No. 8 (2013-2014) Mountain Meridian

No. 8 (2013-2014) Mountain MeRIdian

MRI News no. 8, 2014 | XX | 1 IMPRESSUM

Gokyo Lake and Cholatse in the distance by D. Fagre

Keep in touch!

The Mountain Research Initiative Institute of Geography, University of Berne Erlachstrasse 9a, Trakt 3, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland

Phone: +41 (0)31 631 51 41 Email: [email protected]

Find us online at: http://mri.scnatweb.ch

Impressum

Editor: Erin Gleeson Design and Layout: Erin Gleeson Cover photo: Nuptse in Nepal by Dan Fagre

This newsletter is published once a year. The MRI and its products are supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

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2 | Impressum | MRI News No. 8, 2014

Thore, Nepal by D. Fagre Contents

A Word from the Editor ...... page 4 Upcoming Events ...... page 6 MRI's New PIs Emmanuel Reynard ...... page 8 Adrienne Grêt-Regamey ...... page 9 Research Horizons The Great Escarpment Biodiversity Programme: Endless research horizons in southern Africa page 12 Eco-hydrological investigations in the Khentii Mountains, Northern Mongolia ...... page 14 Monitoring protocol for vegetation in the Pyrenees snowfields ...... page 16 Advancing biodiversity conservation and community development in Qinghai Province, China page 18 Science Stories EnCOWnters: Mountaineering with the American Climber Science Program ...... page 22 The Great Himalaya Trail- The road to sustainability? ...... page 24 Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation: On the trail of the Pacific marten ...... page 26 Scientist Spotlight Katharina Conradin ...... page 30 Jan Klimes ...... page 32 Marc Oliva ...... page 34 Carolina Adler ...... page 36 Regional Highlights AfroMont ...... page 40 Transecto Cordillera Americana ...... page 42 MRI Europe ...... page 44 The Director's Desk ...... page 46 Field Notes ...... page 52 Announcements ...... page 55

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Contents | 3 A Word from the Editor...

Dear Readers,

Welcome to MRI’s newly christened “Mountain Meridian”! Apart from its rather convenient spelling, the word “meridian” has a lot of meaning for MRI. Geographically speaking, a meridian is a line that runs north-south, connecting geographic poles. This is a function MRI is working hard to live up to. With a new and energetic coordinator at the helm, the AfroMont network is gaining momentum toward defining pan-African collaborative research goals. Similarly, the TCA network is building basic research capacity and strengthening links between regional governing bodies and academia. You can read more about these efforts in the Regional Highlights section.

A meridian is also, according to traditional Chinese medicine, a path through which the life energy “qi” flows. While it would be rather bold to claim that MRI serves such a function in the mountain research community, it is very much a clearinghouse for mountain research related information. As such, it’s important to distinguish between the news of the moment and the stories that bind this research community together. In this sense, the phrase “Mountain Meridian” is rather appropriate because of its focus on MRI members and the passion and adventure that fuels their research.

This “newsletter” is very much a product of the MRI community and reflects the great diversity of its members and their research. In “MRI’s New PIs”, we welcome Adrienne Grêt-Regamey and Emmanuel Reynard onboard as members of the MRI steering committee. In “Scientist Spotlight”, we introduce four early-career scientists in short interviews that focus less on their science than what drives their curiosity.

Edwin Hubble, the man who discovered that the universe is expanding, famously stated that, “equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science”. MRI researchers are probably better equipped to understand that statement in its literal sense than anyone else! In “Science Stories”, we bring you three tales where the line between science and adventure is truly blurred.

“Research Horizons” is equally adventurous, if in a more classic scientific fashion. Read about the practically undiscovered (to science, at least) Great Escarpment in southern Africa, human-climate impacts in northern Mongolia, snowbed vegetation monitoring in the Pyrenees and conservation co-management in China.

As always, Regional Highlights sums up the activities of MRI’s regional networks over the past year. At the end of the section, MRI Director Greg Greenwood provides a broad overview of where MRI has been and where it is headed. Finally, the last pages are dedicated to short notes from the MRI community about ongoing projects, and to announcements about various opportunities that may be of interest to the broader community.

Happy reading!

Erin Gleeson MRI Guest Editor www.sciencedit.ch

4 | Editor‘s Note | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Meet the MRI Office Coordination Team! Director Greg Greenwood, Guest Editor Erin Gleeson, Communications Assistant Regula Mülchi, MRI Europe Coordinator Astrid Björnson-Gurung and Communications Director Claudia Drexler.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Editor‘s Note | 5 Upcoming Events

Global Fair and Workshop on Long-Term Observatories of Mountain Social-Ecological Systems

July 16-19, 2014 Reno, Nevada

What, why, and how do you monitor?

MRI and the University of Nevada at Reno will convene the Global Fair and Workshop on Long-Term Ob- servatories of Mountain Social-Ecological Systems with the goal of moving toward a more comprehensive, global mountain observation network by strengthening the ties between existing observation systems.

The Fair and Workshop is for all who gather data on mountain social, biological or abiotic systems and who want to discuss practical and strategic issues of their work. Participants will describe their work, explore the phenomena driving observations, explain and discuss sensors, protocols and data management, visit exemplary transects and observatories, and create new collaborations.

The underlying logic of this event is that a more comprehensive mountain observing system will arise through the interplay of both bottom-up activities, in which those managing current observing systems expand those systems through collaboration with others, and top-down activities, by which researchers lay out the requirements of comprehensive mountain observing systems.

MRI believes that in order to provide quality, long-term, evidence-based datasets, the mountain research community must synthesize a macroscopic observing system using existing regional networks and individual sites as building blocks.

And the best way to do that is to come together to exchange ideas, see what other networks offer, develop common programs, assess priority locations, and develop creative financing options.

http://mri.scnatweb.ch/fair-and-workshop-on-mountain-observatories/home

6 | Upcoming Events | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Upcoming CIRMOUNT Conference: MtnClim 2014

September 15-18, 2014 Midway, Utah, USA

MtnClim 2014, the biennial climate conference sponsored by the Consortium for Integrated Climate Research in Western Mountains (CIRMOUNT), will convene Sept 15-18, 2014 in the lovely Wasatch Mountains. The program includes invited sessions on mountain refugia, micro-climate processes, and climate adaptation; coupled human-social systems; and early career scientists’ research. Invited talks will feature a 10-year retrospective and prospective of research accomplishments and needs in mountain-climate science and management; a national perspective on the role of mountain climate- and response science in emerging policy for climate adaptation; and an overview of Great Basin forest ecosystems and their interaction with climate change and bark beetles. Contributed talks and posters are encouraged. Planned Mt Timpanogos. Photo: B. Temper also is a field trip to the Uinta Mountains and a post-conference resource managers’ workshop, both to focus on regional forest health and climate issues. Deadline for registration, abstracts, and lodging is July 15, 2014. Early registration is encouraged, as attendance is limited to 120 participants!

Website: www.fs.fed.us/psw/mtnclim Contact: Connie Millar, USDA Forest Service, [email protected]

Announcement and Call for Contributions: Ecology of Glacier Forelands Workshop

September 17-21, 2014 Alpine Research Centre, Obergurgl Austria

As a follow-up of the Obergurgl workshop on glacier forelands in 2008, we want to bring together people working in foreland glacier ecology research. Investigators studying the interactions of organisms and their abiotic environments in deglaciated terrain are invited to join the workshop.

The workshop is organized jointly by the Alpine Research Centre Obergurgl (Univer- sity of Innsbruck, Austria) and MUSE - Museo delle Scienze (Trento, Italy)

Website: www.uibk.ac.at/afo/workshop-ecology-of-glacier-forelands

XX Latin American Congress of Soil Science

November 9-15, 2014 Cuzco, Peru

EDUCATE to PRESERVE the soil and to conserve life on Earth!

Special guests include Dr. Pedro Sanchez (Earth Institute; 2002 World Food Prize re- cipient), Dr. Rattan Lal (Ohio University), Dr. Rainer Horn (president elect of IUSS), Dr. Ronald Vargas (FAO-Rome), Dr. Cheryl Palm (Columbia University), Dr. Eddie Schrevens (Leuven University), Dr. Patrick Lavelle (Paris University), and Dr. Carmen Felipe-Morales (UNALM University, Peru).

All are welcome to participate and to learn more our Inca culture!

Website: www.xxcongresolatinoamericanodesuelosperu.org Contact: [email protected]

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Upcoming Events | 7 MRI‘s New PIs... Emmanuel Reynard

How long have you been involved in the Who do you work with? Who are the main What sort of “product” should the moun- MRI network? types of people and organizations that tain research community as a whole be you collect data from/with, and to whom working toward producing over the next I’ve known MRI for several years and are your results directed? 5-10 years? read the newsletters and reports, but not really participated in the activities I work principally with public adminis- To propose “guidelines” for stakehold- organized by MRI until now. trations, such as the Cantonal admin- ers. For that, we need to give again istrations in Switzerland and the Water a certain importance to papers pub- What motivated you to become a PI for Basin Agencies in Morocco. This work is lished in regional journals, in technical the MRI? particularly challenging because of the publications, etc. (and not only give the necessity to translate scientific results privilege to top journals). I’ve been working on mountain issues into understandable language and op- for several years, especially in the Alps, erational documents. However, working In your field, what are your greatest but also in the Carpathians and in the with public authorities gives scientists a concerns, and why? Moroccan Atlas. I was interested in valuable opportunity to apply theoreti- contributing to mountain research in a cal results and reflections. Adaptation to climate change and glo- more institutional framework. I would balization in mountains in developing in particular like to work on linking countries. I am convinced that industrial research in the Alps and with research in countries have sufficient resources to mountains in developing countries. face the challenges related to adapting to climatic changes, and equally sure What are your central research objectives that the challenges are much greater and/or central contribution to global in developing countries. In developing change research in mountains? countries, mountain regions are at risk of being left aside unless proactive poli- I work mainly on water resource cies designed to promote their develop- management in mountains and geo- ment are created. morphological research in mountains, in particular on mountain geoheritage. In your field, what are you most optimis- “Geoheritage” is a term that describes tic about? What changes for the better do unique landforms and geological struc- you feel are most possible and most likely tures with significant scientific, educa- to take place? tional, cultural or aesthetic value. Such emblematic sites are especially worth What do you see as the key questions in Community based cooperation for the protecting for future generations, and global change research in mountains? management of water resources (e.g., are places where educational initiatives irrigation) that should be promoted about environmental changes should be Cryospheric processes in high moun- by public authorities in the future. I developed. tains, water-related erosion, adaptation am convinced that if people are more of mountain population to globalization. involved in their own strategic develop- Where do you work, primarily? How do ment decisions now, they will better the results from your research in this How would you like to see the mountain take care of their resources in the region apply elsewhere? research community evolve over the 5-10 future. years? I work primarily in the Alps. Some results (e.g., regarding water manage- To develop interdisciplinary research. I ment) also apply to other mountain think that a real dialogue between the Emmanuel Reynard is a Professor of physical areas, whereas other results (e.g., about natural and social sciences has to be geography at the University of Lausanne and mountain geoheritage) are certainly less improved; for that, common work (and Director of the Institute of Geography and important, at least at the moment, for not only multidisciplinary research) has Sustainability (IGD). other mountain areas. to be developed.

8 | MRI‘s New PIs | MRI News No. 8, 2014 MRI‘s New PIs... Adrienne Grêt-Regamey

How long have you been involved in the changes. Many of our studies include 1. Develop cross-regional communica- MRI network, and what motivated you to the involvement of local stakeholders. tion among the broad international become an MRI PI? We then investigate the transfer of our community involved in mountain models and approaches to larger regions, sustainability issues. The first time I came into contact with or even the globe, to better understand 2. Increase the diversity of scientists MRI was in 2009 during a workshop the relevance of our results for decision- trained in cross-regional, transdisci- on Ecosystem Services in the Alps and making across scales. plinary mountain-oriented research, the Carpathians. The discussions at the from students to senior scientists, interdisciplinary consortium were very and inspiring and fruitful for developing in- 3. Increase the diversity of scientists novative ideas for research and action in and stakeholders (e.g., resource us- mountainous regions. ers, policy-makers, NGOs) who employ a modeling framework to address What are your central research objectives mountain sustainability issues. with regard to global change research in mountains? What sort of “product” should the mountain research community as a whole Our research concentrates on integrating work toward producing over the next 5-10 the goals of sustainable development, years? economic viability, and good governance into landscape planning. Currently, we Who do you work with, and to whom are We need to work on generating examples develop approaches to define strategies your results directed? and “lessons learned” across mountain reconciling the long-term goals of a case studies where a transdisciplinary sustainable development of mountainous We work closely with local actors and process was employed. We should also regions with rather short-term individual particularly with administrations. As synthesize and compare case studies in and collective actions. many of our research results feed into which science has successfully informed spatial and landscape planning, we have policies and practices in different moun- The approaches link future desirable strong ties with public authorities at tain system contexts. Finally, we need landscape development situations, which different levels. Knowledge is also often to actively develop and propose cross- we visualize in 3D, with management transferred to other countries through regional, transdisciplinary projects on and policy options that are necessary to research consortia, and results also feed mountain sustainability that link science secure the provision of desired ecosys- directly into teaching at the master and with action. tem services. This backcasting approach doctorate levels. can play a key role in shaping the rate In your field, what are your greatest and direction of the socio-economic What do you see as the key questions in concerns, and why? What are you most transitions. It also prevents us from global change research in mountains? optimistic about? transferring our current problems to the future and therefore legitimizes Mountainous regions are highly sensi- One the one hand, the loss of identity the mobilization of scientific, financial, tive to socio-economic and climate and cultural services in mountainous institutional and political resources to changes. Understanding the vulnerability areas is a serious concern. On the other, support and maintain functioning moun- and adaptive capacity of the coupled however, awareness of the importance tain ecosystems. natural and human systems, while ac- of mountainous areas for providing life counting for local to regional contexts supporting ecosystem services to down- Where do you work? How can the results and contingencies, is key to addressing stream areas is increasing. of your research be applied elsewhere? mountain sustainability issues.

