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The United Nations General Assembly designated December 11 as International Mountain Day, beginning in 2003 (resolution A/RES/57/245).
Published online Volume I of Mountain Ecosystems and Resource Management, edited by Hasrat Arjjumend, The Grassroot Institute (Montreal, Canada). Volume II is scheduled for release in August 2024.
Free viewing of the book (including downloading it) can be done at this link.
On December 11, 2023, a meeting of the NCSC Online Mountain Seminar was held dedicated to the International Mountain Day 2023, which summed up the results of cooperation in 2023 and indicated plans for the coming 2024 - the year of the NCSC decade.
NCSC Website Administration
On October 12-13, 2023, the International Forum "Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories" organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Geographical Society was held in St. Petersburg.
The University of Central Asia (UCA) has released Dr. Yuri Badenkov’s seminal work ″Life in the Mountains: Environmental and Cultural Diversity – Diversity of Development Models″ as an e-book. The printed edition of the book was published in Moscow in 2017 as a co-publication of the Russian Geographical Society, the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Geography, and the University of Central Asia.
The book is the product of decades of research on mountain communities in multiple geographies – the European Alps, Karakorum, Himalaya, Andes, the mountains of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Altai, East Africa, and the Northern Appalachians. A wide range of topics is covered to present a comprehensive discussion of the ethnocultural, environmental and socio-economic predicaments of various mountain communities and their search for sustainable development models. The last chapter deals with UCA as a case study of the role of education in mountain development.
You can download the eBook from the link:
On December 01-04, 2022, the International Forum "Nature Management and Preservation of World Natural Heritage" was held, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, at the Mountain University of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg, Russia). The Forum was attended by representatives of the SCNS. The report on its participation in the Forum can be downloaded and read on the "Mountain Areas" page.
Administration of the NSCS website
On November 21, 2022, remote work of the NCSC Mountain Workshop took place in the format of a video conference on the Zoom platform.
Read more about the agenda and access codes for the Workshop...
Read more about the agenda of the Workshop... Video information on the work of the NCSC Mountain Workshop..
On August 24, 2022, the Round Table "Tourism in the Mountains" will be held in the audience of the Zaryadye Park (Moscow), as part of the V Festival of the Russian Geographical Society of 2022. The time is 11:00 - 14:00 (m.t.). Everyone wishing to visit the Round Table is invited to the Zaryadye Park, including a live broadcast of the Round Table in Zoom.
Mountains occupy 27% of the Earth, and in Russia more than 50%. Up to 20% of the world tourism sector of the economy is occupied by mountain tourism. How great the natural and cultural diversity of mountain regions is, so is the variety of tourism in the mountains: from mountaineering, rafting and ski tourism to recreation and antler health baths.
For the local population, tourism is, on the one hand, an important source of additional income in the family budget and local economy, on the other hand, the threat to fragile mountain ecosystems, the traditional way of life and the preservation of cultural heritage.
How to harmonize the goals of tourism development and the preservation of natural and cultural diversity in the mountains, how to achieve a balance of interests and cooperation of all interested parties, what is the role of the state, business and local communities - these issues will be discussed at the Round Table at the Zaryadye Park.
Organizers: RGS Tourism Commission and Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
On June 28 - July 12, 2022, the VIII summer North Caucasus Complex Expedition took place, which took place in three stages. As part of this event, the II Visiting Session of the NCSC and the Teberdin Conference were held. In the program of the Conference, a round table was held on the topic "Commercialization of scientific initiative." The report on past events, photographic materials and other materials are posted on the new page of the website of the NCSC "NC Complex Expedition".
Administration of the SKNS website
The United Nations General Assembly declared the coming year 2022 the International Year for the Sustainable Development of Mountains (GA/12396, December 16, 2021).
The proclamation of the International Year for Sustainable Mountain Development not only recognizes the need to preserve the global life-support system that is essential for the survival of the global ecosystem, but also provides a solid basis for further substantive work on mountain development, which is thus truly of global importance for the future of humankind.
