Mountain Research and Development
The leading international scientific journal specifically devoted to sustainable development in the world’s mountains

Published by the International Mountain Society (IMS)

Mountain Research and Development Journal
Exchange between community members and researchers in Nepal. Photo by Sabin Bieri

Upcoming MRD Talks

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Recent MRD Talks

Researchers are discussing precipitation and water availability to optimize the potential of sustainable land management practices in the Ethiopian highlands. Photo by Tatenda Lemann
MRD Talk #06
6 December 2023, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm CET/UTC+1
Online

How can knowledge support restoration and conservation of mountain ecosystems for the benefit of people and nature?

Conserving and restoring mountain landscape functions is an important focus of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030. MRD Talk #06 contributed to this global effort and to this year’s International Mountain Day by presenting experiences of how different types of knowledge can support evidence-informed restoration of mountain landscapes for resilient mountain communities. Panelists and participants jointly explored how knowledge can be leveraged to recover degraded or destroyed ecosystems and to conserve intact ecosystems.

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Presenters
Estefanía Quenta
Estefanía Quenta Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia | Mountain Partnership Secretariat FAO and UNEP
Tatenda Lemann
Tatenda Lemann WOCAT Executive Team | Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Switzerland
Devin Holterman
Devin Holterman Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative | University of Northern British Columbia, Canada
Rob Marchant
Rob Marchant Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, United Kingdom
Moderators
Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel
Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel Associate Editor, Mountain Research and Development | Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Switzerland
Watch recording
Research station on the Merzbacher glade in the Tien Shan mountains, Kyrgyzstan. Scientists from all over the world come here every summer to study the movements of local glaciers, the meteorological situation in the region, and Lake Merzbacher, which drains completely every summer within just a few days, exposing icebergs. Photo by Ekaterina/stock.adobe.com
MRD Talk #05
19 September 2023, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm CEST/UTC+2
Online

How can monitoring support action and policies for sustainable futures in mountains?

Systematic observation of the social-ecological dimensions of mountain areas can help us understand the social, environmental, economic, and cultural dynamics and trends affecting mountain communities and ecosystems. This MRD Talk brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to learn from diverse ongoing monitoring initiatives. We jointly explored how best to set up monitoring systems and share the information generated in order to enable effective policies and action for sustainable futures in mountains.

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Panelists
Julieta Carilla
Julieta Carilla Instituto de Ecología Regional, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Yerba Buena, Argentina
Birendra Bajracharya
Birendra Bajracharya SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya, International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal
Valentin Wallnöfer
Valentin Wallnöfer Center for Advanced Studies, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
James Thornton
James Thornton GEO Mountains, Mountain Research Initiative, Bern, Switzerland
Moderators
Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel
Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel Associate Editor, Mountain Research and Development | Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Switzerland
Watch recording