We work in different urban and moun- How would you like to see the mountain tainous sites in Switzerland and in research community evolve over the 5-10 Adrienne Grêt-Regamey is an Associate Europe that differ in their specific sen- years? Professor of Planning of Landscape and Urban sitivities to climate and socio-economic Systems at ETH Zürich.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | MRI‘s New PIs | 9 Research horizons

Photo: V.R. Clark The Great Escarpment Biodiversity Programme: Endless research horizons in southern Africa

Photo: V.R. Clark

By Vincent Ralph Clark mid tropical montane. Orographic effects and adjacent upland plateaux are also based on altitude, and proximity to two southern Africa’s ‘water-works’, produc- The 5,000 km long southern African very different oceans (one cold and one ing most of the region’s fresh water. This Great Escarpment forms a semi-contin- warm) further add to the complexity of vital ecological service is under increas- uous mountain chain that represents a the region. ing pressure from commercial forestry, passive post-Gondwana margin, the sub- mining, overgrazing, dense population region’s version of the Western Ghats in Accordingly, vegetation varies dramati- pressure, invasive species, and climate India, the Serra do Mar in Brazil, and the cally along the length of the Great Es- change. eastern upland spine in Madagascar. The carpment, ranging from tropical upland Great Escarpment is a horseshoe-shaped evergreen forests to semi-desert suc- Despite its prominent physical presence linear montane system that stretches culent shrublands. While not as rich as and biological and economic importance, southward from Angola in the northwest South Africa’s celebrated Cape Floristic the Great Escarpment is only patchily through Namibia, and curves through Region, the Great Escarpment is one of known to biodiversity scientists. In fact, South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland the principal foci of narrow endemism in numerous “new” (but locally common!) back north to the Zimbabwe-Mozam- southern Africa: potentially 17% of the taxa have come to light in recent years. bique border. estimated 8,600 plant taxa present on Nevertheless, the vast extent of the the Great Escarpment are strict endemics Great Escarpment, its relative remote- Over the 20o latitude disparity between (>1400 taxa), representing 5% of the ness, and political and economic insta- north and south, the Great Escarpment’s sub-continent’s flora. bility in parts of the sub-region, have geology covers a broad spectrum, includ- discouraged focused research efforts in ing most of the sub-region’s major rock Endemism is also mirrored in the fauna, the past. formations. These, plus strong moisture with 126 vertebrate species confined gradients, strongly influence vegetation to this montane system. The better-wa- To address these research deficien- patterns, from the hyper-arid to the hu- tered portions of the Great Escarpment cies, the Great Escarpment Biodiversity

12 | Research Horizons | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Programme (GEBP) was established In 2012 the GEBP began collaborat- at Rhodes University in 2005 and has ing with the Instituto Superior de grown into a multi-disciplinary col- Ciências de Educação da Huíla (ISCED) laboration of researchers from numerous in Lubango, Angola, and the Institut institutions both in Africa and abroad. für Systematische Botanik, Universität The GEBP’s goal is to answer regionally Zürich, Switzerland, on the poorly stud- significant biogeographical and biodi- ied Angolan Escarpment. In 2013, the versity questions through well-funded Manica Highlands Initiative – launched research projects that emphasise rigor- by AfroMont and the GEBP– came ous fieldwork as the basis for accurate together as an initiative to encourage data collection in poorly studied areas. research on the Zimbabwe-Mozambique The key objective of the GEBP is to borderlands. determine how the Great Escarpment secured its rich endemism and how it Research opportunities are blooming on may respond to future pressures. an ‘endless’ research horizon in some of Africa’s most spectacular mountain The aims of GEBP are: lands. −− To contribute rigorous, multi-disciplinary scientific research focused on addressing key Afromontane biogeographical questions (e.g. explana- For further information on the GEBP, tions for the presence of Cape Fynbos expressions of interest in collaborating, or and Euro-temperate elements in the for copies of papers, please contact: moister African mountains). −− To fill gaps in biodiversity knowledge Prof. Nigel Barker for conservation policy purposes and [email protected] to improve Great Escarpment representation in local databases. Dr. Vincent Ralph Clark −− To get more ‘feet on the bergs’ [email protected] and away from computers, thereby Photo: V.R. Clark instilling an appreciation for rigor- Department of Botany ous fieldwork and exploration in a Rhodes University new generation of biodiversity and Grahamstown, South Africa 6140. ecological researchers. www.thegreatescarpment.110mb.com

A B C Some plants endemic to the Great Escarpment: (A) Streptocarpus michel- morei – endemic to the Manica High- lands (Zimbabwe, Mozambique); (B) Moraea spathulata – endemic to the eastern Great Escarpment (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland); (C) Leucospermum saxosum – a biogeographical puzzle endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains (Manica Highlands) and the Wolkberg D E F (South Africa), 400 km apart; (D) Al- buca tenuifolia – for over a century only known from the description, without a type, but recently found to be common on the southern Great Escarpment; (E) Psoralea margaretiflora and (F) Euryops proteoides are both showy, common Sneeuberg endemics only discovered in Photo: V.R. Clark 2005/2006. (Photos: VR Clark).

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Research Horizons | 13 Eco-hydrological investigations in the Khentii Mountains, Northern Mongolia

By Lucas Menzel

Like other countries in Central Asia, Mon- golia is facing a strong warming trend, with a 1.7 °C increase in mean annual air temperature since the 1940s. While precipitation typically shows strong variability in this region, severe droughts have occurred in recent years that heav- ily affect the social and economic development of this semi-arid country. At the same time that the demand for water is growing, the availability of safe drink- ing water is becoming increasingly un- certain. The infrastructure and political framework for ensuring the appropriate The upper Sugnugur valley shows clear evidence of recent forest fires. distribution and protection of water is Photo: L. Menzel lacking, and environmental information is scarce. boreal zone and the alpine tundra of the storage, permafrost and forest cover. Khentii Mountains. This massif stretches Parts of the region represent a pristine Since 2010, the Climate and Hydrol- from Siberia into Mongolia and peaks at boreal and alpine environment. However, ogy Group at Heidelberg University has about 2800 m a.s.l. Its western slopes there is increasing evidence of human conducted a monitoring programme in are part of the Selenga-Baikal drainage impacts on the ecosystem, namely forest northern Mongolia that aims to im- system and act as the major freshwater fires. One of the key goals over the past prove the understanding of how climate generating areas of the region. three years has been to understand the change and human impacts are influ- dynamics of these burnt watersheds. encing water resources in a semi-arid The remote Sugnugur valley was selected environment. The study region, Sug- as a research site because it encom- First results from environmental moni- nugur valley, is located about 100 km passes a variety of hydro-environmental toring along transects which stretch north of Ulaanbaatar and includes the relationships relevant to Mongolian across the Sugnugur river valley indicate transition belt between the steppe, the hydrological regimes, including snow that the environmental conditions show drastic changes after forest fire, with re- duced water retention in the headwaters and thus decreasing water availability in the dry steppe forelands of the Khentii.

After a forest fire, higher radiation input rates drive soil warming, which appears to lead to increasing active layer depths of the permafrost beneath burned trees. This leads to changing runoff processes above the permafrost table, where water drains rapidly along preferential flow paths. This eventually leads to faster runoff responses during and after summer rainfall. As the active layer depth increases, the soil water storage capacity decreases, which may adversely impact forest regeneration. Installation of a precipitation gauge in the alpine tundra of the Khentii. Photo: L. Menzel

14 | Research Horizons | MRI News No. 8, 2014 The sensitive balance between climatic conditions, permafrost occurrence, hydrology and vegetation is leaving a number of challenging research questions. Similarly, there is a clear and urgent need to develop a safe water supply for the local population, to whom this project wants to make a significant contribution. To properly resolve these challenges, a suite of research methods and an interdisciplinary approach is required. New collaborations are welcome!

For more information, contact: Forest cover in the upper Sugnugur valley, Khentii Mountains, 1990 (left image; 10 Lucas Menzel September 1990, Landsat 5 TM) and 2013 (right image; 1 September 2013, Land- Department of Geography sat 7 ETM+). Green tones represent forest cover (dark green) and natural mountain Hydrology and Climatology Group meadows (light green). The purple tones in the left image represent non-vegetated Heidelberg University, Germany surfaces, mostly alpine tundra in the highest elevations. In contrast, the purple tones [email protected] in the right image include burned forest. While no impact from forest fire is detect- able in the 1990 image, there is clear evidence of recent, widespread forest fires in the www.geog.uni-heidelberg.de/hydro 2013 image.

Further reading:

Karthe, D., Malsy, M., Kopp, B.J., Minderlein, S. & Minderlein, S. & Menzel, L.: Evapotranspiration and Hülsmann, L. (2013): Assessing water availability energy balance dynamics of a semi arid moun- and its drivers in the context of an Integrated tainous steppe and shrubland site in northern Water Resources Management (IWRM): A case study Mongolia. Environmental Earth Sciences (accepted from the Kharaa river basin, Mongolia. Geoöko, Vol. for publication) XXXIV, 5-26 Törnros, T. & Menzel, L. (2010): Heading for knowl- Kopp, B.J., Minderlein, S. & Menzel, L.: Soil mois- edge in a data scarce river basin: Kharaa, Mongolia. ture dynamics in a mountainous headwater area In: Herrmann, A. & Schumann, S. (Eds.): Status and in the discontinuous permafrost zone of northern Perspectives of Hydrology in Small Basins. IAHS Mongolia. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research (in Publication 336, Wallingford, 270–275 press)

Pristine forest at the headwaters of the Sugnu- gur river. Photo: L. Menzel Monitoring protocol for vegetation in the Pyrenees snowfields

By Benjamin Komac and Ludovic Olicard

The Pyrenees snowbed vegetation moni- changes in phenology toring study began in 2012 with funding or in vegetation cover support from the POCTEFA project of the due to earlier snow European Regional Development Fund melting, respectively). (ERDF). Following the objectives defined The number of plots in by the Pyrenees Climate Change Observa- each snowbed depend- tory (www.opcc-ctp.org), the study aims ed on the size of the to use changes in snowbed vegetation snowbed and all plots to detect the effects of climate change were positioned along in mountain regions. As snowbed veg- the melting gradient. etation is strongly conditioned by snow cover factors and can therefore be very Throughout the year, the sensitive to climate change, the study of state of the snow cover snowbed vegetation allows researchers was checked measured Map: Planned locations of the 14 snowbeds used for to track the effects of climate change on using temperature sen- monitoring snowbed vegetation. The organizations alpine vegetation. sors. Similarly, observa- responsible for monitoring each snowbed are indicated tions of the floristic com- by the colored dots. CBNPyr: French Pyrenean Botanical The main objective of the project was position and phenology Conservatory; CBNMed: French Mediterranean Botanical to develop a monitoring protocol for of the snowbed vegeta- Conservatory; PNP: French Pyrenees National Park; ONF: snowbed vegetation along a latitudinal tion (6 states were de- French National Forest Office; NMP: association Nature transect. In this study, 14 snowbeds dis- fined based on Salix and Midi-Pyrénées; UB: geobotany and vegetation mapping tributed throughout the Pyrenees were Polytrichumi taxa) were group from the University of Barcelona; CENMA: Snow identified and monitored as they melted made during every visit. and Mountain Research Center of Andorra; and IPE: over the summer. As accessing snowbeds Pyrenean Institute of Ecology. can be a challenging and time-consum- In addition to the ing process, the monitoring protocol regular measurements, was developed to ensure that the time an evaluation of the The following centers took part in this invested in monitoring each snowbed relative contribution of the different study: the French Pyrenean Botanical was limited to a few hours (including syntaxonomical classes is performed ev- Conservatory (Bagnères de Bigorre), the the time needed to reach the site and ery five years. Examples of syntaxonomi- Snow and Mountain Research Center collect the data), thereby maximizing cal classes are Salicion herbaceae and of Andorra, the geobotany and vegeta- the data collected. Nardion strictae. For larger snowbeds, tion mapping group at the University of a complete transect along the snow Barcelona, the French Mediterranean Bo- To monitor vegetation development as melting gradient is also performed once tanical Conservatory (Montpellier), the the snowbeds melt, surveys were con- every five years. French Pyrenees National Park (Tarbes), ducted four times between the first week the French National Forest Office, the of July and the second week of Septem- We hope that this program can im- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (Jaca) and ber (every three weeks). Due to differ- prove our understanding of how climate the association Nature Midi-Pyrénées ences in the locations of the different change affects alpine vegetation and (Toulouse). snowbeds along the Pyrenean chain and can help us protect these habitats. the great disparity in snowmelt between An understanding of the relationship To learn more about this project and to sites, four visits were needed to obtain between alpine communities and their see the results from the 2013 field sea- comparable data. physical environment is essential for son, visit: www.opcc-ctp.org. forecasting the impacts environmental Plots with a total area of 3 x 1 m were changes will have on the vulnerable divided into 12 subplots of 0.5 x 0.5 m high-mountain habitats of the Pyrenees. or 0.1 x 0.1 m, depending on the objective of each monitoring task (detecting

