Mountains as vulnerable places: a global synthesis of changing mountain systems in the Anthropocene

Chakraborty, Abhik

doi:10.1007/s10708-019-10079-1

Cited by 29 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…Based on this comparative analysis and our literature assessment, which we summarize in the main text, we identify research opportunities. We focused on the Andes, the East African mountains, the European Alps (hereafter Alps), and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (hereafter Himalaya; Figure 1), where a lot of mountain research is currently performed (see Chakraborty 2019). We also specifically focus on biodiversity and ecosystems to complement recent literature focusing on NCPs (Martín-López et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature and People in the Andes, East African Mountains, European Alps, and Hindu Kush Himalaya: Current Research and Future Directions

Payne

Snethlage

Geschke

et al. 2020

Mountain Research and Development

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nature and People in the Andes, East African Mountains, European Alps, and Hindu Kush Himalaya: Current Research and Future Directions

Payne

Snethlage

Geschke

et al. 2020

Mountain Research and Development

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“…The distribution of global mountain regions following Körner et al (2017) [13] is available in Figure 2. However, in the current era of pervasive anthropogenic modifications of important parameters of the earth system, mountains as storehouses of important natural diversity are under incremental threat [14]. There are two broad categories of stressors on mountain systems: direct stressors related to land conversion, expansion of visitation, and appropriation of resources [15][16][17]; and more diffuse yet powerful stressors such as global climatic change that will disproportionately affect mountains [18][19][20].…”

Section: Mountains As Storehouses Of Natural Diversity Under Threatmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taking a cue from this, I argue that an affective association, a sense of cultural belonging, and an appreciation of the diversity and functional integrity of mountain systems are essential for their conservation as a global heritage. It is worth stressing that the dynamic nature of mountain environments-exemplified through vigorous uplift and erosion regimes that occasionally create hazards and inconveniences for humans-is also the most defining characteristic of mountains as a global heritage [14]. This realization is important for appreciating the value of mountain systems on a changing planet.…”

Section: Argument For Mountains As a Global Natural Heritagementioning

confidence: 99%

Mountains as a Global Heritage: Arguments for Conserving the Natural Diversity of Mountain Regions

Chakraborty

2020

Heritage

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This concise review posits the urgent need for conserving the natural diversity of mountain environments by envisioning mountains as a global natural heritage. Mountains are recognized as cradles of biodiversity and for their important ecosystem services. Mountains also constitute the second most popular outdoor destination category at the global level after islands and beaches. However, in the current age of accelerating global environmental change, mountain systems face unprecedented change in their ecological characteristics, and consequent effects will extend to the millions who depend directly on ecosystem services from mountains. Moreover, growing tourism is putting fragile mountain ecosystems under increasing stress. This situation requires scientists and mountain area management stakeholders to come together in order to protect mountains as a global heritage. By underlining the salient natural diversity characteristics of mountains and their relevance for understanding global environmental change, this critical review argues that it is important to appreciate both biotic and abiotic diversity features of mountains in order to create a notion of mountains as a shared heritage for humanity. Accordingly, the development of soft infrastructure that can communicate the essence of mountain destinations and a committed network of scientists and tourism scholars working together at the global level are required for safeguarding this shared heritage.

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“…Mountains also represent important scenic and heritage landscapes because of the common presence of rare ecosystems, endemic species, and indigenous communities and cultural practices ( Debarbieux & Price, 2008 , 2012 ; Rasul & Molden, 2019 ; Chakraborty, 2021 ; Thornton et al, 2021 ). The close genetic relationship between these properties means that mountains can be considered as integrated biosystems, describing the interplay of climate, physical processes, ecosystems and people ( e.g ., Nowak, Nowak & Nobis, 2014 ; Stanisci et al, 2016 ; Allegrezza et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientists’ warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains

Knight¹

2022

PeerJ

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Mountains are highly diverse in areal extent, geological and climatic context, ecosystems and human activity. As such, mountain environments worldwide are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (global warming) as a result of their unique heat balance properties and the presence of climatically-sensitive snow, ice, permafrost and ecosystems. Consequently, mountain systems—in particular cryospheric ones—are currently undergoing unprecedented changes in the Anthropocene. This study identifies and discusses four of the major properties of mountains upon which anthropogenic climate change can impact, and indeed is already doing so. These properties are: the changing mountain cryosphere of glaciers and permafrost; mountain hazards and risk; mountain ecosystems and their services; and mountain communities and infrastructure. It is notable that changes in these different mountain properties do not follow a predictable trajectory of evolution in response to anthropogenic climate change. This demonstrates that different elements of mountain systems exhibit different sensitivities to forcing. The interconnections between these different properties highlight that mountains should be considered as integrated biophysical systems, of which human activity is part. Interrelationships between these mountain properties are discussed through a model of mountain socio-biophysical systems, which provides a framework for examining climate impacts and vulnerabilities. Managing the risks associated with ongoing climate change in mountains requires an integrated approach to climate change impacts monitoring and management.

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Mountains as vulnerable places: a global synthesis of changing mountain systems in the Anthropocene

Cited by 29 publications

References 92 publications

Nature and People in the Andes, East African Mountains, European Alps, and Hindu Kush Himalaya: Current Research and Future Directions

Nature and People in the Andes, East African Mountains, European Alps, and Hindu Kush Himalaya: Current Research and Future Directions

Mountains as a Global Heritage: Arguments for Conserving the Natural Diversity of Mountain Regions

Scientists’ warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains

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