mountains

Attachments: 

LOW_Global_Green_Economy_RIO20.pdf

In 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development – commonly referred to as ‘Rio 1992’ or ‘the Rio Earth Summit’ – mountains received unexpected high political attention. They were granted a chapter in the ‘Agenda 21’ as fragile ecosystems that matter for humankind.

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Print_MENA_Brief_RIO+20_2012.pdf

Mountains of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are important for sustainable development in national, regional and global contexts. The goods and key ecosystem services provided by these mountains are vital for the sustainable development. These goods and services are under increasing pressure from urban expansion and environmental changes.

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Print_HKH_Policy_Brief_RIO+20_2012.pdf

As the ‘water tower of Asia’, the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountains are the source of 10 major river systems and provide vital ecosystem goods and services to more than 1.4 billion people. The region includes four global biodiversity hotspots, 488 protected areas, 330 important bird areas, and 60 global eco-regions. Rangelands cover more than 60 per cent of the region’s territory. However the region is home to more than 40 per cent of the world’s poor people and faces extreme vulnerability and risks due to climate and global change.

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Print_Central_Asia.pdf

The Central Asian mountains provide an astonishing array of essential ecosystem goods and services not only to mountain inhabitants but also to people in the lowlands and around the globe. These goods and services include forest products and land for food production; watershed protection; habitat for flora and fauna of local and global significance; the regulation of natural hazards and climate; natural areas for leisure and recreational activities; and the storage and release of water.

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Print_ALPS_Policy_Brief_RIO+20_2012.pdf

The Alps are a coherent mountain region covering 190,568 km2 across eight countries, with a population of 14 million. Their central location in western Europe gives them many important roles for the continent. The Alpine economy is based on a symbiosis of diverse sectors: tourism, services, industry, electricity generation, and agriculture. The territory is highly heterogeneous and polarised, with great disparities – especially in terms of population, unemployment, economic density and GDP.

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NORTH AMERICA-FINAL.pdf

North America’s mountains are a primary source of fresh water. Other natural resources, such as coal and natural gas, are pillars of North American energy economies. The recreation and tourism industry – the lifeblood of many mountain communities – contributes significant revenues for state and province budgets. And for many, mountains provide solace and a spiritual connection, and are treasured as places to experience the wonders of nature. But a warming climate, human encroachment, and some business practices present severe challenges to these fragile ecosystems.

Attachments: 

Print_Brief_Mesoamerica.pdf

Sustainable Mountain Development RIO 2012 and beyond

Mountains in Meso America cover 25.2% of the region and hold a remarkable 12% of the world’s biodiversity on only about 2% of the earth’s land surface. A total of 86 indigenous ethnic groups occupy 54.2% of the mountain territories. The greatest global threat to sustainable mountain development in the region is climate change. Other threats are mining, expansion of hydropower generation, urban sprawl into mountain areas, deforestation, and soil erosion.

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Print_Brief_EasternEurope.pdf

Sustainable Mountain Development RIO 2012 and beyond

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Print_Africa_Policy_Brief_RIO+20_2012.pdf

African mountains are highly vulnerable water towers and breadbaskets for the lowlands. Mountain ecosystem services (ES) ensure water-food-energy security and biodiversity conservation and enable sustainable development and poverty eradication at the continent level.

In the uncertainty created by climate change, highpopulation growth and land-use change, urgent policy action is needed to promote the enabling conditions for funding and investment in sustainable mountain development (SMD) in Africa.