HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE UNESCO MAB-6 MOUNTAIN PROJECT “HUMAN IMPACT ON MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS”. FROM ECOLOGY TO MONTOLOGY

Abstract

Through much of the twentieth century there was little concern over the need for sustainable mountain development. Nevertheless, the 1972 International Conference on the Environment (Stockholm) was an important beginning. The extensive publication that followed emphasized the need for environmental concern and action world-wide, although there was no mention of “mountains” per se. Nevertheless, several research initiatives received important stimulus, including UNESCO’s programme for “Man and the Biosphere”, especially MAB-6: The Impact of Human Activities on Mountain Ecosystems. This led to association with the International Geographical Union’s Commission of High Altitude Geoecology, and later (1977) the United Nations University’s project. These developments encouraged a number of mountain scholars world-wide to establish close personal relationships that had a decisive impact on the inclusion of Chapter 13 (Mountains) in AGENDA 21 (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), critical for the UN declaration of 2002 as The International Year of Mountains and December 11th as International Mountain Day. The following account explains how all these developments produced vital international linkages so that we can recognize, fifty years later how much has been achieved. The following account draws attention to many of the major achievements and the importance of goodwill and international collaboration. Throughout this long period of mountain activity there has been a persistent effort to promote the term “Montology”. This is to emphasize the need for a wide approach to transdisciplinary mountain research.