource management. The course aims to equip researchers, students, practitioners and young teachers with the necessary approaches, knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of sustainable mountain development globally. The programme is conducted in partnership with various academic and practice-oriented organizations from around the world. Click here for information on how to become an institutional partner.
Mountain Research and Development is looking for papers that systematically assess restoration experiences, including enabling and hindering factors for greater resilience of mountain ecosystems and people. Empirical research and meta-analyses of degradation and restoration processes and their links to resilience are also welcome, as are review-based agendas for research, policies, or interventions. Papers are due by 1 November 2022. Read more...
Articles in this issue examine the workings of the “smart village” concept in the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland; the role of local food products in fostering mountain tourism in the Italian Alps; the benefits of wild plants’ ecosystem services for local livelihoods in the Polish Pieniny Mountains; rural residents’ sense of place in an ecological restoration area in Guizhou, China; and outcomes of the International Mountain Conference 2019 in Innsbruck. Read more...
The new GMBA inventory of the world’s mountains for global comparative mountain science is now released and available for unrestricted download and use. This new release introduces a hierarchical classification of the >8600 inventoried mountain ranges of the world, which allows for the partitioning of mountain systems into smaller ranges and subranges and enables spatially explicit and comparative mountain research across scales. The clearly defined, globally consistent and hierarchical nature of this new inventory offers a standardized resource for referencing and addressing mountains across science, policy, communication, and education. Read more...
Mountain Research and Development is looking for papers that systematically assess experiences of how digitalization supports transformative change in mountains. Analyses of how digitalization changes mountain societies, affects spatial and socioeconomic interrelations, or helps address gaps in knowledge about mountain societies and environments are also welcome, as are reviews of existing knowledge, practices, or policies related to digitalization. Full papers are due by 1 July 2022
Registration for the World Biodiversity Forum is now open! Special rates apply for graduate (PhD) students as well as participants from low and lower middle income countries. Early bird discounts until 31 January 2022. Read more...
Two articles in this open issue focus on ski resorts in the USA: one presents a voluntary environmental program for large resorts, the other analyzes climate change impacts and adaptation action. A global review of literature on adaptation action in mountains calls for closing the adaptation gap. Further articles focus on irrigation systems in the Upper Indus Basin; environmental attitudes of ultramarathoners in Iceland; and the shear strength of purple topsoil under different land uses in China. Read more...
Mountain Research and Development invites contributions for a focus issue on knowledge collaborations between academic and local knowledge holders. Papers should explore how mountain researchers and Indigenous Peoples or other holders of place-based knowledge can collaborate to guide knowledge creation and application. Contributions by scientists and Indigenous or other local knowledge holders are equally welcome. Notices of intent are due by 10 December 2021, full papers by 15 February 2022.
A case study from China shows how bird photography tourism benefitted both biodiversity and livelihoods. Research from the Indian Himalaya examines links between urbanization, hazards, and vulnerability. A global analysis offers insights into challenges for sustainable governance of mountains, and a study on Canada’s mountain systems provides a nationally coherent basis for research and policy. Finally, another global assessment proposes ways of developing a network of mountain observatories. Read more...
In this open issue, two articles focus on the Indian Himalayas, assessing the risk of glacial lake outbursts and investigating risk knowledge among urban development actors. Another article describes indigenous-driven sustainability initiatives in the Ecuadorian Andes, and one examines how a wetland park in China affects waterbird diversity. A review article analyzes academic literature on climate change adaptation in European mountain systems. Read more...
June 2021, USGS releases the second version of the Global Mountain Explorer (GME) developed in partnership with GMBA, the Center for Development and Environment, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), and ESRI. This tool was developed to provide a detailed view of the world's mountains according to the three most commonly used definitions of mountains. Important: in this new version, two of the three original layers have been replaced following the discovery that data handling in preparing the first version increased their global coverage of mountains considerably. More information is available in the release note online. Access the GME....
Articles in this focus issue of Mountain Research and Development present examples and insights into education for sustainable mountain development around the world. Covering a wide range of formal and informal education at all levels, including practical training and lifelong learning opportunities, they provide a basis for future research, policy, and action. The issue was guest-edited by Jörg Balsiger and Martin Price. Read more...