16 | Research Horizons | MRI News No. 8, 2014 1x1 m plot for surveying plant cover and phenology at the Arbella snowbeds in Andora. Photo B. Komac

Snowbeds at Cataperdris in Andorra, located at 2500 m a.s.l. Photo B. Komac

Salix herbacea is an arctic-alpine plant that reaches its southern limit in the Pyrenees and depends on snow cover. Photo M.Domenech

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Research Horizons | 17 Advancing biodiversity conservation and community development in Qinghai Province, China

By Marc Foggin to the regional level. With protected areas (PAs) already covering one-third of The UNDP/GEF Qinghai Biodiversity the province (thereby providing formal Conservation Project was successfully protection to 251,665 km² of land), it launched by the Qinghai Forestry Depart- is important now to strengthen the PA ment in January 2013 with support and system by mainstreaming biodiversity co-financing from the provincial govern- concerns into multiple government ment. Most of the province is situated sectors, by developing a comprehensive over 4000 m above sea level – including training programme for future PA staff the Qilian, Kunlun, Tanggula and other and other conservation partners, and by high mountain ranges. A spectacular developing practical and context-specific suite of globally endangered wildlife is management plans for selected, ecologi- still present in these highlands, includ- cally sensitive areas based on principles ing Tibetan antelope, wild yak, white Photo: J. Marc Foggin of genuine collaboration with communi- lipped deer, argali, snow leopard, black ties and the sustainable utilization of necked crane, saker falcon, etc. programmes and policies, and the need natural resources. to share local resources with a host of Traditionally, nomadic pastoralists stakeholders previously unknown in the Beyond the three major project com- grazed yak and sheep on these vast region. ponents outlined above, this 5-year lands following their customary land initiative also aims to integrate climate tenure and livestock management prac- Through the development of co- change scenarios into a revised PA tices, but presently many local herders management approaches, the project system plan and to develop commu- are facing for the first time new aspects seeks to further refine collaborative nity-beneficial ecotourism and other of globalization such as an increas- conservation trials in the source areas potential sources of revenue to help ing dependence on a cash economy, of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, then both the provincial PA system and local integration with national development to expand (scale-up) these approaches co-management partners attain greater

Photo: J. Marc Foggin financial sustainability. Lessons learned elsewhere in China and globally, particularly in mountain areas, will help to guide the project. Likewise, the project may contribute to the global experience of collaborative conservation.

From a regional development planning perspective, the establishment and/ or refining of a PA system will help mitigate some of the impacts of climate change by reducing the likelihood of species loss due to their distributional shifts (in response to climatic change) leading them out of current protection zones. This can be done by increasing the level of connectivity between PAs through rearranging existing PA bound- Photo: J. Marc Foggin aries or encouraging different livelihood options or forms of resource use within and entrepreneurial skills for community This project is funded by Global Environ- PAs and their internal management tourism, a variety of capacities will be ment Facility (GEF) and supported by zones. It will be equally important to developed to effectively manage po- United Nations Development Programme raise awareness of environmental issues tential future eco-compensation funds, (UNDP). GEF provides grants for projects both in and outside nature reserves, thereby enhancing broad partnerships related to biodiversity, climate change, in order to promote landscape and and increasing the effective workforce land degradation and other environmen- ecosystem level conservation. Another for conservation in the country. tal matters, with as primary strategy to way to minimize the impact of climate provide for the incremental costs neces- change on local communities is to Input from a wide range of national and sary for national institutions to move decrease their dependence on livestock, international specialists is welcome, from ‘business as usual’ toward greater particularly through a diversification particularly with submission of practical environmental and fiscal sustainability. of local herders’ sources of income. It ‘lessons learned’ and ‘key recommenda- is expected that such diversification tions’ from disciplines such as environ- For more information about the GEF will lead to enhanced resilience in both mental planning, development studies, strategy, visit: local economies (with decreased risk) policy analysis and sociology. and ecosystems (with decreased grazing www.thegef.org/gef/whatisgef. pressures). Increasing desiccation of the land and loss of permafrost, now clearly More information about the project itself observed in the region, necessitate such For more information, contact Dr. Marc can be found on the UNDP in China approaches. Foggin, Chief Technical Advisor, website at: UNDP/GEF Qinghai Biodiversity Conserva- One of the financing options that is tion Project at [email protected] or http://tinyurl.com/k4pzd9r. available for PAs and local communities, [email protected] which is being considered by the project, is the development of community ecotourism. Based on a marketing of biodiversity as well as cultural landscapes, it is critical that such tourism include not only nature-based experiences but also contributions to conservation action and clear benefits to community members. Access to the benefits arising from the use of biodiversity – such as through ecotourism – should be shared equitably amongst stakeholders, particularly with local partners whose livelihoods are most directly connected to the land. In developing local governance

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Research Horizons | 19 Science

20 | XXX | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Stories

ACSP basecamp, photo courtesy of ACSP EnCOWnters: Mountaineering with the American Climber Science Program

By Carrie-Ann Bracco peak I would shortly summit in the After two weeks in an isolated valley in pursuit of science. the Andes, you become quite familiar My companions in with the local livestock, especially when this far outpost of you’ve been tasked with surveying live- Huascaran National stock populations and behavior for an Park were a group overgrazing study. So when cows start to of about 20 people, multiply unexpectedly, you become a bit including scientists, suspicious. students and volunteers from all dif- A volunteer for the American Climber ferent professions. Science Program’s 2013 Cordillera Blanca We were there for Photo: ACSP expedition, I was helping scientists col- two, twinned rea- lect data in the high reaches of the An- sons: to collect scientific data in a region vegetation. On our way up the valley, we des. I had first heard about ACSP at my typically out of reach to all but the most documented grazing livestock…including local climbing gym in Brooklyn, NY when intrepid scientists, and to indulge our the species, the GPS location, the time the program director, John All, gave a love of climbing. of day, the herd size, the presence of talk about the science research the ACSP babies, the vegetation, the slope, water has been doing From our thin-air sources and a million other details. Now, in the Cordillera When cows start to multiply base camp over- this sounds straightforward enough, but Blanca region of unexpectedly, you become a looking the Quilcay- it was occasionally quite challenging! Peru. Having once bit suspicious. huanca Valley, we Depending on how far away the animals lived in Bolivia and scouted cow trails were, we would discuss -is that a third being an enthusiastic sport climber, join- – or no trails – straight up steep, grassy cow or a rock? Is that the same group of ing an ACSP expedition was immediately mountainsides to gather data. With so sheep that we counted just before our appealing. The trip would give me an op- many scientists along, there were plenty lunch break? Should we count that group portunity to try an alpine climb with the of projects to work on, from water of horses as stationary or moving- they comforts of an expedition base camp. I quality and glacier recession to vegeta- were galloping but now they’ve stopped also liked the idea of pairing climbing tion change and overgrazing. Even the to eat. And what about this vegetation? with volunteer work since high altitude climbers themselves were studied: Peter Does it count as tall grass or short grass? climbs require a lot of down time while Nilsson from Touro College of Medicine acclimatizing. And finally, as a fine art- measured our heart rates and blood During our last few days in the park, ist who makes paintings of remote and oxygenation levels every evening and we encountered a new problem. We had isolated landscapes, I was hopeful that during strenuous climbs to chart our walked over the high Cojup Pass and the trip would provide me with material acclimatization progress. With so many into the Cojup valley to exit the park. for a new series of paintings. projects taking place simultaneously, we We began our counts again from the top met each evening to review the project of the pass, with each person having a Which is how I found myself setting up goals for the next few days and organize different task so that we could collect camp at the foot of Maparaju (5325 m), a into groups to tackle the next day’s data quickly. The data collection went work. smoothly and we made good progress, but about halfway through the valley on My favorite project our final day, there seemed to be more was recording the cows. Cows we counted seemed to be livestock in the following us. Cows ahead of us seemed valley, data that to be coming towards us. After a brief would be used in break, there was no denying it: cows an ongoing study were coming out of the brush and down about high-altitude the slopes…to lick us! grazing impacts on Photo: ACSP

Reflections and afterthoughts because we were not better stewards of I’m proud to have been part of a smart, the environment in the past. funny, supportive team that is gathering Salt-starved cows and thin air aside, I data to help us understand the current came away from the trip with a sense Seeing such rapid change in the Andes situation and our options going forward. of excitement that lasted for weeks. within my lifetime motivated me to After leaving the Cojup Valley, I spent begin taking classes in sustainability I’m looking forward to joining ACSP my last days in Huaraz attending the management when I returned to NY. I again next summer and to collect- International Glacier Forum, an impres- can’t say for sure where this new avenue ing data that will be needed to inform sive series of talks about the impact of of study will lead me. But I do know significant policy choices in the near climate change on that I’m learn- future. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the especially vul- Well, its rated as ‘easy’, but the ing alarming re-living the summit climb from the nerable regions of easy part of the mountain fell things about comfort of my studio while working on Peru and through- off…. our planet a new series of paintings depicting the out the world. and consump- various moods of Maparaju at dawn. For me, the Forum merely drove home a tion that surpass even my most cynical realization that had been building since assumptions about the future. I’m glad I started up the Quilcayhuanca Valley: the expedition caused me to reconsider the Andes of today are not the Andes I my sense of agency when faced with the To learn more, visit: remember from ten short years ago. overwhelming force of environmental degradation. http://climberscience.wordpress.com Visiting Huascaran National Park made me see that glacial retreat is every- where, that the snowline is moving up the mountainside and leaving exposed, rocky, loose moraine in its place. And the changes are accelerating- in a few more decades the Cordillera Blanca will no longer be “Blanca”. More than once, when we asked John for the difficulty rating of a mountain we were about to climb, he replied, “Well, its rated as ‘easy’, but the easy part of the mountain fell off….”

In retrospect, I see that statement as a metaphor for the global challenges in Orange Rope Team, Maparaju, by Carrie-Ann Bracco. our future- they will all be greater now 24x36 inches, oil on canvas, 2013.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Science Stories | 23 The Great Himalaya Trail– The road to sustainability?

By Paribesh Pradhan and supported by the International In the small village of Ghorepani (2887 Centre for Inte- m), as many as two hundred trekkers grated Mountain materialize in the predawn light, queu- Development and ing up for the sunrise trek up to Poonhill the United Na- (3177 m). From the top of Poonhill, one tions Environment has an unparalleled view as the first Programme. rays of sunlight set the snowcapped peaks of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna These projects ranges alight. A daily ritual for tourists shared the com- since the late 1960s, the sunrise from mon goal of en- Poonhill represents a highlight in many hancing climate tourists’ Nepal experience, as well as an change awareness important source of income for the local in the Himala- population. For us, seasoned trekkers yas. The aim of following the Great Himalaya Trail, it my GHT – My also represents hope. Climate Initiative munities have perceived and adapted to was to document stories of sustainable the challenges of a changing climate. And who are we? We are members of adaptation practices, vulnerabilities, and the Climate Smart Celebrity Trek, an climate change impacts across the Great My interviews were governed by a single expedition led by Apa Sherpa to promote Himalaya Trail in Nepal. Over the course rule: the phrase “climate change” was tourism and highlight the effects of of my 98-day journey, I walked 1555 km off-limits. My job was simply to investi- climate change in villages along the and interviewed gate how people Great Himalaya Trail (GHT), which tra- more than forty Even the mention of climate have perceived verses some of the most remote regions school teachers change can elicit a verbatim the trajectory of of the Himalaya. I am also walking the and farmers, com- lecture from the most unlikely time over the past trail as part of the “GHT – My Climate mitting to paper people. several decades. Initiative” project, funded by the Swiss the memories, I was looking for Agency for Development and Coopera- stories and anecdotes that document unbiased, gut reactions, a tricky goal to tion, the Global Program Climate Change how people in remote Himalayan com- achieve because many of these villagers have had plenty of exposure to scientists concerned about climate change in mountain regions. Here, even the mention of climate change can elicit a verbatim lecture from the most unlikely people, often in the most remote regions.

