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| Mountain Research and Development | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mountain Research and Development |
| Abbreviation | MRD |
| Discipline | Mountain studies; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development; United Nations Environment Programme |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development partnerships |
| Country | Switzerland; Nepal |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
Mountain Research and Development
Mountain Research and Development is an interdisciplinary journal and field dedicated to applied and theoretical studies of highland regions such as the Himalayas, Andes, Rocky Mountains, Alps, and Caucasus. It connects scholarship and practice across actors including the United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, International Union for Conservation of Nature, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, and regional research institutes like the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. The publication and field engage with stakeholders from FAO, UNESCO, Convention on Biological Diversity, Asian Development Bank, and national agencies in India, China, Peru, and Ethiopia.
Mountain Research and Development addresses physical, social, and policy dimensions of mountain systems such as the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rocky Mountains, and Carpathians. The journal emphasizes case studies from institutions like the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, University of Colorado Boulder, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and University of Nairobi. Topics often intersect with programs led by United Nations Development Programme, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace International, BirdLife International, and regional NGOs in Bhutan, Pakistan, Peru, and Colombia. The scope includes mountain hydrology investigations tied to Glacier National Park (U.S.), Denali National Park and Preserve, and research influenced by treaties such as the Paris Agreement and instruments like the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The field grew from alpine exploration traditions linked to figures associated with the Royal Geographical Society, Alpine Club (UK), and expeditions in the Himalayas and Andes. Post-World War II development initiatives by the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and Food and Agriculture Organization shifted attention toward integrated mountain development. Landmark conferences hosted by UNESCO, the International Geographical Union, and the International Mountain Society catalyzed institutional responses culminating in partnerships with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and academic hubs such as ETH Zurich and University of Cambridge. The journal itself emerged amid collaborations with publishers including Taylor & Francis and funding from agencies like the European Commission and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Research spans cryospheric science in the Himalayas and Patagonia, land use change in the Andes and Tibetan Plateau, and biodiversity assessments in the Caucasus and Carpathians. Methodologies combine remote sensing from satellites like Landsat and MODIS, fieldwork drawn from projects at Smithsonian Institution affiliates, and participatory approaches pioneered by IIED and ICIMOD. Quantitative models reference work by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change authors, while qualitative studies build on frameworks from Amartya Sen-influenced capability approaches and case research linked to University of Oxford, London School of Economics, and Harvard University. Comparative analyses often involve datasets curated by NASA, European Space Agency, and long-term observatories such as those affiliated with Global Observing System initiatives.
Scholars examine livelihoods in mountain regions across Nepal, Peru, Ethiopia, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Bhutan, engaging with issues of migration studied by teams at University of California, Berkeley and University of Manchester. Cultural heritage research highlights indigenous knowledge systems linked to the Sherpa, Quechua, Aymara, and Tibetan communities and collaborations with Smithsonian Institution ethnographers and UNESCO World Heritage Site managers. Economic analyses draw on projects funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank while legal and rights work references instruments from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and case law in national courts such as those in India and Peru.
Ecological research covers alpine flora and fauna in the Alps, Andes, and Himalayas with field programs connected to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Zoological Society of London, and regional conservation NGOs like Conservación Patagónica. Studies of water resources link glacier dynamics monitored by International Association of Cryospheric Sciences, hydrological research at US Geological Survey, and basin management efforts involving Mekong River Commission and Indus Basin Project partners. Biodiversity and ecosystem services research engages the Convention on Biological Diversity and conservation planning by IUCN Red List assessments, often in collaboration with universities such as University of British Columbia, University of Zurich, and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Policy scholarship connects mountain issues to global frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and intergovernmental processes under UNEP and UNFCCC. Governance analyses assess multilevel arrangements involving national ministries in China, India, Peru, and Ethiopia, and regional bodies like the European Union and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Implementation research often partners with development agencies such as UNDP and USAID and policy think tanks like Chatham House and Brookings Institution to translate research into practical interventions for climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction influenced by Sendai Framework priorities, and transboundary water management.
Key institutions include the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Mountain Partnership, ICIMOD, CICERO, and university centers at ETH Zurich, University of Colorado Boulder, and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Networks such as the Mountain Partnership, Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment, and collaborations with UNESCO foster capacity building through training hosted by FAO and research exchanges with the Smithsonian Institution and Natural History Museum, London. Funding bodies like the European Commission, World Bank, and national science foundations in Switzerland, India, and United States support long-term monitoring, graduate education, and community-based programs in mountain regions.
Category:Mountain studies