Today, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), GRID-Arendal (GRIDA), Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) released a key policy input highlighting the indicators considered the most effective important for safeguarding mountain biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. The document provides also rationale for adoption of such indicators at multiple levels and suggests additional indicators for further considerations. Read more...
Articles in this open issue focus on the preservation of open spaces in the European Alps; knowledge and valuation of aquatic mountain ecosystems in the Pyrenees; links between elevation and child growth in Nepal; a traditional irrigation system in India; the anti-mini-hydro movement in Italy; glacial lakes and outburst floods in Kyrgyzstan; impacts of climate change on alpine vegetation in China; and solid waste management in and around Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Read more...
Fresh out of the press: the third edition of Christian Körner's seminal book "Alpine Plant Life - Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems"! This 500 page volume has been largely rewritten and greatly expanded since the last version that appeared in 2003. This is a must read for students and professionals alike, freely accessible via University Springer links. Read more...
UNEP in collaboration with GMBA, the Mountain Research Initiative, and GRID-Arendal produced an information panel on the important role mountains play in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The panel highlights the unique biodiversity that mountain regions are hosting, sheds light on threats to mountain biodiversity, and presents policy recommendations suggesting how to address the protection of mountain biodiversity in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The panel is part of a larger physical exhibition about the protection of endangered mountain species and increasing the resilience of wildlife and local communities towards climatic changes (Vanishing Treasures Programme). Check out the panel...
Two new issues of MRD are complete. Vol 40, No 2, guest-edited by GMBA, focuses on the role of mountain biodiversity for sustainable development. Papers from various world regions offer further evidence of mountain species’ importance for human livelihoods and wellbeing, and call for effective conservation and management approaches. Vol 40, No 1 also contains several biodiversity-related articles; further studies address tourism development in the South Caucasus and other topics
Remote sensing can invaluably contribute to the investigation of invasion processes by providing wide spatiotemporal data on both alien species occurrence and proxies of invasion drivers. This Special Issue, jointly organized between “Remote Sensing” and “Earth” journals, aims at gathering contributions focused on the use of remote sensing for tracking invasion dynamics in areas undergoing rapid environmental changes. Read more...
The new factsheet "Achieving the SDGs with Biodiversity" by the Swiss Biodiversity Forum (SCNAT) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Switzerland) shows the contribution biodiversity for each SDG. The authors, including GMBA, conclude, among other things, that biodiversity should be mainstreamed into all policy areas.
The objective of the Compendium of EO contributions to the SDG Targets and Indicators was to conduct an in-depth review of the relevance of satellite observations to the SDG Targets and Indicators, and more specifically to analyse how these observations can be embedded in the computational methods of the SDG indicators and be fitted into national statistical systems for monitoring progress on SDGs. It illustrates how satellite observations can directly or indirectly support SDG indicators, and how countries can set and plan their SDG targets using EO-based support tools.
The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together the current ecological and evolutionary research on biological diversity in African mountains across different taxa of plants and animals, biotope types, and geographical locations. A particular focus is placed on the role of environmental gradients in ecological differentiation of individuals and communities, the origination of species and shaping their geographical distributions. Further, research on inter-specific interactions, the importance of ecological adaptations, and the significance of evolutionary history for current patterns of biodiversity is encouraged. Abstract submission deadline is 26 February 2021. Read more...
For International Mountain Day we have published all the "Tales of Mountain Biodiversity" we collected together with the Mountain Partnership. Many thanks to everybody for your contributions!
This short editorial sets the stage for an ongoing Focus Issue on Mountain Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in Mountain Research and Development. Read more...
In this commentary, we first illustrate the importance and challenges of safeguarding healthy mountain ecosystems. We then outline how integrated strategies that enable transformative changes across socio-economic sectors and segments of society can place well-conserved mountain biodiversity at the core of a just, equitable, and sustainable world. Read more...
In this paper we applied the IPBES conceptual framework to assess and compare the contents of 631 abstracts on the interactions among biodiversity, ecosystem services, human wellbeing, and drivers of change and formulate a set of research recommendations. Read more...