Mountain Partnership Secretariat
December 16, 2021
Presentation of the Manifesto of Mountain Education and Innovation (Quirinal, Rome, Italy) 2021
In connection with the International Day of Mountains, on Thursday, December 9, 2021, in Quirinala, the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella met with representatives interested in the development of mountain territories. The celebration was attended by Mariastella Gelmini, Minister of Regional Affairs and Autonomy and Mountain Development, and Qui Dongyu, FAO Director-General, to highlight the importance of current and future challenges to accelerate sustainable mountain development. In addition, on this occasion, a student of the Mountain Department of the University of Milan for Researches spoke about her university experience, and also presented the report "Mountain Edolo and Innovation MEIM - Gornal."
"One of the strengths of my university experience in the mountains is just direct and daily contact with the local territorial dimension, useful not only for didactics, but also for understanding the specifics and priority needs in conditions that we fully understand only living in them. From the point of view of methodology and operational activities that I encounter, it is not just the "local" experience of the university, because I and my comrades from all over Italy, are students of one of the largest Italian state universities, thanks to the network and used technologies, of which the Mountain Department is a part. We can interact with leading scientists, experts and territorial development actors at the regional, national and international levels. "
So Magda Ciullo, a student of the Improvement and Protection of the Environment of the Mountain Department of the University of Milan, which develops in UNIMONT-Centers public education of Milan, more than 20 years provides special education, conducting research and providing a third mission dedicated to supporting the development of mountain areas, talks about the uniqueness and topical aspects of his university path during the celebration of the Day of Mountains, in the presence of President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella (Sergio Mattarella), Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomy and Mountain Development, Mariastella Jelmini (Mariastella Gelmini), Minister of Tourism Massimo Garavalla and many other statesmen of the country.
A unique experience for this young student, who was able, on behalf of all those who took part in the creation of the manifesto, to present the report "Manifesto of Mountain Education and Innovation," at the official meeting on climate and biological diversity, held in early October 2021 at Expo 2020 in Dubai.
The Manifesto was prepared by more than a hundred young people from 28 different countries, who enthusiastically and with great interest participated in the "Youth 4Mountains program", advertised by UNIMONT-Centers of the University of Milan for Research, in collaboration with the Mountain Partnership, and in the final presentation of the official document at the event "Connecting Youth and Mountains". "A manifesto in which we ask to pay attention to the peculiarities of the mountains. Although they account for 27% of the Earth's surface, they provide up to 80% of the freshwater resources of our planet and are local points of biological diversity. In addition, 1.1 billion people in the world often suffer from a lack of basic infrastructure and services - few opportunities to work and create skilled jobs concentrated in urban areas". Magda explains that, like many of her graduation comrades, she chose to study in a small mountain settlement, as she wants to live and work in the mountains, contributing to the development of relevant knowledge and professional increase in the competitiveness of these lands.
In the Manifesto, young people are asked to help gain knowledge and use appropriate innovative tools and methods to successfully address global, old and new mountain problems, from wastefulness to loss of services and competitiveness, from the effects of climate change to the loss of biodiversity, from transitions - environmental and digital - to new sustainable development models. In addition, they require high quality mountain education, as well as access to digital technologies and vital services, which will reduce the gap between urban and mountainous areas. Young people call for the creation of conditions for innovative ideas to become successful businesses even in the mountains, with the help of actions, tools and measures consistent with the territorial and socio-economic characteristics of these territories.
To date, the Manifesto has been signed by more than 150 institutions from 32 different states. These are universities, associations, research centers, schools, enterprises that from European mountain chains, such as the Alps, Apennines and Pyrenees, to large non-European chains, such as the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and the Andean Cordilliers, reaffirm their commitments to promote the sustainable development of mountains. Thus, this is "the first step towards the creation and strengthening of strategic alliances, as well as to strengthening our voice and solidarity with our commitment to the highlanders," Magda concluded, thanking for the honorary invitation to Rome, dedicated to the mountains.
Copyright © 2021 Università della Montagna (Università di Milano)
Sustainable mountain tourism: FAO's high-level virtual event to mark International Mountain Day 2021
International leaders and mountain champions will discuss how tourism in mountains can contribute to creating additional and alternative livelihood options as well as landscape and biodiversity conservation, during the high-level virtual celebration of International Mountain Day (IMD) 2021 on Friday, 10 December.
