-(8).png?sfvrsn=a115e9c2_0 "©Kristaps Liepinsa")
The Mountain Partnership seeks to have representation from all of the world and classifies its members according to seven geographical regions:
For the purpose of the Mountain Partnership's work, and in order to reflect the scope of its action at local, national, regional or global level, members in each of the seven regions are divided into governments, subnational authorities, intergovernmental organizations and major groups organizations.
Extending across South and Southeast Asia and encompassing mountain ranges in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is known as the ‘Third Pole’ due to its gigantic masses of ice and snow. The mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) provide two billion people a vital regional lifeline via water for food, water for energy, and water for ecosystem services.
Climate change poses significant risks to people in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, where high altitudes have experienced serious warming. In general, snow and glaciers are melting, and there has been an increase in the number of extreme events such as floods and droughts, which in turn exacerbate poverty and food insecurity.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Central Asia’s mountains extend across Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, where the majority of mountain communities make a living by cultivating cereals and vegetables, collecting forest products and grazing livestock on a wide range of pastures. Almost 90 percent of the population of Central Asia relies on water that falls in the mountains. However, climate change is melting mountain glaciers and affecting snow reserves. Tensions between highland and lowland countries often centre on the issues of energy accessibility and water usage.
European mountains are rich in landscape, biodiversity and culture and offer opportunities for the production of organic and high-quality mountain products. The region also has the potential for sustainable tourism and producing renewable energy. European mountains are also subject to a variety of heavy pressures such as unemployment, migration, land-use change, deforestation and the exploitation of natural resources.
Europe has a number of transboundary mountain ranges, bringing both challenges and opportunities to the local populations of a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. International agreements, governance mechanisms and policies provide an institutional framework for promoting sustainable mountain development and growing the green economy. The Alpine Convention, the first legally binding instrument dedicated to a mountain range, has promoted the development of transboundary cooperation, partnerships and networks since 1991. . The Carpathian Convention, established in 2003, pursues comprehensive policy and cooperation to promote environmental protection and sustainable development of the Carpathian region, which spans across seven countries. It seeks to address environmental challenges and improve the quality of life for current and future generations.
Despite some progress, continued efforts will be required to sustainably manage and protect mountain ecosystems, reduce poverty and migration, improve food security and nutrition, combat social exclusion and ensure the provision of environmental goods and services.
In possibly the most arid region of the world, people and ecosystems in the Near East and North Africa depend on the water provided by mountains more than others.
Not only does water from the mountains supply growing urban centres and agricultural production in the adjacent lowlands, but production of food and timber for construction and energy often only occurs at higher altitudes.
Likewise, mountains in the region are hotspots of biodiversity, that together with cultural heritage attract an increasing number of tourists travelling to the mountains for adventure and leisure. Mountains also provide shelter from the heat during summer months, and transhumance in mountains is a common approach to livestock management in the region.
Most global and regional models predict that the Near East and North Africa region will be particularly affected by climate change, as the region is one of the most water stressed in the world, and food security systems and ecosystems are highly dependent on an already erratic and dry climate. The most significant impacts of climate change in the region will include: water resource stress, crop productivity decrease, migration pressures and an increased frequency of floods and landslides.
The mountains in North and Central America and the Caribbean are an important source of freshwater as well as natural resources, such as coal and natural gas. In North America, the mountain recreation and tourism industry contributes significant revenues for state and provincial budgets. Mountains are an attractive place to live for many – young people and retirees are moving to them part-time or year-round for the "good quality of life" they offer while various local North American populations have spiritual or cultural connections to mountains.
However, North America’s fragile mountain ecosystems face major challenges caused by climate change, urban encroachment and industry. An important economic driver for North America’s mountains, mining and other industries can cause serious damage to people, water and land.
Though mountains only encompass 2 percent of Central America’s land surface, they account for a remarkable 12 percent of the earth’s biodiversity. In addition to climate change, the greatest global threat to the sustainable mountain development in Central America, population growth, food insecurity, unemployment, outmigration and the need for more healthcare and education services pose serious challenges to the region.
The Caribbean is home to 115 islands, most of which are volcanic with rich fertile soils and mountainous landscapes. Classified as a significant global biodiversity hotspot, the region has extremely diverse ecosystems, ranging from high altitude rain forests to cactus savannahs.
Population growth, along with the intensification of agriculture and tourism put high pressure on Caribbean ecosystems. Additionally, deforestation on mountains and unsustainable farming practices on steep hillsides often contribute to landslides and other forms of soil loss during extreme weather events.
Most countries in the region are mountainous. Not only do all the major rivers like the Amazon originate in the Andes, but this vast mountain range also shapes landscapes - deserts and rainforests alike. The Andes play a vital part in national economies yet some of the region’s poorest areas are located in the mountains.
While water is one of the key management challenges in the region, other aspects are equally relevant, not least migration from the mountains to urban centers. Traditional knowledge in the region may no longer suffice to cope with extreme climate events, posing a serious risk to the livelihoods of many. To achieve sustainable development, policy action is required regarding the protection of water resources, responsible mining practices, adaptation to climate change practices and mechanisms to generate and use knowledge for sound decision making.
The Andean Mountain Initiative and the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN) are two regional organizations promoting transboundary cooperation in the region
In contrast to other regions, African mountains harbour the continent's most fertile soils, allowing high-yield agriculture to thrive and contributing significantly to food security in the region. Millions of farmers are employed in the production of globally consumed cash crops like coffee and tea, and population density in and around mountains in sub-Saharan Africa is high and on the rise.
In a continent dominated by arid and semi-arid areas, African mountains function as water towers for millions of people. Low-lying arid areas in countries such as Sudan and Namibia receive water from large rivers with mountain sources, while in East Africa, Mount Kenya is the only source of freshwater for more than seven million people. African mountains house many ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, drylands, rivers and wetlands, and are home to unique biodiversity including the critically endangered mountain gorillas of Central Africa and Uganda.
With global warming, high population growth and intensive land-use threatening Africa’s mountains, urgent policy action is needed to create the enabling conditions for promoting sustainable development and investment in these mountain areas.