Not surprisingly, however, the symptoms of climate change were central themes of nearly every interview. From warmer winters and droughts to floods, landslides and new agricultural pests, the subsistence lifestyle of most villagers in the Himalaya means that deviations from “normal” climate are felt especially strongly here. Through the GHT – My Climate Initiative, I helped document Photo: P. Pradhan these changes and peoples’ reactions to

24 | Science Stories | MRI News No. 8, 2014 them. By promoting the GHT through last years. Said the Celebrity Trek, we hoped to encour- one, “In the past, age the development of a tourism mar- we had rain and ket that will in turn motivate communi- snow during the ties living along the trail to develop right season. You sustainable livelihood alternatives. This don’t find so many is the ray of hope we saw from Poonhill, landslides during and the crack of light that is starting to the rainy season appear in places like Lamsung. like now. Perhaps it is because of the Battles of the past and of the future deforestation. The forests are shrink- Lamsung is a three-day walk from Ghore- ing in size even pani and – currently – well removed though we have from the tourist trail. It has not always community forests been so well hidden, however. After a here.” Another wor- four-hour hike uphill through the rho- ried about the un- Photo: P. Pradhan dodendron forests above Lamsung, the predictable rainfall hiker is greeted with astounding pan- patterns: “Sometimes, we don’t get rain Today, many trekking companies offer oramic views from during the culti- “Guerrilla Trail” expeditions, a name that the Jaljala Pass In the past, we had rain vating season and was born over a Climate Smart Celebrity (3404 m). A Who’s have drought. Other Trek campfire. What had started as a and snow during the right Who list of peaks times, we have campfire debate over whether the same reaches impassively season. incessant rainfall. name that had caused tourism to wither toward the heavens Like last year, for could be repackaged and marketed anew in all directions, including Annapurna instance. There was less snowfall and it as a tourist attraction took root as South. didn’t rain during winter. The barley and expedition members told and retold the wheat dried up and died.” Jaljala story. From this, we know our ex- Not so long ago, this pristine view was pedition goal has been met: as tourism marred by bloodshed. In March 2004, Chasing Mao’s ghost for a sustainable spreads along the more remote stretches Maoist rebels used Jaljala Pass as a base future of the GHT, so does a smart adaptation from which to launch an armed offen- measure that can help mountain com- sive against Beni, the Myagdi district Tourism, unlike crops, only dries up and munities meet the challenges of climate headquarters. While the statistics vary, dies when political unrest reaches the change sustainably. casualties were high, making this battle flashpoint. “We used to have a lot of one of the bloodiest between the Mao- tourists before the Maoist insurgency, ist rebels and the government forces more than double the number we get during the 10-year insurgency. Locals now. The number of tourist coming to For more information about the GHT - at Lamsung still remember the night of this region dwindled during the insur- My Climate Intiative, contact Paribesh at the invasion with horror. According to gency period because it was not easy for [email protected] one villager, as many as 5000 insurgents them to trek in this remote area,” said camped at Jaljala Pass; it took hours for one local guide. Again unlike crops, the http://trek4education.org/about-my- the line of guerrillas to pass through history of unrest can cause tourism to climate-initiative Lamsung on their way to Beni. rise again from the ashes. It is, in fact, the pull of the not-so-distant past and www.annafound.org Today, the inhabitants of Lamsung face the region’s spectacular scenery that a new battle. Through my interviews, may be the Myagdi district’s ray of hope I learned that landslides and crop for a sustainable future. failures have plagued Lamsung over the Photo: P. Pradhan P. Photo: Adventurers and Scientists for Conserva- tion: On the trail of the Pacific marten

By Jordan Holsinger in 2008. But Bet- sy has continued We rolled into the driveway at the USFS looking for them. house in Hoodsport, WA at about 10:30 Last year ASC AM on Friday, January 17th, vehicle joined the effort loaded to the brim with food and gear and organized and all our packs tied to the roof. The the first ASC-ONF previous 24 hours consisted of furiously marten survey packing for the variable winter condi- project where tions in the Pacific Northwest, flying 12 camera trap from Bozeman to Seattle, buying grocer- stations were ies and supplies for 30 hungry adventur- established in 6 ers, getting a few hours of sleep at the different drain- home of a gracious ASC supporter and ages. This project driving out to the Olympic Peninsula. yielded thou- We were finally ready to go look for the sands of photos elusive coastal Pacific Marten (Martes of dozens of ASC volunteer Angela Bohlke sets up a motion-sensor camera to look for caurina). different species, martens deep in the ONF. Photo: E. Johnson. including the The truth is that the hard work started marten’s cousin Our Friday afternoon foray into the ONF long before we left Bozeman. For years the fisher, but notably lacking was any brought us well above sea level and USFS researchers led by Betsy Howell sign of a marten. Last year’s efforts led above the inversion that had socked have been searching for signs of marten to the coastal Pacific Marten being listed in the lower elevations into the warm in the Olympic National Forest (ONF). as “critically imperiled” by NatureServe, sunshine with incredible views of Mt. Though ONF is prime marten habitat, but Betsy says: Rainier miles away. The Northwest has there is concern that the species has been experiencing an unusually warm been extirpated from the region. The “If martens still exist in greater numbers and dry winter so far, which is not ideal last confirmed record of marten on the on the Olympic Peninsula, then they may for martens, but makes for very enjoy- ONF was the discovery of a dead juvenile be doing so in higher, isolated pockets able fieldwork. of habitat. Getting to these areas can be challenging, particularly during the The volunteers come from all walks of winter months, which are the most ideal life – from arborists to M.D.’s and engi- for carnivore surveys. Having volunteers neers to retirees. They have also traveled vetted through ASC who are extremely from across the Pacific Northwest, some fit and extremely travel- motivated would Having volunteers vetted through ASC ling greatly add to the who are extremely fit and extremely from likelihood of suc- motivated would greatly add to the as far cess for such an likelihood of success for such an effort. as effort.” Port- land, OR. But they all share something This year we are back in the ONF with in common: a love of the outdoors and a a larger team, more cameras and more strong desire to participate in protect- funding thanks to a generous grant ing it. from the National Forest Foundation. We arrived on the Olympic Peninsula a few On Saturday we split up into groups hours before our 24 volunteers showed and had a hands-on training session up for the weekend, just enough time to teaching volunteers how to set up the set up a couple of camera stations and cameras and bait, and what the best brush up on our skills. marten habitat looks like. Afterward, we

Volunteers hike up steep trails to set up camera stations. Photo: J. Holsinger headed into the forest. Four of the six camera installed and the bait on the groups set out on an overnight trip to tree, testing and retesting everything their camera locations while the rest of to make sure we would collect the best us made multiple day trips. The hikes in data. Every two weeks our adventure are often steep and sometimes rugged, volunteers will make the trek back to climbing nearly 200 m per kilometer of the same spots to dutifully check and trail. Once in the general vicinity, we maintain their cameras. had to bushwhack off trail to find ideal marten habitat – old growth forest with Now comes the hard part, as one volun- plenty of downed wood and cover on teer pointed out. Now we just have to the ground – and two trees that were wait and see what we get. approximately 5 m apart and directly on a north-south line to set up the camera and bait. This is the second year ASC has worked Setting up camera traps is relatively with the ONF on marten surveys. You can simple, but extremely important to get get more information about the project correct. If you don’t get the angle just on our ONF marten project page and right you’ll miss what you’re looking read last year’s project report. for, which makes for a fine line between success and failure. But at each spot Visit www.adventureandscience.org to everyone worked as a team, getting the learn more!

ASC guide Abby examining animal signs in the ONF. Photo: B. Agnew.

Olympic Peninsula local Ron Staggs secures bait to a tree. Photo: E. Johnson.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Science Stories | 27

Scientist Spotlight

Livingston, Antarctica. Courtesy: M. Oliva Scientist Spotlight Katharina Conradin

By way of intro- diverse disciplines and interests. Conser- Yes, in fact. On the one hand, my duction, can you vation, tourism (economic development) research is closely linked to a project outline the core and social aspects such as community called “Benchmarking World Heritage & objectives of participation all play a role in achieving Tourism”, where the impacts of World your research? and maintaining World Heritage status. Heritage sites on tourism are evalu- ated. Numerous institutions, such as the I am looking How does your research address the chal- Universities of Western and Northwest- at how World lenges of reconciling tourism development ern Switzerland and CETRAD in Kenya, Natural Heritage with conservation concerns? are involved in this study. While the sites influence former are working on a benchmarking sustainable regional development pro- In protected areas, special rules apply. system to rate how World Heritage sites cesses. As large protected areas with an The responsible authorities have the deal with tourism, CETRAD has been international importance and touristic right to define the “rules of the game”. instrumental in organizing various local appeal, Natural Heritage sites have the You can understand protected areas as a case studies – this involvement is a potential to nudge development in a policy tool, where what is possible and continuation of CETRAD’s long-standing certain direction. In my study, I compare what is not can be negotiated, ide- involvement in research on World the effects induced by World Natural ally in a broad Heritage sites. Heritage status on a global scale - over and participa- Protected areas can...be model All involved 60% of the sites listed in 2011 have tory way. What is regions for reconciling tourism researchers bring participated in my survey. The results clearly neces- and sustainable development. in their respec- are interesting – not only can conclu- sary in order to tive approaches sions be drawn regarding the effect of meet conservation and development and have been able to fundamentally World Heritage status, but there are goals are clear guidelines about what improve the research design. Further- also considerable differences between is possible and what is not. If they are more, I collaborate with UNESCO, which the “Global North” and the “Global lacking, there is often a tendency to will hopefully be able to use my data! South”. Whereas World Heritage status is give more weight to economic interests increasingly used as a promotional tool than to ecological ones. But it is also How can this research be applied directly in the North, sites in the South have a clearly necessary that protected areas to current policy challenges? larger focus on conservation. be integrated into regional development concepts from the very beginning, Indeed, I hope that it will be. The What led to your interest in this field? and that conservation zones and buffer results have turned out to be highly zones are clearly defined with a focus on relevant for policy makers. My data show Sustainable development is something sustainable development. that the “utilization” of World Heri- that has interested me for a long time; tage status has changed a lot since the it is clear we cannot go on the way Are you collaborating with other orga- 1970s, when the World Heritage status we do now. Protected areas can – to a nizations in the course of your current was created. Today, World Heritage certain extent – be model regions for investigations? Has a multidisciplinary status is used more and more to market reconciling tourism and sustainable approach been important to the success sites, not just to conserve them. The development because they integrate of the project? World Heritage convention, however,

Photo: K. Conradin remains the same. Measures may therefore have to be taken to ensure that World Heritage status doesn’t “degen- erate” into a mere promotional tool. For instance, there should be a clearer differentiation between core zones and “sustainable development zones”. While the former focus on conservation, the latter should foster sustainable approaches. With this approach, protected areas can influence the development of the regions around them, not just the protected area itself. UNESCO must also Photo: Wallpaperfo.com develop clearer guidelines for the man- Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African contingent. The agement of tourism in World Heritage contribution of tourism to regional economic development is considerable. sites. It is an example where the poor also profit directly from the protected area, e.g by finding labour as porters or guides. Nevertheless, some sections of You work at Mountain Wilderness. How society feel disadvantaged by the recent enlargement of the protected area. does this relate to your research?

Actually, this research is linked very closely to my work at Mountain Wilder- ness, a NGO lobbying for the conservation of the unexplored mountainous landscapes in Switzerland and abroad. However, Mountain Wilderness also promotes sustainable forms of mountain sports. My research gives me the opportunity to critically analyse current conservation approaches. However, it also makes me think beyond conservation. Many people, who have to make a living, live in or nearby protected areas. Thus, Photo: H. Dahlmo conservation cannot focus solely on the Mt Kenya World Heritage Site is an important regional water tower. environment: sustainable conservation Through World Heritage status, conflicts about upstream-downstream water means involving the people who use usage have been mitigated. Despite that, threats through illegal logging the spaces we want to protect. In this and poaching go on. sense, working at Mountain Wilderness really completes and broadens my view.