The focus of this year’s IMD, sustainable tourism in mountains, highlights how innovative and transformative approaches to mountain tourism contribute to economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Mountain tourism plays a role in valuing the natural and cultural heritage of mountains and mountain peoples, promoting sustainable food systems, and protecting mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity. While tourism is one of the sectors that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – with an immense impact on economies and livelihoods on all continents – visits to open air, less crowded destinations have increased, opening new opportunities for mountain tourism.
To ensure the sustainability of mountain tourism it is essential to measure its impact, manage resources and waste, define the carrying capacity of destinations, advance digitalization and invest in sustainable infrastructure and products. The COVID-19 pandemic offers mountain destinations and businesses an opportunity to rethink the products and services they currently offer and aim at a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The event “Sustainable mountain tourism” will promote dialogue and cooperation to tap mountain tourism's full potential to contribute to sustainable development around the world.
Mountain Partnership members internationally, including high-level speakers, youth, environmental experts and mountain communities, will share what they are doing to ensure that mountain communities are not left behind in the spirit of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The event will be held from 14.30 to 16.15 CET on Friday, 10 December. The details for the Zoom webinar will be available soon.
Mountain Education and Innovation Manifesto
Recognizing that education plays a vital role in providing people with the means to build a vibrant future in mountain regions, the Manifesto contains recommendations to promote sustainable development in mountain regions. The Mountain Education and Innovation Manifesto aims to support decision makers and educators in developing policies, curricula and school curricula that respond to the needs of mountain youth.
Second Caucasian Summer School 2021
From September 20 to 24, 2021 with the active participation of employees of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Second Caucasian Summer School "Natural Threats in the Mountains: Mapping and Risk Assessment" was held. The school was organized by the Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain Region (SNC-mt), in which the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been involved for several years, and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The scientific content and program of the School were developed by the leading researcher of the Department of Soil Geography and Evolution R.G. Gracheva and the head of the Department of Cartography and Remote Sensing of the Earth A.A. Medvedev, the materials for the classes were prepared and processed by A.A. Medvedev and colleagues from the Iliya State University (Tbilisi).
The recognition of potentially dangerous areas using various GIS tools, their ranking by the degree of risk and the creation of detailed maps of natural hazards - specialists who can solve such problems are very much waiting in mountain regions. And, of course, in the Caucasus.
The school was held online and gathered masters and young researchers from eight countries: Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany. The program included lectures, practical classes and independent work of students. Introductory lectures were given by leading specialists from Switzerland, Georgia, Turkey, Poland. Alps, Carpathians, Caucasus - these mountain countries face similar challenges, and it is important to know the experience of different countries in reducing the risk of natural disasters.
We were glad to see a representative of Chechen State University, Apti Aliyev (Faculty of Geography and Geoecology) among the students of the School.
The main part of the session was devoted to methods and tools for recognizing and mapping the evidence and risks of natural threats and practical training on how to compile real-time maps of natural hazards and exchange the obtained data. The Vere River Gorge, from where a huge mass of landslides and mudslides collapsed on Tbilisi in 2015, was chosen as a key territory for creating maps. Field routes were impossible, but a large number of sources were used - from different scale topographic maps to photography by drones and space images over the past 30-40 years. A.A. Medvedev and colleagues from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia conducted students from the first step - exercises on the use of GIS - to the processing of remote sensing data, the compilation of maps on the territory of landslide and mudslide danger and the dissemination of the obtained data to the population. The last day was dedicated to protecting created maps, and it was possible to make sure that both teachers and students did a great job.
This is the second Summer School held in the Caucasus with the most active participation of employees of the Institute of Geography of the RAS. The first was held in 2016 in Abastumani, Georgia, and many of its participants still maintain friendly relations. The creation of international teams of young researchers, an atmosphere of cooperation, is a super task of Summer Schools, and we strove for this when we took up the organization of Summer Schools in the Caucasus region.
