Membership

Update on partnership initiatives

On-going events

Future events

Past events

Publications

Understanding global change in mountains

The recent release of the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy is a significant step in advancing knowledge and generating collaborative efforts in global change research. The development of the strategy was managed by Mountain Partnership member, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), and is the final outcome of the EU-funded GLOCHAMORE (Global Change and Mountain Regions) project (2003 - 2005), which aimed to develop a state-of-the-art integrated research strategy that would gain a better understanding of the causes and consequences of global change. During the 2-year negotiation process, the strategy received inputs from hundreds of global change scientists and practitioners from some 50 nations. Indeed, critical to the development of the strategy was the participation of 28 UNESCO Mountain Biosphere Reserves around the world and the integration of activities and knowledge from both natural and social sciences. As Dr. Astrid Björnsen Gurung, Scientific Project Manager at MRI states: ‘The ultimate aim of GLOCHAMORE is not the research strategy per se but rather its wide implementation and adoption in global change research projects'. As such, it is hoped that the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy will serve as a framework for scientific research, a background for funding proposals, and an incentive for new collaborations.
MRI and its partners are interested to learn your views and comments on the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy. Visit  ‘Discussion on-line' on the Mountain Partnership Web site to read the strategy (under ‘Research') and post your feedback: www.mp-discussion.org/. Read more about GLOCHAMORE and other MRI activities: mri.scnatweb.ch/.

Moving mountains higher up agendas

A recent resolution on sustainable mountain development by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) calls for concerted efforts by governments, the UN system, international financial mechanisms and all relevant partners from civil society and the private sector to consider providing support -- including voluntary financial contributions -- to local, national and international programmes and projects for sustainable development in mountain regions. Adopted in December 2005, the resolution (A/C.2/60/L.63) underlines, inter alia, the importance of constructive new approaches to transboundary cooperation and coordination such as the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions. The text goes on to recognize the substantial cooperation already fostered between the Mountain Partnership and these mountain-related regional agreements, as well as between instruments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and calls on the international community and relevant stakeholders to join the Mountain Partnership. Read the latest UNGA Resolution and other key documents related to the Mountain Partnership in particular and sustainable mountain development, in general at: here.

 

Developing environmental legislation in Afghanistan

An estimated 80 per cent of Afghanistan 's population relies directly on the natural resource base to meet its daily needs. However, this resource base has been severely damaged by more than two decades of conflict, refugee movements, the collapse of national, provincial and local forms of governance, lack of management and institutional capacity, and over-exploitation. Drought in recent years has also had an additional negative impact. As a result, the mountainous country's vulnerability to natural disasters and food shortages has increased. In order to bridge these gaps, UNEP has being working to assist in the development of the new Environment Act, in partnership with the Government of Afghanistan, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and international experts. The Act contains tailor-made frameworks necessary to manage and use sustainably Afghanistan 's natural resources and to rehabilitate its damaged environment. The Act also clarifies institutional responsibilities and contains the compliance and enforcement provisions required to allow the Government of Afghanistan to enforce effectively the legislation. The development of this important legislation is one component of a three-year programme, funded by the European Commission, the Government of Finland and the Global Environment Facility, for capacity-building and institutional development for environmental management.

For further information, visit the UNEP Web site: www.unep.org.

 

Creating an intellectual research platform for developing countries

The emerging culture of intellectual property, soaring costs of accessing research literature, and difficulties in having research published in traditional journals have restricted the development of research capacity in developing countries. Now, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Mountain Partnership member, has announced plans to create an Open Archive -- a Web-based repository of the Centre's rich research and project documentation. The IDRC Open Archive will allow researchers in developing countries to engage in international dialogue on important development issues and increase the impact of their research. In addition to making information more freely available, the Open Archive should provide IDRC-funded researchers with a much-needed outlet to publish and showcase their work.  As a first step in the development of the Archive, IDRC will build a demonstration model over the next four months. In creating the Open Archive, IDRC aims to promote transparency of its results-based research and remove barriers -- economic, social, and geographic -- to the sharing of knowledge. For further information about the IDRC Open Archive, contact Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé at: ibourgeault-tasse@idrc.ca.

