This article presents the network’s origins, structure, objectives, and strategies, showing how it works to support sustainable development by integrating monitoring into adaptive management.

Articles examine rural–urban change in highland Peru, cultural ecosystem services potential in Armenia, rural development in Georgia, and governance for sustainable development in the European Alps.

Jack D. Ives, Editor of MRD from 1981–1999, died on 15 September 2024 at the age of 92. His life and work was of immense significance for the world’s mountains and mountain people.

Periurban villagers on the valley floors of Peru’s Quechua elevational zone perceive a number of negative impacts of rural–urban change. Still, they view urbanization per se as a positive process.

How can tourism support sustainable development in mountains? We invite papers that analyze trends and impacts, assess solutions for sustainable tourism, or provide policy, action, or research agendas.

The authors analyze policies and strategies across Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland and derive concrete policy recommendations on how to support sustainable development in mountain areas.

Topics include settlement systems in mountains, farmer–landscape dynamics, a possible quality term for mountain wines, and climate adaptation practices in conflict-affected mountain areas.

Based on a scoping review, the authors show that academic debates do not fully address the potential of settlement systems for sustainable spatial development in mountains, and propose ways forward.

Knowing farmer–landscape dynamics is vital for successful agroecological intensification. The main finding of this study in Ecuador challenges conventional sustainability norms.