Countries

Click on a region to read the country profiles

Country members are catalysts for action on the ground: they are well-placed to understand and communicate local needs and priorities, support community development and act as a bridge between local communities and central authorities, regional organizations and international agencies. Only countries have the power to implement national mountain strategies, to enact enabling policies and laws and to develop compensation mechanisms for environmental services and goods provided by mountain areas.

Yet, many countries lack the institutional environments, expertise and financial resources to implement and invest in sustainable mountain development. What is required? Education, training, institutional and human capacity-building, technology development and transfer, expert consultation, pilot activities and sound investment.

Furthermore, countries with mountains cannot undertake sustainable mountain development in isolation. Many countries share common borders, common resources and common issues. Cooperation is therefore essential. Given the transboundary character of many mountain areas, support is needed for sub-regional and regional initiatives that enable countries to work together on the development and conservation of transboundary mountain ranges.

This section focuses on the opportunities and challenges facing the countries that are members of the Mountain Partnership and highlights the action underway to improve lives and environments in their mountain areas.

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