Katharina is a 4th year PhD at the Centre for Development and Environment, University of Berne. She is also the director of mountain wilderness, an NGO working for the protection of mountains around the world, and a board member of the International Commis- sion for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA). She can be contacted at: [email protected]

Photo: UNESCO The Dolomites - a serial World Heritage property comprising 18 peaks that The Aletsch Glacier - the longest Glacier rise to above 3,000 meters. In the year 2011, World Heritage status played in Europe - forms the core of the Swiss- a fundamental role in reducing heliskiing on the Marmolada. Alps Jungfrau Aletsch World Heritage site. Though the participation process in the World Heritage Site is considered exemplary, a dispute is now going on about MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Scientist Spotlight | 31 increased hydropower generation. Scientist Spotlight Jan Klimes

By way of intro- powerful geomorphologic processes that for geomorphologic evidence of past duction, can you continuously modify their surroundings. events, which is otherwise un-noted in outline the core The challenge of ensuring the sustain- historical documents. Interestingly, na- objectives of able, long-term presence of humans in tive topographic names for specific cases your research? the often harsh conditions of the high in the Andes may contain key informa- mountains interests me a lot, and I hope tion about the long-term evolution of I investigate to contribute my the sites. slope stability expertise to the A large communication gap conditions in long-term safety Are you collabo- high alpine and and responsible still exists between city- rating with other periglacial environments, with a special development of based scientists and rural organizations in the focus on processes change due to pre- mountain settle- inhabitants course of your cur- cipitation and temperature variations. ments. rent investigations? During a recent project, for example, we focused on an evaluation of the hazards How is your research relevant to concerns I was very fortunate to be introduced related to glacial lake outburst floods, about the changing mountain environ- by my Ph.D. supervisor, Vit Vilimek, to which are complex and potentially dev- ment and human adaptation? a very reliable and highly professional astating events. I am primarily inter- Peruvian research unit based in Huaraz. ested in the geomorphology of glacial The processes I focus on – glacial lake Colleagues at the Autoridad Nacional valleys, which provides basic information outburst floods and landslides – contin- de Agua (National Water Authority) about the potential for hazardous slope uously modify mountain environments. not only provided us with invaluable processes. A large slope failure above a These processes may occur repeatedly monitoring data and fieldwork support, lake may, for example, cause a sudden at the same sites, a trend that can be but also became close friends. To ensure outburst flood. documented for a variety of cases in that our research is high quality, rel- Peru and elsewhere. At the same time, evant and applicable, we need to have a Moraine dams are particularly interesting “unexpected” events at sites previously strong, multidisciplinary research team. because one can find With respect to this, we indications of their cur- lack social and/or envi- rent stability, as well as ronmental scientists in our evidence of past floods. team, and welcome such This geomorphologic collaborations! record is useful for setting boundary condi- Despite the fact that you tions for mathematical do not deal directly with flood models and hazard local inhabitants, you have assessments. This sort mentioned them several of hazard assessment times. How do they react to model is the main your research activities in “good” we try to sell to their “backyards”? the local authorities, as well as to collaborating In general, we have very research organizations. Photo: J. Klimes positive experiences with local people, which is What led to your interest in this field? considered “safe” can occur. Very little largely due to our collaboration with reliable data exist that can be used to ANA experts who are well known in the I was never a high mountain enthusiast determine if such occurrences are natu- region. Nevertheless, some negative until I started working in the Cordillera ral, or if they are caused by changing experiences show that a large communi- Blanca, Peru during my PhD. There, I environmental conditions (e.g., tem- cation gap still exists between city- discovered the complexity of mountain perature/precipitation variations). I try based scientists and rural inhabitants. environments, where people coexist with to approach this problem by searching In several cases the locals felt abused

32 | Scientist Spotlight | MRI News No. 8, 2014 by our research, telling us that we endangered by hazardous processes, are doing the research on their land but they are often left with little or no and that don’t profit from it. This at- information about the degree of hazard titude entirely neglects the fact that they are exposed to. We therefore try we spend a lot of “our” money to do to translate our research results into the research and that the research short and understandable leaflets that results are provided to central agen- can be distributed by local officials cies, which are responsible for their throughout the community. further dissemination.

However, this attitude is understandable considering the poor Jan is research scientest at the Institute of communication between the official Rock Structure and Mechanics, Academy of research and policy entities and the Sciences of Czech Republic and can be con- local inhabitants. Obviously, it is the tacted at [email protected] or go to: local inhabitants who are directly http://irsm.academia.edu/JanKlimes

Photo: J. Klimes

Photo: J. Klimes Scientist Spotlight Marc Oliva

By way of intro- How is your research relevant to concerns tists, has been crucial for my research duction, can you about warming mountain environments career because it has allowed me to outline the core and human adaptation? create a broad network of scientific col- objectives of laborations. your research? In the Sierra Nevada massif, the study area in my PhD research, the warming I am used to working in a multidisci- At the moment of the last decades is evident in the plinary, collaborative environment and I am working in degradation of permafrost and fossil ice am now coordinating the project HOLO- different cold- remains, a decrease in late-lying snow ANTAR (Holocene environmental change climate environ- patches, changes in the distribution in the Maritime Antarctic: Interactions ments, both in mountain areas (Sierra of vegetal species, etc. However, these between permafrost and the lacustrine Nevada, Pyrenees, Picos de Europa) and changes are not yet significantly impact- environment, http://holoantar.weebly. in polar regions (Antarctica, Svalbard). ing human activities. These changes com). In this project there are geogra- My research is focused on present-day will continue to be monitored in greater phers, geologists, geophysicists, biolo- geomorphological processes as well as detail through the Sierra Nevada Global gists, remote sensing specialists, etc., on the reconstruction of past climate. Change Observatory, which my research which gives you idea about the impor- By understanding the geomorphological group is part of. tance I place on working with research- processes of the past and their relation ers from different disciplines. to climate, we can better understand the My study sites in polar regions (Sval- geomorphological processes of the pres- bard, Antarctic Peninsula) have recorded How can this research be applied directly ent. I use a wide range of sedimentary the strongest warming rates on Earth to current policy challenges? records (glacial, periglacial, lacustrine, over the recent decades. Although this peatlands, etc.) to build this under- climate trend is causing significant and In the case of the Sierra Nevada, we standing. accelerated changes in the terrestrial have been working on the implementa- ecosystems where I work, the impact tion of a new landscape management What led to your interest in this field? on human societies is very limited here scheme based on the geomorphological because of the scarce presence of human significance of many sites in the high- I come from the Mediterranean, from settlements and infrastructure. lands of the massif. We are doing this in the warm and sunny capital of Cata- collaboration with local administrations. lonia, Barcelona. We usually like what How has collaboration been important to we don’t have. That may be one of the your work in such challenging and remote Regarding my research in Antarctica, reasons why I like cold climates. From regions? Barcelona, I had two options to find the cold weather: go up in altitude or up in I am member of latitude. several international organizations I started working in the Sierra Nevada (European Geosci- massif (Spain) in 2005, during my PhD. ences Union) and I My research focused on the reconstruc- am involved in as- tion of Holocene alpine environments sociations of young and the associated climate variability researchers (). My using sedimentary records of the present- membership in day periglacial belt. In 2010, I was organizations like awarded a postdoctoral fellowship to the the International University of Lisbon to study present and Permafrost Associa- past geomorphological processes in polar tion, the Permafrost regions (Antarctica, Arctic). Since then, Young Researchers I have conducted research activities in Network and the other Iberian mountain ranges: Picos de Association of Polar Byers Peninsula (Livingston, Antarctica). View from the Rotch Europa, Pyrenees and Serra da Estrela. Early Career Scien- Dome glaciar.

34 | Scientist Spotlight | MRI News No. 8, 2014 some of the research activities have been carried out in Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA), which are areas of scientific interest protected within the Antarctic Treaty. Our findings in these areas can provide further information about their environmental dynamics that may be included in the formulation and implementation of future Antarctica policies. Moreover, our scientific results will contribute to the overall compre- hension of the role that this continent has on Earth’s climate, and help improve future climate projections for this remote continent.

Above: Picos de Europa in northern Spain. Photo: M. Oliva

Left: Solifluction landforms in the San Juan Valley. Sierra Nevada, southern Spain. Photo: M. Oliva

Below: Mulhacén peak and Rio Seco lakes. Sierra Nevada, southern Spain. Photo: M. Oliva

Marc is a researcher in the Group on Antarctic Environments and Climate Change at the Uni- versity of Lisbon. He can be reached at: [email protected]

To learn more, visit www.antecc.org or http://holoantar.weebly.com

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Scientist Spotlight | 35 Scientist Spotlight Carolina Adler

By way of intro- ment and construction works. It was stakeholder collaborations to resolve. duction, can you very fulfilling at first, but with time I I find “policy sciences” a very useful outline the core began to reflect on the role of science approach for structuring this complexity objectives of and scientific advice in decision-making and at the same time understanding and your research? processes. In fields like land remedia- resolving complex, real-world problems. tion, politics and other ‘human dimen- For sustainable development issues, On a general sions’ are as important (if not more so) knowledge of the technical aspects of level, my core as scientific advice. I wanted to study our physical environment and of people objective is to this ‘human dimension’ in greater detail, and their perspectives are crucial to help find ways so I eventu- finding tangible to tackle problems of societal and/or ally decided Sustainable development represents and realistic policy relevance, focusing on the effects to re-enter a desired goal for how we would like solutions. and challenges of global change in university as a to see our societies function society. For me, personally, it’s impor- researcher and Are you collabo- tant to embed my research in the actual really immerse myself in critical think- rating with other organizations in the challenges and issues that societies face ing. The societal challenges of climate course of your current investigations? Has rather than pursuing an intellectual curi- change made for a very useful case study a multidisciplinary approach been impor- osity in isolation. This decision to focus for examining how to combine science tant to the success of the project? on applied research means I inevitably and human concerns into actions and have to step outside of conventional sci- solutions. Yes! Collaboration with multiple entific realms and engage with others to stakeholders, whether they are other guide and conduct research that informs How do you combine natural and social scientists in other fields, practitioners or solutions. sciences to address sustainable develop- members of society, is absolutely inte- ment issues? gral to the work I do. I very rarely work More specifically, I try to find ways to in isolation these days. One project that reduce net losses and enhance resilience Addressing a sustainable development really stands out for me is a collabora- to climate change impacts. I do this by issue means we’re addressing a complex tion I participated in with the “Yorta first co-jointly defining goals that serve real-world problem of policy and societal Yorta”, a group of Indigenous people a common interest and then studying relevance. The art of combining and in- with deep connections to the Murray conditions that hinder these desired tegrating natural and social sciences for River in northern Victoria, Australia. goals. For example, the impact of applied outcomes comes down to first weather-related extreme events on com- engaging with stakeholders to co-define Let me give you an example of just how munities can reveal existing, unresolved a concrete, context-specific problem that undervalued the deep knowledge that vulnerabilities such as poverty, malfunc- mobilises researchers to find solutions. the Yorta Yorta have about environmen- tioning governance or socio-political is- Sustainable development represents a tal issues really is. Back in 1988, river sues. Finding and mobilising sustainable desired goal for how we would like to authorities met with Yorta Yorta Elders solutions that also address these ‘other’ see our societies function - now and in to seek input on a planned removal of problems, and are therefore congruent the future. branches and logs from the river, then with what is valued in a given context, considered a navigation hazard for boats have a much better chance of being Problems or ‘issues’ arise when our own and other river users. The Elders advised effective. visions of that desired goal are not consistent What led to your interest in this field? with the sorts of trajec- tories of development After finishing my degrees in geography we see taking place and environmental science, I entered today. The “how” and the workforce as a consultant, where I “why” of this discrepan- assessed post-remediation works on pre- cy can be very complex, viously contaminated land to determine requiring interdisciplin- if it was ‘fit for use’ in urban redevelop- ary expertise and multi- Photo: YYNAC

36 | Scientist Spotlight | MRI News No. 8, 2014 against it, as it would not only remove promoting previous research and/or new for example through a joint project. It is key habitats for local fauna but also en- ideas need not be through scientific not a comforting experience to step out hance bank erosion. Despite this advice, papers alone: social media is becoming of your comfort zone like that, so you the removal plan went ahead. Experienc- a very effective way to spread ideas and must remain open-minded and focused es with floods and other extreme events information. on the goals you are trying to achieve. since the removal have shown the folly However, I have found that showing of this decision. And finally, networking within one’s own that level of personal commitment and ‘community of initiative is highly valued. However, in It’s been really surprising just how practice’ via con- 2006 Yorta Yorta insightful and productive a casual ferences, social It also helps to partner with supportive Elders were in- media and other and ‘like-minded’ colleagues who share vited to oversee cup of coffee with someone outside means allows your enthusiasm and pursuit of inter- a ceremony to of academia can be! you to stay up to and transdisciplinarity. launch a multi- date about the million dollar latest innovative Also, don’t forget to share your interdis- project to re-introduce the vegetation, work and to enrich your own reper- ciplinary experiences within your own effectively ‘re-snagging’ the river to toire of tools for practical application. discipline; brokering that knowledge previous conditions. It goes to show just Furthermore, these scholarly exchanges across disciplinary boundaries is impor- how much trouble and resources could’ve provide fertile ground for new ideas and tant for continued learning. been saved if only this sound and deep collaborations, which is at the heart of knowledge of the river and its ecologi- problem-oriented research work. cal health had been taken seriously and incorporated into the river management What would you recommend to other Carolina is a Research Fellow in the Envi- policy. early-career researchers who aspire ronmental Philosophy Group at ETH Zürich. towards the type of interdisciplinary work Contact her at [email protected]. How can this research be applied directly you do? to current policy challenges? Channel your innate scientific curiosity There are many factors that can help to actively learn about other disciplinary towards direct application of this type of perspectives and approaches. One effec- interdisciplinary and problem-oriented tive way to do this is to embed yourself research to address policy challenges, (or your work) within another discipline, but I will mention three here that I have found to be crucial.

First, it is very important to keep your ‘finger on the pulse’. Staying up to date on current affairs, community and societal concerns, and major policy deliberations (from local to international!) is key to anticipating trends and identifying likely information needs. A good way to remain updated is to foster meaningful networks and maintain regular conversations with stakeholders and practitioners - it’s been really surprising just how insightful and productive a casual cup of coffee with someone outside of academia can be!