 

Hundreds of new species discovered in the mountains of New Guinea

An astonishing mist-shrouded ‘lost world' of previously unknown and rare animals and plants high in the mountain rainforests of New Guinea has been uncovered by an international team of scientists. One of the most outstanding discoveries during their month-long expedition in late 2005 was the spectacular Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise, which was previously thought lost to science. The scientists also found more than 20 new species of frogs, four new butterflies, five new species of palm and many other plants yet to be classified, including what may be the world's largest rhododendron flower. The expedition area, about 300,000 hectares, lies on the upper slopes of the Foja Mountains, in the easternmost and least explored province of western New Guinea, which is part of Indonesia. Bruce Beehler, of the US-based Conservation International, who led the expedition last November and December, said: "It is as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth. We found dozens, if not hundreds, of new species in what is probably the most pristine ecosystem in the whole Asian-Pacific region. There were so many new things it was almost overwhelming. And we have only scratched the surface of what is there." The scientists hope to return this year. Visit the Conservation International Web site at: www.conservation.org.

 

Issue 17
February 2006

The Mountain Partnership Newsletter

‘Peak to Peak' is an opportunity to keep you up-to-date with the latest news, activities and events related to the Mountain Partnership. This monthly newsletter, prepared by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, is sent by e-mail to all members and other interested partners. Help us share news, information and features on your activities with members by sending a message to: info@mountainpartnership.org.

Membership

As of February 2006, there are 130 members of the Mountain Partnership: 44 countries, 14 intergovernmental organizations and 72 major group organizations. Four new members have joined the Mountain Partnership in the ‘major group' category: the Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities (AGOCA), the Balkan Foundation for Sustainable Development (BFSD), Soluciones Prácticas (ITDG), and Volunteers for Africa/ECODECO Partnership.

 

The Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities (AGOCA) supports ‘bottom-up' involvement of populations and a better representation of village matters at the national and regional levels. It brings together representatives of villages of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. AGOCA's main activities include the organization of visits to member villages to exchange experiences and knowledge, the provision of training and publishing. (Contact: Ishenbek Musahodjaev; e-mail: va_leryn@yahoo.com ; no Web site).

The Balkan Foundation for Sustainable Development (BFSD) provides grants and technical assistance to NGOs and local governments, focussing primarily on inter-regional, economic and sustainable development and transfrontier activities in the Balkans, and encourages the development of public/private/NGO partnerships. (Contact: Dragi Pop-Stojanov; e-mail: balkanfoundation@mt.net.mk ; Web site (in development): www.balkanfoundation.org).

Soluciones Prácticas (ITDG), an international NGO, specializes in helping people use technology for practical answers to poverty. ITDG's work in Latin America (Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia) is mostly carried out in mountain areas with programme areas focussing on markets and livelihoods, disaster mitigation and local management, infrastructure and services, and new technologies. (Contact: Daniel Rodriguez; e-mail: danielr@itdg.org.pe ; Web site: http://www.solucionespracticas.org.pe/).

Volunteers for Africa / ECODECO Partnership brings together two East African organizations who are safeguarding the well-being of local people in the area of sustainable development, conservation and poverty eradication. Volunteers for Africa works with local communities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, while ECODECO is a conservation and ecotourism non-profit organization in Kenya. (Contact: Kunga Nicholas; e-mail: volunteersafrica@yahoo.com ; Web site

Update on Partnership Initiatives

 

EUROPE

Closer cooperation in mountain development in the Balkans and Caucasus regions has recently been strengthened within the context of the Mountain Partnership. At a series of meetings and workshops organized by UNEP and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory and hosted by the European Academy (EURAC) (Bolzano, Italy,12-16 December), representatives of governments, UN agencies and civil society groups shared their experiences in capacity building on legal instruments for the protection and sustainable development of mountain regions. The result of their discussions -- the 'South Eastern Europe Statement' and the 'Caucasus Outcomes' -- underline a shared commitment towards enhancing regional cooperation in these mountainous areas and in moving processes forward within the framework of the Mountain Partnership. Read the documents and find out more by visiting ‘ Discussion on-line' on the Mountain Partnership Web site.

 

Microfinance in mountain areas

Poor people need not just loans, but a variety of financial services that are flexible, reasonably priced and adapted to their needs. Access to sustainable financial services, as a complementary measure to sustainable income-generating activities, give the poor the chance to increase income, build assets, and lessen their vulnerability to external shocks.

Microfinance is the general term referring to basic financial services (credit, savings, leasing, equity financing, insurance and payment services/transfer mechanisms) which are provided by banks, non-governmental organizations, credit and savings cooperatives and a whole range of other informal mechanisms to a clientele that does not have access to traditional financial institutions, i.e. the poor. Microfinance is undoubtedly a crucial instrument in helping to alleviate poverty and improve the lives and livelihoods of the world's poor people – many of whom live in mountain regions.