Information kindly provided by R.G. Gracheva -
a leading researcher, PhD in Geographic sciences,
Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
October, 2021
Information on the results of the XXXIV International Geographical Congress (16-20 August 2021) and the Mountain Symposium held at the Congress
The XXXIV International Geographical Congress was to be held in Istanbul in August 2020. The organizers of the congress hoped that the Congress could be organized in the traditional format, that is, in person. However, the expectation did not materialize, the postponement for a year did not save Congress from the virtual format on August 16-20, 2021. The composition of the participants and, accordingly, the topics of the speeches reflect the current state of geography, which is under the press of increased global trends: environmental change under the influence of climate, the penetration of digital technologies into all spheres of life, including personal life, the migration crisis, etc. The main theme of the Congress is devoted to the consolidation of humanity in the face of global problems, or rather, the creation of "bridges between continents".
In his final speech, Professor Meadows (South Africa) called geography a science of sustainability, and the core of geography is the study of the relationship between man and the environment. In his opinion, the advantage of geography over other sciences is proved in the following areas: 1) the study of spontaneous destructive processes; 2) the influence of man on nature; 3) the study of the planet Earth as a system; 4) remote sensing and GIS methods; 5) the study of history (and, possibly, dynamics [approx. Author]) environment; 6) landscape science.
In many ways, these areas and the advantages of geography were expressed in the study of the mountainous territories of the world. The results of the mountain study were reported in several sections. Of particular note is the Mountain Research Symposium organized within the framework of the congress. 11 reports were delivered on the sidelines of the Symposium.
The report of Associate Professor of Moscow State University N. Alekseeva (co-author A. Cherkasova) was devoted to modern trends in landscape change in the territory of the Alania National Park (CURRENT TRENDS OF LANDSCAPE/LAND COVER CHANGE OF PROTECTED AREAS OF NORTH CAUCASUS (CASE STUDY OF ALANYA NATIONAL PARK). The report emphasizes that major changes are related to land use transformation in the midlands and climate change in the highlands.
In the A. Gunya's report (co-authors I. Kerimov, U. Gairabekov, H. Zaburaeva, Z. Gagaev, Y. Karaev) (CONTEMPORARY TRANSHUMANCE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS: CHANCES AND RISKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT) it was noted that the scale of distant-pasture animal husbandry has sharply decreased. Modern distant pasture animal husbandry is based on family and family-clan forms with the use of traditional and market institutions for grazing regulation.
A report on plowed terraces in the mountains of the Caucasus (CAUSASUS MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURAL TERRACES) was made by I. Idrisov (co-authors N. Ryabogina, A. Borisov). The report noted that agricultural terraces are most widespread in the East Caucasus. They are highly resilient in the landscape and can be used in modern environmental models.
The description of the mountains of Turkey is given in the report N. Dal and V. Gonencgil (DESCRIPTION OF MOUNTAINS AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS IN TURKEY). It was emphasized that Turkey is a mountainous country, it is characterized by a wide range of mountain landscapes and development problems inherent in mountain territories. One of the authors (Barbaras Gonencgil) is one of the main organizers of the conference and actively participates in the work of the MTS Mountain Commission.
The report of Yu. Golubchikov (Moscow State University) considers the possibilities of a holistic approach to the study of highland and high-latitude regions of the world (A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HIGH-LATITUDE AND HIGH- ALTITUDE REGIONS OF THE WORLD). The new direction in geography - periglacial geography - is very relevant in the present time.
The report by Lynn Resler (USA) focused on scenarios of changes in vegetation cover depending on mountain terrain (PHYTOTOPOGRAPHIC INTERACTIONS IN THREE MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS AND POTENTIAL PATHWAYS FOR ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT) The study of the upper boundary of the forest and alpine vegetation in different regions of the United States shows a large variability of changes.
An important aspect of mountain research related to extreme weather events was discussed in the report of C. Ueno (Japan) (PERSPECTIVES OF MOUNTAIN STUDIES IN THE COMING WORLD OF EXTREME WEATHER). The scale of climate change is accompanied by a decrease in the ability of the population to withstand impending risks. The way out of this is education and training not only according to classical standards, but also at the same time - the formation of adaptation mechanisms.