Second, timing is everything. Being able to anticipate knowledge needs well in advance allows one to identify key win- dows of opportunity to either promote previous (and relevant!) research or to propose a new idea, precisely at a time when this information is needed. But Courtesy: C. Adler

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Scientist Spotlight | 37 Regional Highlights

Photo: D. Fagre Highlights from... AfroMont

AfroMont collaborative venture to set the scene for long term monitoring and research in African mountains

The big challenge for Africa is to bring about true collaboration among the researchers studying mountain problems in Africa. This problem is largely due to the fact that most of these scientists have relatively few resources with which to perform their work. A couple of double-edged swords hang over African mountain research. Firstly, the countries with more resources (e.g. South Africa, Kenya) have scientists that investigate conservation and biodiversity issues in mountains, as well as the meteorol- ogy of climate change. On the other hand, mountain scientists in countries with fewer resources tend to focus on bread-and- butter issues: factors affecting livelihoods of communities in mountains and the factors that affect agricultural production. At first sight, this impedes collaboration among different countries because of the different foci of interest. However, this also creates the possibility of complementarity and team work of individuals with different strong skills in research and professional interest.

A similar divide exists between countries with many scientists that publish in the regular scientific literature that has a wide circulation, while individuals from other countries publish in local or regional journals with a more restricted circulation, making their findings less accessible. Part of the explanation lies in different traditions when comparing French-speaking and English- speaking countries. But this difference also creates the possibility that collaboration may have a profound effect on the way that scientists from these countries communicate their scientific results. Finally there is the irony that mountain research in Ethiopia and in Lesotho, the two truly montane countries in Africa, do not have well-developed local mountain research agendas or networks, with most of the research being led by teams from the northern hemisphere.

Against this backdrop, AfroMont has launched an initiative to bring African scientists closer together. A series of meetings over the past year and a half have revealed shared research priorities and collaboration potentials, as well as regional differences in outcome priorities. A meeting of southern African mountain scientists in Lesotho during August 2012, for example, indicated that while South African researchers focus strongly on biodiversity and climate change issues, scientists from other southern African countries concentrate on the more immediate, socially relevant issues of soil conservation, food production and health issues. By strengthening research collaborations and data exchange throughout Africa, AfroMont hopes to turn the possibility of complementarity and team work of individuals with different skills and professional interests into a reality.

Sue Taylor AfroMont Coordinator [email protected]

Keep reading for a brief round up of activities in the African region!

Karimanzira Rungano from the Zimbabwe Meteorological Service speaks at the Lesotho 2012 Workshop Courtesy: S. Taylor

40 | Regional Highlights | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Research priorities for Africa

In January 2013, a regional meeting for African countries north of Malawi was held in Dchang, Cameroon, with representation from Guinea-Conakry to Ethiopia. Remarkably, the north Afri- can delegates articulated very similar research priorities as those identified in Lesotho. As a result, a pan-African planning meeting was proposed with the goal of launching well-defined research initiatives that will have regional impacts, both in terms of our understand- Courtesy: S. Taylor ing of mountains and their resources, Mohale Lodge, Lesotho, where the Lesotho AfroMont meeting was but also in terms of our understanding held. There is still snow on the mountains! of sustainable livelihoods. This meeting took place a mere 9 months later in Nai- weaknesses in particular areas. The test In South Africa, some recent examples robi, where representatives from across is now to prove that this collaboration of retrieving historic ecological datasets Africa defined three formal, collaborative can indeed deliver tangible results. We from forgotten archives make for inter- projects of different levels of complexity. wish these African teams success in esting reading. these endeavours, which will put African Set of three projects established for mountain research onto a new path for At the Lesotho 2012 workshop, the AfroMont collaborative initiative reaching a well-founded understanding question of how to locate and preserve of the resilience of resources and liveli- historic African ecological records came A first collaborative initiative was hoods in mountains. up, and remained an unresolved issue launched for performing a desktop study through 2013. Now that a new Af- on the long term change of natural Lost African archival datasets roMont Coordinator, Dr Sue Taylor, has resources at five mountain sites: Mt been appointed, it will fall upon her to Cameroon, Mt Elgon, Ethiopia, Mt Kili- With accelerating global change, the investigate this opportunity further. It manjaro and the Drakensberg Mountains interest in long term ecological data is thought that there must surely be in South Africa. This study focuses on has increased. In addition, there is a ecological data in African research insti- land use patterns, indigenous vegetation huge need to make data accessible to tutes, perhaps even from colonial times, and long term climate using existing other researches, as well as ‘package’ it which may have been stored in offices resources and funding. A second re- for use in specific decision-support and and filing cabinets and forgotten. Such search project investigates the provision policy situations. For effective detec- data could be given a new lease on life and utilisation of water at five African tion of environmental trends, and to through digital means. mountain sites: Mt Oku (Cameroon), Mt distinguish human impacts from natural Elgon, Mt Kilimanjaro, Ethiopia and the patterns, data spanning forty years or The AfroMont community would like to Drakensberg. In contrast with the first more is needed. It is often not practical know more about such lost datasets, project, modest funds need to be sought or affordable to set up a new project in particularly those relating to African to launch this initiative. A third, larger African countries and wait a few decades montane ecosystems, so that partner- initiative incorporates a much larger for results. Thus, it is very exciting when ships and funding can be secured to array of how change in natural resources historical datasets stored in libraries retrieve these datasets and make them and their associated ecosystem services and research archives come to light for more widely accessible. Admittedly, gov- affect the resilience of mountain com- modern analysis. It is very important ernance structures are needed to manage munities at twelve African mountain that such old datasets are preserved, this process and to prevent ‘data piracy’. sites. This project will require substan- digitised and made available – either Thus, one of the key priorities of the Af- tial financial support. freely or under a license agreement. roMont community will be to develop a Data Policy to guide how access to such A framework has been formed to support The time and resources needed for such datasets would be managed and shared. this fruitful collaboration. The outcome a data retrieval task must not be un- Let’s start the ball rolling to find these of the first project is important to derestimated, yet the variety of modern lost treasure troves of data – and make give credibility to the ability of partner technologies of data rescue, digitisa- sure they benefit African scientists and researchers to collaborate effectively, tion, modelling and analysis can bring their research! in terms of both knowledge and skill this data to life in a way the original development in countries with skills researchers could never have imagined.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Regional Highlights | 41 Highlights from... Transecto Cordillera Americana

Research priorities - not just questions of what, but who?

We often seem to talk of research priorities; I can think of several occasions over the last few months, discussing subnational priorities in the context of provincial development needs, regional priorities in the context of important conservation areas in the Tropical Andes, and thematic priorities as part of a recent online forum on agrobiodiversity. However, the question of who will, or can, implement the research is not always addressed. The issue of ensuring the enabling conditions for research in the medium to long-term should, at a minimum, be a part of the discussion. In this context, a recent report by CONCYTEC, the public body responsible for promoting science and technology in Peru, concluded that the country lacks some 15,000 PhD level researchers to improve the country’s productivity, among other functions. Nowhere is this more felt than in provincial universities, subordinate to the centralization that dominates Peru, but seen throughout the Andean countries.

In a step towards addressing this issue, CONDESAN, as part of regional MRI activities, led a collaboration of organizations with strong interests in global change research in submitting a proposal to build basic research capacity and strengthen links between regional government bodies and academia in two regions of Peru, revolving around a fundamental research question for the region. One of the outcomes that the proposal seeks to achieve is that resources held by universities, acquired through mining and industry royalties, are better exploited. Much more investment in research is possible in these regions but with only 182 researchers per 1000 inhabitants, there is a lack of capacity to implement projects.

For research on global changes in the Andes to inform policy effectively, more biologists, economists, hydrologists, social scientists, to name but a few disciplines, must be encouraged to pursue research as a career option. For that we need to bring together curious people with a passion for asking questions, the skills to putting together coherent projects to address them, and the imagination to get them funded.

Looking ahead, 2014 holds to be a busy year in the Andes with two major events. First, Peru is hosting the UNFCCC COP 20 in December, and the region is already looking to make the most of this event with pre-COP activities planned throughout the year. This is a good time to draw attention to the vulnerability of mountains to climate change impacts. Second, a major event in its own right, but also an opportunity for the mountain community to close ranks before the COP, is the World Mountain Forum, to be held in Cuzco in May. The event, billed as a gathering space for scientists, policy makers and practitioners working in sustainable development in mountains, looks to discuss four key themes: food security, climate change, mountain cities and mountain communities. For researchers interested in how science and policy interact in the Andes, this issue promises to be at the forefront of both events.

Christian Devenish CONDESAN [email protected]

Keep reading for a brief round up of activities in the Andean region!

II Environmental Researchers Meet- ing organized by the Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Research Network Courtesy: C. Devenish

42 | Regional Highlights | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Monitoring session at AGU Meeting of itself were also noted as part of a con- between academic and public institu- the Americas tinuous process to improve CONDESAN’s tions, the approach has been changed virtual discussion platform. The full completely. The new project proposes to CONDESAN and MRI organized a session conclusions can be found online, at the build research capacity at regional uni- at the AGU Meeting of the Americas, forum website. The review on agrobio- versities by bringing lecturers and recent held in Cancún, Mexico, 14-17 May 2013, diversity is expected to be published by graduates to study in Lima. At the same titled ‘Networks for sustainable monitor- mid 2014. time, links will be strengthened between ing of global environmental change’. local universities and the regional of- The session was based on case studies fices of the Peruvian Meteorological and of ongoing monitoring in global envi- Hydrological Authority to ensure that ronmental change, and showed how the research responds to regional needs. role of networks has been important in its organization and how results have Finally, CONDESAN is also collaborating been applied to decision making. The on a related project proposal, submit- networks presented included ‘The Andean ted by Prof. James Miller at Rutgers Forest Monitoring Network’, the Andean University to NSF, titled ‘“Collaborative Hydrological Monitoring Initiative, and Research: Quantifying feedbacks Af- the Andean node of the GLORIA network. fecting High Altitude Climate Change’, In a reflection on the meeting, Bert de which, if successful, will support further Bievre highlighted the bottom up nature studentships in the region, data sharing of these networks, the importance of and other joint activities. local partners, and the benefits of better decision-making for society. II Regional Environmental Researchers Meeting, Peru Review of research in Andean agrobiodiversity Eliana Martínez CONDESAN was a member of the coordinating committee of the II Environ- A major activity that began in 2013 is MRI’s elevation dependent warming mental Researchers Meeting, held in a review of research in Andean agro- campaign, aka dT°/dt = f(z) Arequipa from 3 - 5 July 2013. The event biodiversity. This project will produce a was hosted by the Universidad Nacio- review paper on the state of research, One of MRI’s current efforts is to pro- nal de San Agustín, one of the oldest but, importantly, will also use these mote the ‘Global Campaign on Acceler- regional state universities in Peru. This results to produce a series of policy ated Climate Warming at High Elevations’ series of meetings aims to bring together recommendations in a separate publica- campaign, the continuation of a poster researchers at universities and research tion, as part of CONDESAN’s ‘Propuestas presented at the Mountain Pavilion dur- institutes in Peru with state decision Andinas’ series. One of the first tasks ing Rio+20 in Brazil (2012). This year, makers at a regional level. A new feature of the consultant responsible for the CONDESAN, through funds provided by of this particular meeting was the invita- review, Eliana Martínez (photo, center), the Swiss Cooperation (SDC), is support- tion to local businesses to take part in was to organize a virtual workshop on ing a Master’s thesis comparing ground discussions. Reflections on the outcome agrobiodiversity. Over four days, from based temperature data with remote of the biodiversity roundtable and re- 26-29 November 2013, 56 people signed sensed sources, such as MODIS. Master’s search - policy relations can be found at up to discuss three key topics: student Jaime Aguilar began his thesis in the TCA blog on MRI’s website. October 2013 and is based at the Univer- −− Current research in agrobiodiversity sidad Nacional Mayor San Marcos. Preparations for the Global Fair on in the Andes Monitoring of Social-Ecological Systems −− Main threats to agrobiodiversity On this same theme, CONDESAN has conservation coordinated a new submission to the Andrean researchers and networks −− Opportunities for agrobiodiversity US National Science Foundation’s PEER involved in long term monitoring are through collective action and local Awards, funded by USAID. The new pro- gearing up for this flagship MRI initia- markets. posal, ‘Forging academic - public link- tive. Planned sessions or talks include ages for sustainable climate research, ‘Implementing long-term monitoring Important conclusions from the work- monitoring and policy support in the platforms of coupled social-environmen- shop related to the actual definition of Andes’, follows an unsuccessful attempt tal dynamics in mountain ecosystems’, agrobiodiversity and the importance of in 2012. While the proposal follows ‘Andean Forest Monitoring Network’, and local participation in defining research the same underlying research theme of in-situ monitoring of agrobiodiversity. priorities. Furthermore, improvements to warming at high altitudes as a vehicle the format of the electronic workshop for strengthening regional relationships

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Regional Highlights | 43 Highlights from... MRI Europe

MRI-Europe Progress Report 2013

Ten fingers, two hands, one head. Most of us are equipped with this limited set of “tools”, and usually we need to free our hands and our minds before we can embrace new tasks. Of course, gadgets such as backpacks and portable computers may allow us to enhance our personal carrying capacity and performance, yet time and funding usually set the limitations of what is possible.

This is the case with the MRI-Europe Program. In 2013, most resources were allocated to the recently founded Swiss-Austrian Alliance (CH-AT Alliance). In turn, regional network activities in the Carpathian and Balkan areas received considerably less input and were consequently primarily driven by their members.

