A Scientific Journal with a Mission: Mountain Research and Development Enhances Its Scope

Features A Scientific Journal with a Mission: Mountain Research and Development Enhances Its Scope Theodore Wachs ing process toward real solutions”. was a close friend and intellectual ally of When the journal was launched, its Bern’s Bruno Messerli, an internationally Mountain Research and Development main focus was expressed in terms of halt- renowned geographer. My own boss, Hans (MRD), a peer-reviewed, development- ing the forces of degradation by providing Hurni, a former student of Messerli’s, was oriented journal focusing on the world’s a sound scientific basis for decision-making now the driving force in building and mountain regions, is currently in its 26th “to seek a better balance between moun- expanding CDE. Hurni’s great expertise in year of publication. Founded in 1981 tain environments, human welfare, and mountain geography and development, his under the auspices of the United Nations development of resources”, in the words of growing international reputation, and his University (UNU) and the International its founding editor, Jack D Ives. Those con- connections with potential donors made Mountain Society (IMS) and originally cerns have proved to be prescient indeed, it look quite feasible that CDE could be edited, typeset, and printed in Colorado, when we consider conflicts, difficult the new editorial home of MRD under his the journal is today based at the Centre for political evolution, and the environmental direction as editor-in-chief. Development and Environment (CDE), impacts on resources in mountain regions Hurni asked me to arrange an interna- University of Bern, Switzerland. It is still throughout the world today. tional workshop to explore options for the published by UNU and IMS, now the By the late 1990s, Ives was preparing future of MRD. It was held in Interlaken, joint copyright holders. But a great deal for retirement and began seeking a new Switzerland, in 1998 and included an has changed since 1981. home for the journal he had edited first international group of scholars and oth- at the University of Colorado and later ers concerned with mountains. It became The Initial Decades at the University of California, Davis. gradually clear that Bern could indeed be MRD’s roots go back to the 1970s, when He and a group of other distinguished a new home for MRD and that I—a for- intellectual inputs from the International mountain experts were instrumental in mer teacher and coordinator of the high- Geographical Union’s Commission on putting mountains on the agenda at the school division of an international school, Mountain Geoecology and UNESCO’s Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, originally trained as a historian and now Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme a landmark UN conference unprecedented pursuing a second career—might have gave a boost to research on the impact of in its size and the breadth of its concerns. a new position as managing editor of an human activities on mountain ecosystems. (Agenda 21, a major output of the Earth established scholarly journal. Creation of a mountain-research journal Summit, featured a chapter on sustain- Things moved quickly from that point linked to the UNESCO MAB program was able mountain development.) When the forward. Switzerland’s development agen- proposed in the middle 1970s. UNU took UN General Assembly in 1998 desig- cy, SDC, a previous financial supporter of up the idea, in conjunction with its own nated 2002 as the International Year of MRD, signaled a strong potential interest in research on highland-lowland interactive Mountains (IYM2002), a new home and providing substantial new funding in con- systems, and provided modest funding, and an enhanced role for MRD seemed all the junction with its development initiatives IMS was hastily incorporated as copublish- more urgent. in mountain regions. As plans to move the er in the United States. In the foreword of journal to Bern took shape, my job began volume 1, number 1, UNU’s rector spoke A Time of Transition to take on a new and exciting internation- of the challenge to transcend the goal of In 1998, I was responsible for English-lan- al dimension. I journeyed to Munich for becoming a self-satisfying academic journal guage publications as an editor and transla- a conference titled “Mountains 2000 and by “first illustrating the complex nature of tor at CDE in the Institute of Geography of Beyond” sponsored by the German gov- human-environmental-resource develop- the University of Bern. Much of the work ernment and attended by its minister for ment problems in mountain lands, and done at CDE concerns environmental and development. In 1999, I had the unusual secondly trying to direct the decision-mak- development initiatives under mandates experience of traveling to my own country, from the Swiss Agency for Development the United States, as a member of a Swiss THEODORE WACHS is managing editor of and Cooperation (SDC). I was aware that delegation to a UN conference. I delivered