Report of the Chairman of the International Mining Commission Professor F. Sarmiento (USA) Geographical Union is devoted to issues of practical montology (APPLIED MONTOLOGY: CRITICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY OF ANDEAN TREELINES AND THE HUMBOLDTIAN PARADIGM ON SATOYAMA LANDSCAPES). Montology, as a comprehensive mountain science, which systematically addresses the relationship between man and the mountain landscape with all the ensuing consequences (the transformation of mountain ecosystems, the influence of spontaneous destructive processes, the cultural heritage of mountain peoples and civilizations, etc.), is a vivid expression of modern trends in geography.
A review of mountain research in China is done by D. Qiu (MOUNTAIN RESEARCH IN CHINA). It should be noted that Dunlian Qiu is the editor of one of the world's leading journal on mountain research (Journal of Mountain Science). She is well aware of the mountain research in China, which is represented in many universities and academic institutes.
S. Poudel (Australia) devoted his report to the study of the regulation of the use of rare highland mushroom (caterpillar mushroom, another name - Cordiceps) (COMMUNITY-BASED MANAGEMENT OF "HIMALAYAN GOLD" (CATERPILLAR FUNGUS) IN REMOTE LANDLANDEL LOCAL COMMUNITIES). Local communities, in order to prevent haphazard collection of this mushroom, have developed their own rules for access to mountain landscapes, where this mushroom grows and gathers. Thus, revenues from the sale of the fungus are guaranteed and the pressure on mountain ecosystems is reduced.
The report of A. Haller and D. Branko (Austria) was devoted to the prospects for studying cities located in the mountains (IDEAS ON URBAN MONTOLOGY: PERIURBANIZATION, VERTICALITY, AND ECOLOGICAL COMPLEMENTARITY IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES) - They proposed a new direction of research - "urban montology", which, in contrast to classical montology, based on the romance of the wild nature of the highlands or, at best, on the study of the countryside, focuses on the study of dense urban space in the mountains.
The presentations provided the main trends in the study of mountain countries. The organizers and leaders of the Mountain Symposium (Alexey Gunya and Fausto Sarmiento), who represented Mountain the leadership of the MTS Mountain Commission, noted the need to provide an overview analysis of the state of mountain research in the world. This is planned on the basis of the preparation and publication of several volumes on the World’s mountain reserach. The first volume will be released next year (edited by Fausto Sarmiento).
Information kindly provided by A.N. Gunya
- Professor, Grand PhD in Geographic sciences,
Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences
August, 2021
NCSC Presentations at the Mountain Symposium - International Geographical Congress (IGU), August 16, 2021, Istanbul (Turkey)
2217 - CURRENT TRENDS OF LANDSCAPE/LAND COVER CHANGE OF PROTECTED AREAS OF NORTH CAUCASUS (CASE STUDY OF ALANYA NATIONAL PARK): Nina Alekseeva - Lomonosov Moscow State University; Anna Cherkasova - Russian Geographical Society.
2445 - CONTEMPORARY TRANSHUMANCE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS: CHANCES AND RISKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
Alexey Gunya - Russian Academy of Sciences; Ibragim Kerimov - Chechen Academy of Sciences; Umar Gairabekov - Chechen State University; Hava Zaburaeva - Russian Academy of Sciences; Zulfira Gagaeva - Chechen State University; Yuri Karaev - North Caucasian Mining and Metallurgical Institute (State Technological University); Ruslan Elmursaev - Chechen State University.
3498 - CAUCASUS MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURAL TERRACES: Idris Idrisov - Dagestan Scientific Centre RAS; Natalia Ryabogina - Tyumen Scientific Center of the SB RAS; Aleksandr Borisov - Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research RAS.
3683 - A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HIGH-LATITUDE AND HIGH-ALTITUDE REGIONS OF THE WORLD: Yuri Golubchikov - Moscow State University.
Preliminary materials of the Teberdeen stage of the NCIE 2021
Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve. Participants in the workshop on the project "Study of global changes in the mountain biosphere reserves of Russia," 28-30 May 2006.
From Yu.P. Badenkov's performance - the founder and the head of Mountain MAB-6 group of UNESCO at Institute of Geography of Academy of Sciences of the USSR in 1983 - 2013
"Responding to the challenges of global climate change, the International Mountain Research Initiative, together with the UNESCO MAB Program, initiated the GLOCHAMORE project in 2002 (Global Change, 2006), in which 25 biosphere reserves of the world participated, including three Russian ones - Katunsky, Sikhote-Alinsky and Teberdinsky.