As a result of high interest among members, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat has recently initiated a new activity to evaluate, together with interested members, the potential of integrating microfinance tools in their existing activities. This involves gathering information on microfinance initiatives in mountain areas among some targeted UN agencies and Mountain Partnership members, evaluating these initiatives and potential areas for action in collaboration with interested members and, finally, drafting project concepts originating from a common effort and exchange with involved members. The goal is to finalize a project proposal for the development of microfinance services for mountain communities. A n informal interest group on microfinance has been set up with members to brainstorm, conceptualize and eventually propose concerted action on the ground.

The group has already started carrying out its activity through e-mail exchanges, telephone conversations and, importantly, on-line dialogue at ‘Discussion on-line' on the Mountain Partnership Web site. The Secretariat focal point for this Partnership microfinance activity is Paola Bellotti, who encourages members to share their thoughts, ideas, experiences in the on-line discussion area on this week's topic: “In your experience, what type of activities in mountain areas have been better served by microfinance? And why?”.

If your country or organization has been involved in the microfinance/inclusive financial sector, i.e. outside formal financial sector, we would be interested to learn more. Please contact Paola Bellotti directly by e-mail: paola.bellotti@fao.org or by phone: +39 06 5705-5521.

On-going events

XX Winter Olympics (Turin, Italy, 10-26 February 2006) The XX Winter Olympics opens on 10 February in the north Italian city of Turin. The city has profound historical ties with the Alps and its metropolis is framed by an extraordinary sweep of mountains which extend about 400 kilometres from the Maritime Alps to the Monte Rosa. The Winter Games is set to feature seven different sports and 15 different disciplines, played out in eight different competition sites. And around 2,600 athletes, 650 judges and umpires and one million spectators are expected to participate. But what is the potential impact of this influx of visitors and sporting activity on the environment, particularly at high altitudes? In planning and organizing the Winter Olympics, the Turin Olympic Committee (TOROC) has taken concrete steps to ensure that this is the ever truly "green" major sport event in Europe. TOROC has achieved this by making good use of EU voluntary environmental tools, in particular the EU eco-management and audit system (EMAS). EMAS recognizes organizations that improve their environmental performance on a continuous basis. It registers those that are legally compliant, run an environment management system and report on their environmental performance through the publication of an independently verified environmental statement. These organizations, like TOROC, are then recognized by the EMAS logo, which guarantees the reliability of the information provided. The example of the XX Winter Olympics therefore serves as a useful reference for future sporting and other large-scale events in Europe and beyond. Visit the offical ‘Torino 2006' Web site at: www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames and read about EMAS here: europa.eu.int/comm/environment.

 

Past Events

Workshop on developing a methodological framework for a rapid assessment of policies for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) in Mountain Regions (Managua, Nicaragua, 16-17 November 2005)

This regional workshop titled ‘Towards a Methodological Framework for a Rapid Assessment of Policies for SARD in Mountain Regions' attracted representatives from governments and civil society organizations involved in the formulation and implementation of policies for SARD in five Central American countries -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua -- and from other regional or national institutions with experience in the design or implementation of SARD-related policies. Based on the findings of the assessments carried out in Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the framework of the SARD-M Project, a Mountain Partnership member, the workshop generated valuable discussions and outputs concerning the methodology used in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of SARD policies in the hillsides of Central America. Participants recommended that the needs of the “hillside” should be incorporated into major national policies (rather than formulating a specific policy for mountainous areas) and that the awareness by hillside populations of existing SARD-related policies needs to be enhanced. The various proposals for follow-up activities included: a practical guide for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies for SARD; and an analysis and ranking of policies that affect hillsides in Honduras.

For news updates,visit the SARD-M Project Web site: www.fao.org/sard.

To receive regular information on SARD-M project activities, e-mail SARD-M@fao.org or subscribe to the SARD-M mailing list by sending an e-mail to mailserv@mailserv.fao.org, with the subject line blank and the following text in the first line of the message: subscribe SARD-M-L xxx.xxx@yyy.zzz (the address to be added).