In preparation of International Mountain Day we have collaborated with the Mountain Partnership to develop an infographic on why mountain biodiversity matters. This is for unrestricted use and we encourage you to disseminate it widely. Access and download...
Culture is fundamentally relevant for sustainable development. This focus issue shows how mountain communities draw on their cultural heritage and integrate new knowledge to shape their own innovative and locally-based development pathways. It also explores ways of integrating culture into development practice and policy. Studies focus on mountain communities in Chile, Italy, Russia, Ecuador, Georgia, Nepal, and China.
After ten years of work, the results of the second European Breeding Bird Atlas are compiled in a book with the most up-to-date source of information on distribution, abundance and change of bird populations in Europe. With around 120,000 fieldworkers contributing data this project is among the biggest citizen science projects on biodiversity ever. A total of 556 species are treated with a full species account including (abundance, distribution, change) maps, text and an illustration. Pre-publication discount available until 30 Novembre. Read more and order...
Guest editors C. Hobohm and N. Barker invite contributions for a special issue in Diversity on global patterns of endemic and threatened species in relation to environment and habitat. This Special Issue will focus on analyses of selected endemics or globally threatened species in relation to biogeography, landscape ecology, and genetics/taxonomy. The purpose is to generate scientific information on selected taxa as a fundament for political decisions related to ecosystems or special regions. Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2021. Read more...
With a series of short films, called "Mountains – a fragile source of life" GMBA network member Dirk Schmeller explains different aspects of mountains and why they are important for the human society. Check out the first episode "Research to protect our future"...
Endemism in island-like systems – Are true islands and sky islands alike? To answer this question, Suzette Flantua and co-authors reviewed the theoretical concept of isolation and asked themselves what it means to be isolated and what relevance it has for species in mountains and islands. Their conclusions are published today in Global Ecology and Biogeography. Read more...
Guest editors Carina Hoorn, Luis Palazzesi, and Daniele Silvestro are inviting papers that focus on the relationships among mountain building, sedimentary processes, and biotic evolution in South America at different stages of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Read more...
Guest editors Ieva Misiune, Daniel Depellegrin, and Lukas Egarter Vigl are inviting contributions for a Springer Nature book on Exploring the Multiple Values of Nature - Connecting Ecosystems and People across Landscapes. In a section on mountain systems they are looking for contributions that analyze and promote mountains as integrated systems and deal with the unique challenges of these landscapes to increase their resilience and sustainability. Read more...
We all appreciate the fundamental importance of our mountains' biological richness. But what is the functional significance of this diversity? Why does this diversity really matter? These questions have been standing at the cradle of GMBA for the last 20 years and are rightfully asked by politicians, stakeholders, and the broader public alike. Today we invite you to join our new effort to compile examples that help answer them. Read more and contribute...
Papers explore ways of supporting girls’ education in rural Nepal; forest fires on the slopes of Mount Kenya; how commercial medicinal plant collection improves high-altitude livelihoods and how forest use practices impact landscape hydrology, both in Nepal; and how snow affects landslide vegetation patterns in Japan. Two more propose a multiscale transdisciplinary framework for advancing sustainability in mountain agriculture and a strategy for integrated biodiversity monitoring in high mountain ecosystems.
Wildflowers of Mount Everest is the first-ever wildflower identification app for Nepal. The richly illustrated app includes 557 species of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees and is meant for anybody who wants to identify or learn about plants in the Mount Everest region. Read more...
Mountains host a spectacular diversity of species. Yet current species distribution is only a snapshot in time that bears the memory of past geomorphological and climatic changes. Understanding past changes is key to interpret current patterns and inform mountain biodiversity conservation and management in the future. Read more about it in a short GMBA co-authored contribution in the latest issue of the PAGES magazine. Read more...
Due to the current situation, the XVIII International Colloquium on Soil Zoology (ICSZ) and the XV International Colloquium on Apterygota (ICA) hosted by Eurac Research in Bolzano has been postponed to March/April 2021! Read more and stay tuned...