The flood alarm for the northern side of the Alps in early June 2013 not only caused substantial costs and losses for Switzerland and Austria, but also added further weight to the undertaking of the CH-AT Alliance to intensify coordination and cooperation between mountain researchers of the two countries. The streets and mudflows had just been cleared when 142 researchers travelled to Mittersill, a picturesque mountain village in Austria, to discuss during the Mountain Days 2013 how forces could be joined (another means to expand our capacity and number of hands). Marking the official launch of the CH-AT Alliance, the Mountain Days aimed to promote information exchange about ongoing and planned research activities, foster existing contacts, set up new thematic networks, and identify themes for mountain research to champion at the national, Alpine, and European levels. It yielded 26 thematic – often interdisciplinary – working groups and a Final Commitment Paper to be used as a signpost for future research.

A few weeks later, the impetus of the Mittersill meeting was perpetuated at the European Forum Alpbach, an interdisciplinary platform for science, politics, business and culture dating back to 1945. On occasion of the Working Group on “The potential of the Alps”, a letter of intent was signed by Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and South-Tyrol (Italy) to enhance research cooperation on sustainable resource use in mountain regions. Shortly after, the Austrian Academy of Sciences published the Earth System Science (ESS) Call promoting research situated in the context of interdisciplinary and long-term mountain research. The Call explicitly encouraged project proposals that contribute to bilateral agreements such as the CH-AT Alliance. All three efforts: Mountain Days, Forum Alpbach and the ESS Call, mutually reinforce the ideas of the CH-AT Alliance. As such, the CH-AT Alliance might not have caused a landslide, yet it mobilized lots of creative forces!

Astrid Björnsen Gurung Scientific Program Manager MRI-Europ [email protected]

Keep reading for a brief round up of activities in the European region!

Members of the Working Group on “Renewable Energy Sources” during the Mountain Days in Mittersill 2013. Photo: A. Björnsen Gurung.

44 | Regional Highlights | MRI News No. 8, 2014 The Swiss-Austrian Alliance the active contributions of individual researchers In October 2011, Switzerland and Aus- willing to take lead for the tria committed to addressing sustain- above topics. able mountain development in Europe through a joint effort: the Swiss-Aus- Forum Alpbach trian Alliance. The two countries have much in common: they have a long tra- The European Forum Alp- dition in mountain research, rank highly bach offered the perfect in terms of scientific mountain publica- setting to turn scientific tions and host numerous international insights into political deci- scientific networks working on mountain sions. On occasion of a issues. Despite these common strengths meeting organized by the In agreement on mountain research (from left to right): and interests, Switzerland and Austria Austrian Ministry for Sci- Jernej Pikalo (SI), Mauro Dell’Ambroggio (CH), Karlheinz did not maintain a tradition of bilateral ence and Research on 23 Töchterle (A), and Luis Durnwalder (South-Tyrol) during collaboration in mountain research. August 2013, a letter of the Alpbach Meeting 2013. Photo: A. Björnsen Gurung. With the signatures of the Swiss State intend on „The Enhance- Secretariat for Research and Innovation ment of Multilateral Research Coopera- to play an active role in advocating at and the Austrian Federal Ministry for tion in Sustainable Use of Resources in the European scale, is seen as a priority Science and Research, the two countries Mountain Areas“ has been signed by four and further pursued in 2014. Various declared their intention to strengthen Alpine countries: Austria, Switzerland, pathways to influence European funding and expand bilateral activities in sci- Slovenia and South-Tyrol (Italy). The agencies have already been identified. entific research on mountain regions. signatures of the Federal Minister of Organizing a Mountain Day in Brussels in The Mountain Research Initiative, the Science and Research of Austria (Prof. fall 2014 is only one of many options. Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Dr. Karlheinz Töchterle), the State Research (IGF) at the Austrian Academy Secretary for Education, Research and Science for the Carpathians: Forum of Sciences administers the Alliance with Innovation of Switzerland (Dr. Mauro Carpaticum 2014 the support of the Swiss Interacademic Dell’Ambroggio), the Minister of Educa- Commission for Alpine Studies (ICAS). tion, Science and Sport of the Republic S4C keeps growing and is becoming of Slovenia (Dr. Jernej Pikalo) and the firmly rooted in the region. The prepara- Mountain Days 2013 Governor of the Autonomous Province tions for the 3rd Forum Carpaticum: “Lo- of Bolzano-Bozen (Dr. Luis Durnwalder) cal Responses to Global Challenges” in The Mountain Days in Mittersill, Austria express their interest in fostering re- Lviv, Ukraine (16-19 September 2014), (June 2013), marked the official launch search cooperation in the field of natural have already started. In line with Euro- of the Alliance. In the first instance, resource management in mountains. The pean priorities, the focus of the Forum is however, the event provided a mar- letter of intent serves the extension of placed on four major challenges affect- ket place to trade Swiss and Austrian the Swiss-Austrian Alliance and will be ing the Carpathian ecoregion: expertise and experience in mountain re- valid for 3 years. search. It offered an opportunity to sci- −− Ecosystem services and land use entists to get equipped with new ideas Mountain Research Advocacy in Europe change and contacts for bilateral cooperations. −− Climate change, water and extreme The more than 70 proposals submitted The Mittersill Commitment Paper is only events for thematic sessions were clustered one of many strategic documents outlin- −− Natural and cultural heritage into 22 sessions with 1-2 organizers ing future research in mountain regions. −− Smart mountains each. Those topics were again clustered A great challenge, however, lays in the in 8 thematic fields relevant for future communication and implementation of A profound change is expected also from research and development in the Alps, the desired activities. Therefore, first the shift of the S4C communication, so which are: Climate Change research; efforts were made to develop a network far managed by the MRI Office, to Poland Alpine watersheds; Natural Hazards; Sus- to transport the “mountain message” and thus, closer to the region. Support- tainable Regional Development; Tourism to funding programmes such as Horizon ed by the Jagiellonian University and and Leisure; Energy Market; Perceptions 2020. This could be done by developing the Agricultural University in Krakow, Dr. of the Alps; and Digital Data. These a European Mountain Position Paper, an Dominik Kaim will be the communica- research fields are explained in more de- idea discussed in the frame of the Moun- tion node for the next two years. All the tail in the Mittersill Commitment Paper tain Days in Mittersill. As a complement- best, S4C! (see Link) upon which the participants ing measure, the development of a Eu- agreed. However, adopting a bottom-up ropean Mountain Advocacy Network, i.e. approach, the Alliance relies strongly on a group of mountain researchers willing

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Regional Highlights | 45 Highlights from... The Director‘s Desk

MRI Focuses on “Concerted Efforts” assess whether—and if so, where, to development of three white papers. The what extent, and why—mountains and first white paper, authored by Jim Miller In MRI News N° 7, I described the other high-elevation regions are warm- of Rutgers and colleagues, examined Global Commission process that, back ing more rapidly than other parts of the the mechanisms proposed for EDW and in March 2012 produced a set of nine planet. Public opinion to the contrary, the implications for more conclusive “Concerted Efforts”. Subsequent pro- this phenomenon has not been scien- analyses and observing networks. The cesses, not the least of which was the tifically proven (Rangwala and Miller second white paper, authored by Nick drafting on MRI’s renewal proposal to 2012), and it matters a great deal to Pepin at University of Portsmouth the Swiss National Science Foundation, downstream communities whether it is and colleagues, examined the conclu- refined those nine into a shorter set of real. This campaign will involve a review sions possible from existing data with four Concerted Efforts. This smaller set of existing science but will certainly implications for the nature of data sets nonetheless provides MRI with a lot to also require the collection of new data, needed to assess more conclusively the do over the next few years, in addi- as the paucity of high-elevation station existence of the phenomenon. The third tion to regional networks, Key Contact data precludes definitive answers. white paper, authored by Michel Baraer Workshops, Synthesis Workshops and at École de Technologie Supérieure and other activities. The goal is not to turn MRI into an colleagues, provides a road map for observational network itself, but rather translating the scientific conclusions The Yin and Yang of Observatories to present a convincing science case into an implementation strategy. to funders and the research commu- A long-standing complaint of the moun- nity so the necessary observations get These white papers form the basis for tain research community has been the built into current activities and new a three-day workshop in April 2014 dearth of observations in mountains. proposals to national and international just before the European Geophysical How could a place of such importance agencies. Union meeting in Vienna to develop – for water, for wildlife, for recreation – the proposal and implementation plan. be so poorly monitored? We are aghast The MRI began developing the science The products from the workshop will and complain! case with a side event at the 2012 AGU be a plan of the research needed to meeting and the formation of an Execu- answer the question and a strategy for It turns out that complaining is not tive Committee chaired by Ray Bradley implementing that plan. A successful particularly effective as a strategy. of the University of Massachusetts and campaign would mean observations in However correct that statement might Tandong Yao of the Institute for Tibetan high-elevation regions that could in the be, we needed a strategy, not an asser- Plateau Research. These events were end support the assessment of much tion, to fill the gap in observations. But followed in 2013 with an AGU Session more than just EDW. Nonetheless the what would be the best strategy? Is it on the topic organized by Jim Miller, premise of the Campaign is that a single better to focus on a specific question Imtiaz Rangwala and Ray Bradley, focused research question is essential to and design the optimal system for that an organizational side event and the the creation of a network. question, or is it better to take the observing systems that we But what then about the rest have now and see what we can of the mountain system? If do with them? the community were to list ten other important research ques- Rather than choose one tions, should it then set out strategy over the other, MRI is to create ten more additional doing both! observation networks? And how could results from this The question-centric approach highly-theoretic plethora of is embodied in MRI’s effort to observing networks inform our develop at Global Campaign understanding of mountains to Assess Elevation Dependent as coupled human-natural Warming (EDW). The goal of systems? that multi-year campaign is to EwigLernender Photo:

46 | Regional Highlights | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Bottom-up and top-down The outcomes of the Fair and Workshop bring together social scientists work- will certainly include not only greater ing in mountain regions to define a MRI’s response to these challenges is to understanding of the issues involved in more systematic and synthetic approach co-sponsor, with the University of Ne- observing systems but also new connec- to the structure, function and evolu- vada (Reno), an event - Mountain Ob- tions and collaborations between exist- tion of governance in mountain regions servatories: A Global Fair and Workshop ing observation networks as well as, one through a series of discourses organized on Social-Ecological Systems, scheduled hopes, some momentum toward a similar at major meetings and culminating more for 16–19 July 2014 in Reno, NV, USA Fair and Workshop in Europe and in Asia than likely in a Synthesis Workshop. The - that we hope will lead to a sustained in coming years. four events are all scheduled in 2014 effort to coordinate and expand existing and include the following. observing systems. The premise of this Both of these efforts received a wel- event is that while a more comprehen- come boost by the announcement on 1) Global Land Project Open Science sive international system of mountain 15 January 2014 at the Tenth Plenary Conference, 19-21 March 2014, Berlin, social and ecological Meeting of the Group on Germany observations is needed, Earth Observations of the there is neither a single GEO-Global Network of Ob- MRI has a Round Table discussion at the set of motivating questions servations and Information GLP: The role of governance in adap- applicable globally, nor is on Mountain Environments, tation to global change in mountain there a single entity with or GEO-GNOME. The creation regions. During this session we hope to the authority to organize of an observational effort address descriptive governance studies it or the budget to fund it. focused on mountains at - what are the institutions that govern Rather the system, or more Vamoos Photo: the global level provides a behavior and lead, among other things, likely, systems, must be target for both the EDW and to the management of land resources - built up from existing regional networks the Mountain Observatories efforts: we but then proceeds to the more specific and sites. And the best way to do that is can fill the “ data space” created by this questions of how the highly dynamic not “top down” by declaration but rather GEO declaration. nature of the physical environment, the “bottom up” by convening research- historical diversity of mountain cultures, ers from those networks and sites to Governance in mountain regions and the on-going modernization of these exchange ideas, see what other networks regions affect governance arrangements. offer, develop common programs, assess As much as the community of mountain priority locations, and develop creative researchers agrees that human dimen- 2) International Symposium for Society financing options. sions are important, a rigorous scientific and Resource Management, 8-13 June approach to studying not just human 2014, Hannover, Germany The subtitle “Fair and Workshop” signals ecology (as if our species were just a dual approach, with the Fair promot- another species of wildlife) but also the MRI will participate in a roundtable to ing open-ended interaction and the cognitive and political dimensions of scope a theoretically robust synthe- Workshop promoting more traditional human behavior in mountains has been sis from research in and on mountain focused presentations and discussion. conspicuous in its absence (Björnsen regions and to define a research agenda The Fair is planned as an elaborate Gurung et al. 2012). And literature that situates social dynamics and poster session/trade show in which dif- flagged as “social” is frequently advo- governance in mountain regions in the ferent observing sites and networks can cacy, based on polemics and unstated broader context of regional sustainable display their goals and methods, so that assumptions, rather than true research development cooperation. other researchers who may be interested based on data. in expanding their capabilities can learn what is available. The Fair will also fa- Such research does exist, but it is cilitate side meetings where people can seldom flagged as mountain research, pursue more focused discussions or even because it focuses on social rather than negotiate agreements. The Workshop will geographic constructs. Human behav- provide an opportunity for participants ior and institutions in mountains may to address themes or issues that go not differ fundamentally from those in 3) Global Fair and Workshop on Long- beyond their particular site. It will be other environments, but that in no way Term Observatories of Mountain Social- composed of Sessions, in which partici- reduces the importance of understanding Ecological Systems, 16-19 July 2014, pants offer Presentations to an audi- social systems if we are to understand Reno, NV, USA ence much as they would at a scientific the entire coupled human-natural sys- meeting, and Ateliers (a shop or studio), tem, in mountains or elsewhere. The Fair and Workshop will provide an in which participants engage with others unprecedented opportunity for those to discuss a particular topic. This third Concerted Effort seeks to interested in mountains social systems

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Regional Highlights | 47 to convene in one place, to portray the state of the art in observing social systems and to frame the more systematic approach to the structure, function and evolution of governance in mountain regions called for at the start of this message.