Mountain Research and Development. Ives had been a guest professor at Bern and a brief presentation on the enhanced scope 118 • Science Editor • July – August 2006 • Vol 29 • No 4 Features Scope continued and new format of MRD at a side event academic institution. during the annual meeting of the UN From the time of the Commission on Sustainable Development. initial discussions at the That was followed by a trip to Peru to workshop in Interlaken, represent the journal at a meeting of the it had always been clear Mountain Forum, an international orga- that the quality and the nization promoting sustainable mountain mission of MRD would development that would become part of best be ensured by locat- the newly expanded MRD network. ing it at a high-level Much of the international activity and research institution. enhanced commitment to mountains CDE’s staff of interdis- reflected responses to and preparations for ciplinary and transdisci- IYM2002. With the journal now set to go plinary specialists, with to Bern, I faced a personal test in preparing wide-ranging knowledge for more than just IYM2002. I would need and skills, is available to to draw on my background in history, my the journal’s editorial editing experience, and my knowledge of team. Above all, CDE’s environmental and development issues in experience in designing new ways. I would also need to apply man- and implementing proj- agerial skills in building and coordinating ects and environmental a team responsible for a newly enhanced initiatives throughout product. the developing world, combined with Hans Revamping the Journal Hurni’s dynamic direc- Editing MRD in its new home posed tion and great expertise, numerous challenges. Hurni set the tone contributes in no small and orchestrated the brainstorming that measure to a journal focused heavily on stimulating people and organizations; and led to innovative dimensions. The journal sustainable mountain development. to feel fulfillment in helping to promote would have a new layout and a wholly new Initial unsolicited reactions after “our” learning and development in parts of the “Development” section with color photo- first issue in the new format appeared in world where access to resources like our graphs, focusing on sustainable mountain spring 2000 were enough to confirm that journal would normally not be available. development. We also planned new sec- we had passed our biggest test to date. tions featuring reports on mountain issues “Congratulations on a nice first issue”, said The Journal and the Council of and statements by partners in our interna- a distinguished geographer. “Good balance, Science Editors Task Force tional mountain network (who would also excellent layout, and high standards”, Membership in CSE is the most recent be making small financial contributions). commented the director of an academic professional affiliation in my career. At Expectations would be high. With major geographic alliance, and an author praised the CSE annual meeting in Atlanta last new funding, donors would have to be us for “wonderful use of the graphics I year, I was naturally drawn to the newly satisfied; previous and, we hoped, new sub- provided”. Was this the most important created Task Force on Science Journals, scribers would want to see the high quality hurdle? Possibly; had we not cleared it, our Poverty, and Human Development, and I of peer-reviewed research maintained; we prospects would have been uncertain, and attended its initial organizational session. would need to secure and retain good ref- we might not have had the chance to con- Later, an opportunity to comment on a erees for peer-reviewed articles; we would front the ensuing challenges that continue draft “statement of principles” concerning have to build a network of like-minded to try us as well as inspire us. how scientific-journal editors could help to partners who could submit contributions Challenges are also opportunities. My attain the Millennium Development Goals and also help to finance the journal; and work in the position of MRD’s managing (MDGs) convinced me that I could make a we would need to retain and expand a base editor has been a source of more than contribution here while learning from and of institutional subscribers in developing professional growth. It has been a chance interacting with other editors. For a start, countries who would receive free subscrip- to build a team and watch it learn and what a great coincidence that the theme tions courtesy of our donors. flourish; to take personal responsibility of volume 26, number 1 of MRD (February I believe that the undertaking would and pride in interactions with dedicated 2006) is “The Millennium Development have been virtually impossible outside an colleagues and a worldwide network of Goals in Mountains”, with a lead article Science Editor • July – August 2006 • Vol 29 • No 4 • 119 Features Scope continued examining the question of whether the currently sends each new issue to almost Developing Areas Specialty Group.

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