Mountain Research and Development Journal
Reindeer in Sweden. Photo by Marlène Thibault

International Mountain Society

The goal of the International Mountain Society (IMS) is to advance knowledge and disseminate information about mountain research and mountain development throughout the world. The IMS aims to promote sustainable mountain development through improved communication among institutions and individuals, with a particular focus on mountain ecoregions in the developing world.

In order to further this purpose, the association publishes a quarterly journal, Mountain Research and Development (MRD). The IMS and MRD’s donors cover the costs of operating the journal and its networking activities in excess of the portion covered by publication fees paid by authors of articles published in MRD.

The IMS is an association legally registered in Bern, Switzerland, with institutional membership. It is the copyright holder and publisher of Mountain Research and Development.

Institutional members

The following organizations are institutional members of the International Mountain Society (IMS):

Afromontane Research Unit (ARU)

Afromontane Research Unit (ARU)

University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa

Andean Initiative

Andean Initiative

International Potato Center, Lima, Peru

  • This member’s first MountainPlatform article is expected to appear in 2025

Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS)

Beijing Yanshan Earth Critical Zone National Research Station, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS)

Beijing, China

  • This member’s first MountainPlatform article is expected to appear in 2025

Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

University of Bern, Switzerland

Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN)

Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN)

Lima, Peru

Forum Landscape, Alps, Parks (FoLAP)

Forum Landscape, Alps, Parks (FoLAP)

Bern, Switzerland

Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS)

Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS)

United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy

Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences (IGF/ÖAW)

Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences (IGF/ÖAW)

Innsbruck, Austria

Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research (CIRM)

Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research (CIRM)

University of Lausanne, Switzerland

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

Kathmandu, Nepal

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)

Bern, Switzerland

UNIMONT - University of Milan

UNIMONT - University of Milan

Center of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas, Edolo, Italy

  • This new member’s first MountainPlatform article is expected to appear in 2025