4) The Machida Session, MtnClim Confer- ence, 15-18 September 2014, Midway, UT, USA

The Machida Session is a half-day discussion within this larger conference on global change in the mountains of Western USA that focuses on understanding human-environment interactions through the Institutional Analysis and the SES framework of Ostrom, the Economic contour map for the USA, G-Econ project, Yale University relationship of this theoretical framework to empirical studies, and the rel- The potential for a more comprehensive est in the environment, environmental evance of social science to management assessment is great. Both the technol- capital is probably the easiest of the and policy. ogy and the data have changed quite a three kinds of capital to assess. Social bit in the past decade. GIS has improved capital presents more problems. While MRI will record and post as many pre- and new data sets containing compara- spatially disaggregated data on popula- sentations as possible on its website in ble data as different times have become tion is available, data on other aspects order to inform and, we hope, engage available. In addition alternative defini- of social capital (e.g., education, health, as many social scientists as possible in tions of mountains and new coverages of governance, etc.) is much less available. these deliberations. mountain extent have appeared (Koerner Data on economic capital might be the et al. 2011). most difficult to obtain. Addressing the gap in quantitative data on mountain regions A first step has been taken as the Food While there have been attempts to and Agriculture Organization appears create spatially disaggregated data on The fourth Concerted Effort is a compre- poised to redo the Huddleston et al. gross product (see http://gecon.yale. hensive quantitative global assessment (2003) report with the technical sup- edu/), the size of the grid cell used is of environmental, social, and eco- port of the Centre for Development and generally much greater than that for nomic capital (aka “the three pillars of Environment at the University of Bern. environmental or population data. Data sustainable development”) in mountain While this update falls short of a com- for other important economic variables regions. To MRI’s knowledge there have prehensive assessment of sustainable (e.g., income distribution, employment) been only two attempts to generate development it nonetheless creates a are usually reported at the scale of quantitative statements basis for such an assess- administrative units, which frequently with respect to moun- ment by updating the do not correspond with the boundar- tain regions globally, basic layers on mountain ies of mountain regions. These are not one by the Food and extent, population and insurmountable problems, but they are Agriculture Organization land cover. Morever, its significant challenges to obtaining a (Huddleston et al. 2003) publication can be used clear understanding of the conditions and one by the United as a goad toward a more and trends in mountain regions. Nations Environment complete assessment. Programme (UNEP-WCMC The objective of MRI in this arena is 2002). Both reports What might a more to define operationally the indicators cobbled together state- complete assessment ad- of environmental, social and economic ments that could be supported with dress? It certainly must address environ- capital such that other agencies (gov- data available at the time, but provided mental capital including the condition ernments, NGOs, etc.) could perform only snapshots of current conditions and and trends of ecosystems, species and such assessments themselves with the stopped well short of a comprehensive key abiotic features such as water and assurance that the multiple resulting, assessment of the state of sustainable geomorphology. Given the long history usually regional, assessments could be development. of remote sensing of and policy inter- added together to create a more global

48 | Regional Highlights | MRI News No. 8, 2014 picture. As this activity is less research References Resources Working Paper No 10. Rome, Italy: Food and more policy-related, MRI is applying and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Becker A, Bugmann H, editors. 2001. Global Change to the Swiss Development and Coopera- and Mountain Regions: The Mountain Research Rangwala I, Miller J. 2012. Climate change in tion Agency for financial support for this Initiative. Implementation Plan. IGBP Report #49 mountains: A review of elevation-dependent warm- effort. In addition, the previously noted / IHDP Report #13 / GTOS Report #28. Stockholm, ing and its possible causes. Climate Change. http:// Sweden: IGBP Secretariat. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0419-3. launch of GEO-GNOME indicates that there will be a “home” for any and all Björnsen Gurung A, Wymann von Dach S, Price UNEP-WCMC [United Nations Environmental data created by such assessments, filling MF, Aspinall R, Balsiger J, Baron JS, Sharma E, Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre]. Greenwood G, Kohler T. 2012. Global change and 2002. Mountain Watch. Cambridge, United King- the informational void that has charac- the world’s mountains: Research needs and emerg- dom: UNEP-WCMC. terized mountains regions. ing themes for sustainable development. Mountain Research and Development 32(S1):47–54.

These “Concerted Efforts”, with their fo- GLOCHAMORE [Global Change in Mountain Regions]. cus on implementation, complement the 2004. Monitoring Global Change: Thematic Work- other three i’s of MRI’s mission (initia- shop Report. Vienna, Austria: GLOCHAMORE. http:// mri.scnatweb.ch/download-document?gid=140; tion, integration, and information) and accessed in June 2013. will provide an important focus for MRI activity in the coming years. Koerner, C., Paulsen J. and Spehn, E. 2011. A definition of mountains and their bioclimatic belts for global comparisons of biodiversity data. Alpine Botany. DOI 10.1007/s00035-011-0094-4

Huddleston B, Atamen E, de Salvo P, Zanetti M, Gregory B. Greenwood Bloise M, Bel J, Franceschini G, d’Ostiani LF. 2003. Director, Mountain Research Initiative Towards a GIS-based Analysis of Mountain Environ- [email protected] ments and Populations. Environment and Natural

Photo: D. Fagre

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Regional Highlights | 49

Field Notes

Photo: D. Fagre Field Notes

New scenario-based conservation project in the high Andes

The Institute of Regional Ecology (IER) at the National University of Tucumán, Argentina (www.iecologia.com.ar) is developing a research project that emphasizes scenario-based conservation planning in the high Andean wetlands of Argentina. These wetlands (lakes and peatbogs) host high levels of biodiversity and productivity at upper elevations in the Andes and provide essential ecosystem services to local inhabitants. Funded by the Rufford Foundation, FOCA and Foncyt, this project develops spatial conservation planning strategies for subtropical Argentine High Andean wetlands with respect to the most pressing threats of the coming decades: mining and climate change.

For more information about this project, contact Andrea Izquierdo at [email protected] or Héctor Ricardo Grau at [email protected].

The future of Norwegian mountain communities

Eastern Norway Research Institute (ENRI) heads a 3 year project (2011-2014) with the title “Mountain areas in Norway as attractive rural communities or urban recreational playgrounds: the challenges to a mountain policy”. The project has established a fruitful cooperation between research milieus in Norway, Sweden (Umeå University), Scotland (University of Highlands and Islands, Perth), Montur- ban/EURAC in Switzerland/Italy and Canada/USA (International Amenity Migration Centre). A workshop was held at EURAC in Bolzano, Italy, in October, focusing on the three main themes in the project: rural tourism, planning and management, and local participation and influence.

For more information, contact project leader Kjell Overvåg at: [email protected]

Changes in peripheral arctic-alpine plants in Glacier National Park

In the summer of 2012, we initiated field research on rare, peripheral arctic-alpine plants growing at the edges of permanent snowfields and glaciers that are retreat- ing due to climate change in Glacier National Park, Montana. The initial research involved establishing plots and baseline studies of species presence and distribution at Siyeh Pass, Preston Park, Piegan Pass, and Mt. Clements snowfields. In 2014, my students and I will return to examine snowfield plants and their func- tional traits. Read more about this RM-CESU funded research at: www.cfc.umt.edu/ CESU/Reports

Martha E. Apple ([email protected]), Department of Biological Sciences Montana Tech, Butte, Montana

52 | Field Notes | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Field Notes

Bilateral Research Project: “Added Value of Nature in the Eastern Ore Mountains - Identifying, Assessing, and Communi- cating Ecosystem Services”

The Eastern Ore Mountains, with their numerous biotopes and ecosystems on both sides of the German-Czech border (including mountain pastures, rocky ridges, moorland, and forests of varying degrees of naturalness), are particularly well suited for recording and describing good examples of ecosystem services.

There are three focal project goals:

1. The recording and assessment of selected ecosystem services in the Eastern Ore Mountains 2. The economic and institutional assessment of environmental policy control tools and of ecosystem management 3. The target-group specific preparation of results, public relations/environmental education – also covering new media (e.g. smartphones)

This project is performed by researchers of the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Dresden, Ger- many) and the Jan-Evangelista-Purkynĕ University in Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic) and is supported by the European Union, the German Free State of Saxony and the Czech Republic in the framework of the INTERREG programme.

For more information about this project, contact Dr. Olaf Bastian, Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Develop- ment, Dresden, Germany. E-Mail: [email protected]

Photo: O. Bastian

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Field Notes | 53 Field Notes

Beetles point to a changing climate in the Dolomites

In 2008, the Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra at the University of Calabria (Italy) and Parco Na- turale Paneveggio – Pale di San Martino (Italy) began work on the project “Dolomites Global Change: Evaluation and monitoring of the effects of climate change on Coleoptera carabidae in high-altitude ecosystems”.

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that species richness, abundance and distribution range are affected by climate change in the southeastern Dolomites (i.e., Paneveggio Park). Using data sampled in 1980 and again at the same sites 30 years later, we compared the diversity of carabid beetles in stands both above and below tree line (1650-2250m) over time. Photo: R. Pizzolotto Our work shows that species richness and abundance have changed over the past thirty years as a consequence of local extinctions and uphill shifts in increments of abundance and distribution ranges. The overall species number has dropped from 36 to 27 and changes in species richness and abundance are more profound above tree line. In forested ecosystems, soil invertebrate biomass has increased and thermophilic carabids have become more common. Thus, changes in carabid assemblages over the past three decades are consistent with the hypothesis that climate change is one of the main factors triggering natural environment modifications.

For more information about this project, contact Roberto Pizzolotto (University of Calabria) at [email protected].

Photo: R. Pizzolotto

54 | Field Notes | MRI News No. 8, 2014 Announcements

UIAA Mountain Protection Award – join the assessment team or submit a project!

This year the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) launched its new global sustainable mountain tourism award, the UIAA Mountain Protection Award. It has already attracted a field of very innovative and deserving projects from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Western University of Baku, Azerbaijan is proudly serving as the initial Sponsor of this Award.

Assess: In response to the popularity of this award program this year, the UIAA is now seeking more mountain protection experts from around the world to join the part-time Award Assessors team. Please contact: Linda McMillan ([email protected]) or Valerie Thöni ([email protected]).

Submit: If you or someone you know has started a nonprofit initiative geared toward protecting the mountain environment, the UIAA can help you promote it. Once a year, the projects deemed most innovative and effective also receive a cash award so submit today!

For more information, visit http://mountainprotection.theuiaa.org/pages/award

Impact investment for science?

A new funding platform is on the horizon, and it’s not just for clever start-ups. Maximpact is a phil- anthropic funding and collaboration platform that links funders with sustainable profit and non-profit initiatives and projects looking for investment, grants or other types of collaboration. Neither a charity facilitator nor a strict profit-building entity, Maximpact supports the development of impact investing, an approach that harnesses the power of market finance to deliver benefit for the planet and its inhabitants.

Maximpact is therefore calling on the mountain research community to submit projects (or “deals” in investment lingo). Project/deals can be submitted directly on Maximpact’s portal through a simple registration process, which upon confirmation grants immediate access to the impact investing community.. Projects should demonstrate a clear benefit to mountain environments and/or communities, but need not be limited in scope or subject. For more information, visit www.maximpact.com.

If you submit a project, please let MRI know. We would be very interested in hearing about your experiences with this new funding platform.

InsightShare: Sharing stories of adaptation and resilience

InsightShare aims to strengthen the capacity of its indigenous partners to use participatory video (PV) methods to contribute to the global climate change debate, document traditional responses and solutions, mobilize local people and galvanize support. Over the past few years, communities in the Andes in Peru, the Gamo highlands in Ethiopia and the Cordillera region in the Philippines have created powerful videos and used PV as a catalyst to support community-led reflection, empowerment and self-affirmation. Through the screenings of videos made by other communities, the network strengthens relationships between indigenous communities both locally and across continents.

InsightShare is currently looking for partners, researchers and funders who would like to collaborate in the process of supporting new communities, as well as communities already involved in the network.

For more information and to have a look at the videos, visit the website at www.insightshare.org.

MRI News No. 8, 2014 | Announcements | 55 The Mountain Research Initiative Institute of Geography, University of Berne Erlachstrasse 9a, Trakt 3 CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland http://mri.scnatweb.ch