Today, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), GRID-Arendal (GRIDA), Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), Mountain Partnership, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, Government of Austria, Government of Hungary, and Government of Poland are convening country delegates attending the Second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in Rome to an informal mountain gathering. This gathering will serve as the occasion to launch the second version of the Policy Brief "Elevating Mountains in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework 2.0" co-developed by UNEP, GRIDA, GMBA, and MRI. Read more...
GMBA working group on species distribution models & remote sensing publishes in Remote Sensing of Environment on Monitoring biodiversity in the Anthropocene using remote sensing in species distribution models. The paper first surveys the literature on remote sensing data products available to ecological modelers interested in improving predictions of species range dynamics under global change. Focus is on key biophysical processes underlying the distribution of species in the Anthropocene including climate variability, changes in land cover, and disturbances. The paper then discusses potential synergies between the ecological modeling and remote sensing communities. Specific attention is given to how synergies could lead to new opportunities to report on progress towards global agendas - such as the Agenda 2030 or the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and help guide conservation and management strategies. Get free access to the paper for another until early March...
Papers focus on scenario planning in Iceland; risk awareness in Austria; alpine pasture assessment in France; the role of different knowledge sources in adaptation in Venezuela and Colombia, Ecuador, and the Indian Himalaya; local adaptations to water scarcity in the Hindu Kush–Himalaya; declining glacier water in the Mongolian Altai; national glacier monitoring worldwide; and adaptation initiatives in African mountains. Read more...
UNFCCC’s Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa officially receives “10 New Insights in Climate Science” as it is launched at COP25, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain. These Insights are a collaborative product of Future Earth and the Earth League. Insight 3 "Climate change leaves no mountain summit behind" is co-authored by GMBA and MRI. Read more...
On October 31, 2019, 20 scientists and individual actors in charge of formulating and implementing environmental policies for Swiss mountains got together at the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating research and long-term monitoring data into public policies for environmental management in Swiss mountains. Read more...
On October 02-04, 2019, 22 experts from science and policy got together in the botanical garden of Champex-Lac (Switzerland) to discuss the contribution of Long-Term Social Ecological Research (LTSER) in mountains to global agendas and conventions. The objective of the workshop was to deliver a synthetic overview of how mountain LTSER currently support global policy agendas and UN conventions and how their contribution could be improved and strengthened in the future. Read more...
It is now possible to upload occurrence as well as inventory data directly online! Map of Life’s online tool is designed to help you easily load your biodiversity data to the Map of Life and Mountain Portal database, map them, compare and integrate them with other datasets, set permissions to share them publicly for use in other platforms, and publish them with a minted DOI. Try the tool with your own data!
Future Earth posted a blog that we wrote about our PEGASuS Project entitled "Toward biodiversity-related opportunities for sustainable development: a global social-ecological mountain comparison". Enjoy the read...
An important role for GMBA is to connect mountain biodiversity scientists. For that purpose, we have developed an online tool for the query of our database of members. The beta version is now online! Check it out!
During the past months, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) in close collaboration with GMBA has developed an interactive webportal for the query and visualization of information about indigenous mountain communities worldwide. Read more...
On 24.10.2017 USGS releases the Global Mountain Explorer developed in partnership with GMBA, the Center for Development and Environment, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), and ESRI. This tool was developed to provide a detailed view of the world's mountains according to the three most commonly used definitions of mountains. With this product, MRI, who led the effort, achieves the first objective of the Group on Earth Observations - Global Network for Observation and Information in Mountain Environments (GEO-GNOME) work program. Read the full press release...
The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) and Map of Life (MOL) launch the Mountain Portal V2.0, now with more data and an improved user experience to the mountain biodiversity science community.
Alpandino (https://www.alpandino.org) is an e-learning course on alpine ecology developed by the University of Basel. The course contains lectures on various aspects of alpine ecology, including climate, microclimate, water issues, and soils, and also offers a photo-excursion to alpine habitats and treeline locations around the globe.
This course is a great entry point for a diverse audience, ranging from alpine zoologists and microbiologists to conservation experts and nature reserve managers. It serves also as an ideal preparation for field excursions or field weeks with students.
The course is available in English and Spanish.
Altenbergrain 21
3013 Bern