The final conference of this project was held in Teberd at the Visit Center of the Teberdin Biosphere Reserve in May 2006. Scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences (O.N. Solomina, Yu.G. Puzachenko, A.F. Mandych, R.A. Perelet, etc.), directors of the Mountain Biosphere Reserves of Russia, high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (A.M. Amirkhanov), Head of the MRI (Greg Grinwood).
The ideas and materials of this project are stored in the archives of the IG RAS and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and remain relevant to this day. An example of the dramatic consequences of large-scale floods and mudslides in Krymsk and Derbent (2012) and the latest floods in Crimea and Greater Sochi (2021) show how relevant the problem of advanced risk assessments and scenarios is for socio-ecological systems and existing socio-oriented monitoring systems at the municipal level.
Research and practice on this issue is being carried out worldwide. But, unfortunately, not with us. We have not established a system of preventive risk assessments and technological adaptation to natural disasters, the frequency of which has increased critically due to global climate change. EMERCOM of the Russian Federation and other state institutions come to "extinguish the fire," but not to pre-empt the existing dangers and risks. And in this regard, the well-developed system of MAB-UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, which are scientific and technological institutions working in situ (that is, "on earth"), cannot be overestimated.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves today has 701 BR in 124 countries. Russia in this list takes the second place (after Spain) - 46 biosphere reserves, 1/3 of them - mountain. I would call such a network of field institutions - the property of Russia. Which has not yet been understood and adequately appreciated. But these "socio-ecological pillars" of Russia's development can play an outstanding role in the current Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation (2019) and which is built on other grounds - on 19 urbanized mega-centers (such as Moscow), which, according to the authors of this concept, will "pull out" all the rural and natural space of Russia located between these economically developed monsters.
And this is a serious challenge for society and all of us.
Therefore, it is so important to recall today the potential that the UNESCO Program "Man and the Biosphere" carries, which was laid 50 years ago on the scientific ideas of V.I. Vernadsky of other corypheans of world science.
In conclusion, I invite all of you to think about the specific contribution that each of us can make in solving "global problems in specific places", which we talked about 15 years ago here at the Visit Center of the Teberdin Biosphere Reserve".
July 14, 2021
ISSN printed version of Сollection No. 152:
0372-5758
Scientific electronic library E-libraru.ru (Ru)
(access to article texts after indexing the next Collection)
Problems of Geography. Vol, 152. Man and the Biosphere, The eternally relevant topic of human interaction with nature
Content (fragment)
V.M. Kotlyakov, V.N. Bolshakov, Yu.P. Badenkov. An eternally relevant topic of human interaction with nature ....11
PART I
HISTORY. FUNDAMENTAL SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS.
THEORY AND PRACTICE. EVOLUTION
Jack D. Ives. History and evolution of the UNESCO MAB-tf Mountain Projecf Human impact on mountain ecosystems". From ecology to montology………………………………………………………………........................... 33
A.A. Tishkov. The concept of biosphere reserves of the MAB Programme and the tasks of biodiversity conservation: achievements and challenges 50 years later....................................................................................…62
Yu. A. Buyvolov, S.G. Paramonov, S.A. Gromov. Integrated background monitoring in biosphere reserves of Russia: a triumph or a fiasco?....................................................................................................................................101
Yu.P. Badenkov. Mountain regions of Russia: research and development. The key role of the UNESCO MAB-6 Mountain Project………...………...………..........................................................................................................…….135
A.A. Chibilev, T.V. Chibileva. Ural mountain-plain country as a key mega-region of Eurasia for the continuous natural reserves network development….….......................................................................................................……167
V.M. Plyusnin, I.N. Vladimirov, A.A. Sorokovoi. Baikal region in theUNESC0 "Man and Biocphere" Programme ....................................................................................................................................................................................202
G.S. Kust, O.V. Andreeva, V.A. Lobkovskiy, V.D. Slavko. Land use and land degradation issues in the context of the UNESCO "Man & Biosphere" Programme………………….................................……………………....................222
D.V. Karelin, O.E. Sukhoveeva, A.M. Zolotukhin, V.N. Lunln, G.S. Kust. Latest carbon balance surveys and monitoring at the Kursk Biosphere Station of the Institute of Geography, RAS, in the framework of the novel concept of Land Degradation Neutrality……….......................……...............................................................…………………..253
PART II
BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF RUSSIA:
DIVERSITY, EXPERIENCE, LESSONS AND PROSPECTS
V.V. Onischenko, N.C. Dega, A.V. Lysenko. Teberdincky State Natural Biosphere Reserve on steep "bendings" on social and historical formations (experience and uncertain perspective)...................................................................284
Martin Price's appeal:
"As you know, in 2021, the MRI has been active
for 20 years. In addition, this is the year of two other notable anniversaries that are connected to the MRI.
