Mountain people are getting a new lease on life thanks to research carried out across the planet.
For the 500 million people who live in the shadows of high mountain peaks, transformative changes at all levels of decision-making must be kick-started to prepare for major shifts in ways of life stemming from the climate emergency and associated social upheavals, according to a new study.
‘It took a long time for policymakers to acknowledge the important role that mountains play in supporting human life,’ said co-author of the study, R. Edward Grumbine. ‘2019 was an instrumental year for accelerating efforts, since many international agencies published reports on highland areas, detailing the interlinked nature of biodiversity, ecosystem services, human livelihoods, institutions and governance. This is paving the way for learning more about people–nature interactions and offers transformative solutions for the sustainable development of mountain environments.’