 

Future Events

 

The International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) (Porto Alegre, Brazil 7-10 March 2006)

Approximately three-quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas and depend on access to land and other natural resources for their livelihoods. For most of them, insecure access to land is closely linked to poverty. The forthcoming International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD), organized by FAO and the Government of Brazil, is set to assist in mobilizing national governments and the international community to support ongoing agrarian reform and rural development processes, and in securing tenure rights and access to land and other natural resources by the poor. The main aim of ICARRD is to analyze agrarian reform and rural development experiences in different countries and identify policies, practices and lessons learnt that can bring about rural development that is based on social inclusion, sustainable environments and secure livelihoods for poor people. Another fundamental objective of the Conference is to promote the participation of all stakeholders -- NGOs, CSOs, farmers' organizations, universities, and international organizations -- in decision-making in rural development processes. A side event related to mountain issues may be on the agenda: the Mountain Partnership Secretariat will keep members informed of developments. Visit the ICARRD Web site for background information and issue papers at: http://www.icarrd.net/index.html.

 

International Symposium ‘Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mountainous Regions' (Chiang Mai, Thailand 7-9 March 2006)

Some 200 scholars and practitioners are expected to gather in Thailand next month at the International Symposium ‘Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mountainous Regions' to exchange innovative multidisciplinary and integrated research outcomes, as well as successful extension and development approaches to mountain development. Organized by the Uplands Programme of the Hohenheim University (Germany), Chiang Mai University (Thailand) and the World Agroforestry Centre (Thailand), the meeting will present and discuss the research results of the Uplands Programme in Thailand and Viet Nam, and compare these results with experiences and scientific analyses from other mountainous regions. Emphasis will be placed on research results and development experiences that contribute to developing sustainable production and land use systems with increased productivity in ecologically fragile, economically disadvantaged and socio-culturally complex mountainous regions; in identifying viable concepts for rural institutions, food processing and marketing that can reduce rural poverty and food insecurity in mountainous areas; and in advancing methods for analyzing complex ecosystems and their interactions with the socio-cultural, economic and institutional environment. For further information, c ontact the Symposium Secretariat at: uplands@loxinfo.co.th and visit the official Symposium Web site at: http://www.troz.uni-hohenheim.de/research/SFB564_2/Symposium2006.

Publications

 

CABI. The Amenity Migrants: Seeking and Sustaining Mountains and their Cultures

Around the world there is growing migration to mountain areas, both permanent and intermittent, especially in and by people from wealthier societies. This movement is probably the most significant demonstration of the societal change agent known as ‘amenity migration'. ‘ The Amenity Migrants: Seeking and Sustaining Mountains and their Cultures', published this month by CABI publishing, is the first publication to explore this expanding and complex global phenomenon and its profound effects on the natural environment and culture of mountain regions. Using case studies at the international, regional and local level, the book describes and analyzes the challenges and opportunities of amenity migration and its management, and offers related recommendations. Critical issues addressed include biophysical and cultural impacts, in-migration motivated by economic gain and the relationship of amenity migration to tourism. ‘The Amenity Migrants' has been edited by Laurence Moss, Director of Ecological Design & Management (ED&M) and International Amenity Migration Centre (IAMC). He has contributed a short article on the subject of amenity migration to Mountain Partnership members which can be read on ‘Discussion on-line' at: http://www.mp-discussion.org/

To order the book, ‘The Amenity Migrants: Seeking and Sustaining Mountains and their Cultures', visit the CABI Web site at: www.cabi-publishing.org/bookshop.

 

GMBA. Land Use Change and Mountain Biodiversity

Land use change is the most important of all global change impacts on mountain biodiversity, and has the greatest impact on its ecosystem integrity and biological richness. The recently published ‘ Land Use Change and Mountain Biodiversity', by Mountain Partnership member, the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA), surveys the research presented at two GMBA workshops (Tanzania, Bolivia), and includes a synthesis on the impacts of highland biodiversity with examples from the tropical Andes and Africa, the European Alps, and the Himalayas. For further information on obtaining a copy, please contact Dr. Eva Spehn, GMBA, at: gmba@unibas.ch.

 

UNCEM. UNCEM Notizie

Mountain Partnership member, Unione Nazionale Comuni Comunità Enti Montani  (UNCEM), is an Italian national organization which represents the interests of mountain communities, municipalities and bodies and promotes the socio-economic development and environmental protection of the country's mountain regions. Its newly-expanded monthly newsletter, UNCEM NOTIZIE, boasts more pages, more photographs and more in-depth coverage of mountain related issues, ranging from a study of new broadband technologies to an account of the state of the mountains and forests of Europe. Mountain Partnership members are encouraged to contribute news, features and items of interest to UNCEM NOTIZIE by writing to Maria Teresa Pellicori (mt.pellicori@uncem.net) and Federica Demaria (f.demaria@uncem.net). Read UNCEM NOTIZIE (in Italian) at: www.uncem.it.