The International Symposium ‘Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mountainous Regions＇, held in Chiang Mai from 7-9 March 2006 （hereafter referred to as ‘Mountain Symposium＇）, brought together a wea...The International Symposium ‘Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mountainous Regions＇, held in Chiang Mai from 7-9 March 2006 （hereafter referred to as ‘Mountain Symposium＇）, brought together a wealth of experience from mountain research and development in four continents. Some of its highlights are presented in this Special Issue. If one were to choose a ＇leitmotif that would best capture the present state of knowledge in mountain research, it would be recognizing heterogeneity, complexity, interdependency, and learning how to deal with it. We are in the middle of a learning process and it is important to remember Rod Lefroy＇s statement in the panel discussion of the Mountain Symposium： ＂perfection is the enemy of progress＂ （Lefroy 2006）.展开更多
Mountainous regions cover about 27 per cent of the world＇s land surface and are home to some 22 per cent of the global population （UNEP 2002）. A much greater number of people depend on mountain environments for a w...Mountainous regions cover about 27 per cent of the world＇s land surface and are home to some 22 per cent of the global population （UNEP 2002）. A much greater number of people depend on mountain environments for a wide range of services, including clean water, energy, timber, biodiversity, recreation, and protection from environmental hazards, such as landslides and floods. At the same time, mountain areas are extremely vulnerable ecosystems and under continuous threat of environmental degradation due to such diverse factors as climate change, extraction of their rich natural resources, high population pressure, and insecure and inequitable resource ownership. Mountain people are often among the most marginalized groups in society. Political and social discrimination is largely accompanied by pervasive poverty and food insecurity. A recent FAO study on vulnerability in mountains found that as many as 245 million people in the mountains of developing and transition countries are at risk of, or actually suffering from hunger and food insecurity （Diouf 2006）. At the same time, mountain areas are major sources and production areas of narcotic plants, such as opium poppy in Afghanistan and Myanmar, qat in Yemen and Ethiopia, and coca in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. The remoteness and frequent position of mountain regions along disputed political and ethnic borders also make them more prone to armed conflict. It was estimated that between 1946 and 2ool, around 41 per cent of mountainous areas experienced violent conflicts compared to 26 per cent of non-mountain regions （UNEP 2002）. On the other hand, mountainous regions are treasures of biological and agricultural diversity. Perhaps no other life zone contains such high degree of variation between habitats and ecosystems as mountains （Denniston 1995）. Genetic diversity in agricultural resources also tends to be higher in mountainous regions than in the lowlands, largely due to ethnic and cultural diversity and the extreme micro-variability of environmental conditions. Mountain communities in the Andes region are reported to conserve more than 150 distinct potato varieties, while highland farmers in Central Africa cultivate mixtures of 30 bean varieties simultaneously （UNEP 2002）.展开更多
Changing environmental and socio-economic conditions make land degradation,a major concern in Central and East Asia.Globally satellite imagery,particularly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)data,has proved a...Changing environmental and socio-economic conditions make land degradation,a major concern in Central and East Asia.Globally satellite imagery,particularly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)data,has proved an effective tool for monitoring land cover change.This study examines 33 grassland water points using vegetation field studies and remote sensing techniques to track desertification on the Mongolian plateau.Findings established a significant correlation between same-year field observation(line transects)and NDVI data,enabling an historical land cover perspective to be developed from 1998 to 2006.Results show variable land cover patterns in Mongolia with a 16%decrease in plant density over the time period.Decline in cover identified by NDVI suggests degradation;however,continued annual fluctuation indicates desertificationirreversible land cover changehas not occurred.Further,in situ data documenting greater cover near water points implies livestock overgrazing is not causing degradation at water sources.In combination of the two research methodsremote sensing and field surveysstrengthen findings and provide an effective way to track desertification in dryland regions.展开更多
文摘The International Symposium ‘Towards Sustainable Livelihoods and Ecosystems in Mountainous Regions＇, held in Chiang Mai from 7-9 March 2006 （hereafter referred to as ‘Mountain Symposium＇）, brought together a wealth of experience from mountain research and development in four continents. Some of its highlights are presented in this Special Issue. If one were to choose a ＇leitmotif that would best capture the present state of knowledge in mountain research, it would be recognizing heterogeneity, complexity, interdependency, and learning how to deal with it. We are in the middle of a learning process and it is important to remember Rod Lefroy＇s statement in the panel discussion of the Mountain Symposium： ＂perfection is the enemy of progress＂ （Lefroy 2006）.
文摘Mountainous regions cover about 27 per cent of the world＇s land surface and are home to some 22 per cent of the global population （UNEP 2002）. A much greater number of people depend on mountain environments for a wide range of services, including clean water, energy, timber, biodiversity, recreation, and protection from environmental hazards, such as landslides and floods. At the same time, mountain areas are extremely vulnerable ecosystems and under continuous threat of environmental degradation due to such diverse factors as climate change, extraction of their rich natural resources, high population pressure, and insecure and inequitable resource ownership. Mountain people are often among the most marginalized groups in society. Political and social discrimination is largely accompanied by pervasive poverty and food insecurity. A recent FAO study on vulnerability in mountains found that as many as 245 million people in the mountains of developing and transition countries are at risk of, or actually suffering from hunger and food insecurity （Diouf 2006）. At the same time, mountain areas are major sources and production areas of narcotic plants, such as opium poppy in Afghanistan and Myanmar, qat in Yemen and Ethiopia, and coca in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. The remoteness and frequent position of mountain regions along disputed political and ethnic borders also make them more prone to armed conflict. It was estimated that between 1946 and 2ool, around 41 per cent of mountainous areas experienced violent conflicts compared to 26 per cent of non-mountain regions （UNEP 2002）. On the other hand, mountainous regions are treasures of biological and agricultural diversity. Perhaps no other life zone contains such high degree of variation between habitats and ecosystems as mountains （Denniston 1995）. Genetic diversity in agricultural resources also tends to be higher in mountainous regions than in the lowlands, largely due to ethnic and cultural diversity and the extreme micro-variability of environmental conditions. Mountain communities in the Andes region are reported to conserve more than 150 distinct potato varieties, while highland farmers in Central Africa cultivate mixtures of 30 bean varieties simultaneously （UNEP 2002）.
文摘Changing environmental and socio-economic conditions make land degradation,a major concern in Central and East Asia.Globally satellite imagery,particularly Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)data,has proved an effective tool for monitoring land cover change.This study examines 33 grassland water points using vegetation field studies and remote sensing techniques to track desertification on the Mongolian plateau.Findings established a significant correlation between same-year field observation(line transects)and NDVI data,enabling an historical land cover perspective to be developed from 1998 to 2006.Results show variable land cover patterns in Mongolia with a 16%decrease in plant density over the time period.Decline in cover identified by NDVI suggests degradation;however,continued annual fluctuation indicates desertificationirreversible land cover changehas not occurred.Further,in situ data documenting greater cover near water points implies livestock overgrazing is not causing degradation at water sources.In combination of the two research methodsremote sensing and field surveysstrengthen findings and provide an effective way to track desertification in dryland regions.