The first is the 50th anniversary of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. This intergovernmental and interdisciplinary scientific programme was established in 1971, and aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and
their environments. From the early 1970s to the early 1990s, one of the most active of its 14 ‘project areas’ was project area 6 (MAB-6), on the ‘Impact of human activities on mountain and tundra ecosystems’.
MAB-6 was an immense catalyst to research projects in mountains in many parts of the world. It also provided many opportunities for knowledge exchange and training – through many meetings and the establishment of both the International Mountain Society and its journal Mountain Research and Development; and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, Nepal – and was a key impetus to the inclusion of mountains on global political agendas from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit onwards. However, while many of the aims of MAB-6 were achieved during the MAB Programme’s first two decades, one was not: a series of comparative world-wide research activities.
From the late 1980s, international political and scientific attention increasingly turned to climate change and other aspects of global change. As a result, international scientific organizations began to create new structures: the first being the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) in 1987. Scientists working in mountain areas, including many who had been active in MAB-6, recognized the need for a focus on mountain areas in the IGBP.
This brings us to the second anniversary: a workshop held at ICIMOD in spring 1996, on ‘Predicting global change impacts on mountain hydrology and ecology; Integrated catchment hydrology/altitudinal gradient studies’. This exciting event was followed by other meetings that eventually led to the establishment of the MRI Coordination Office in 2001.
Over the past 20 years, the MRI has finally fulfilled the unachieved aim of MAB-6 for global collaboration in mountain research. There have also been a number of
interactions between the MRI and the MAB Programme which, since the early 1990s, have primarily focused on biosphere reserves, “sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to
understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems”. Of the 714 biosphere reserves world-wide, in 129 countries, two-thirds are in mountain
areas. An early activity involving both the MRI and the MAB Programme was the Global Change and Mountain Regions (GLOCHAMORE) project,
funded mainly by the EU’s 6th Framework Programme from 2003 to 2005, with a focus on mountain biosphere reserves.
In 2021, the MAB Programme is launching a World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, and the MRI will be an important partner in this opportunity for targeted research in mountain areas, to jointly achieve the objectives of these two global initiatives. Those of you interested in participating in this network are invited to complete this short survey to support the effective development of the network's structure. Many of you are already working in mountain biosphere reserves, and I hope that many more of you will, as a result of this new partnership. Enjoy your read", -
Martin Price
Professor Emeritus, University of the Highlands and Islands
Photo: R. Murtazaliev
Juniper's tract "Buruny"
(Republic of Dagestan)
Participation in the "Crystal Compass" Award
Item 60 of the Implementation Plan for the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025
Draft Report to the Government of the Russian Federation on proposals for criteria for classifying municipalities as mountain territories, as well as a set of measures for the sustainable development of part of the territories of the Russian Federation that belong to mountain areas.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in accordance with item 60 of the Plan of Implementation of the Strategy of Spatial Development of the Russian Federation for the period till 2025, approved by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation from December 27, 2019 No. 3227-R, prepared a draft report to the Government of the Russian Federation on proposals for criteria for identification of municipalities to mountain areas, and developed a set of measures for sustainable development of the territories of the Russian Federation related to mountain areas. In a letter to the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia M.V. Babich requested to consider within the competence specified project documents and to transmit to the Ministry of Economic Development comments and suggestions to them.
