Mountain Conservation Research Articles

Enhancing conservation and management of mountain area through a biocultural diversity evaluation approach:A case study of Taishan Mountain Area, China

As hotspots of biocultural diversity (BCD), mountain areas contain the richest ecosystems with cultural characteristics. However, in the context of cultural homogenization and ecological decline, some high-value mountain areas are still not adequately protected, and some protected areas (PAs) even suffer from an imbalance between natural and cultural protection. To improve the coverage and conservation effectiveness of PAs in mountain areas, we propose a BCD evaluation approach to identify conservation gaps and prioritization, taking the Taishan Mountain Area (TMA) as a study case: first, we used four biodiversity factors (topographic diversity, geological diversity, ecosystem services, bird species distribution) and four cultural diversity factors (cultural landscape, intangible cultural heritage, traditional production modes, population and economy) to evaluate the BCD values; second, we generated a map of BCD hotspots and graded them into three levels; and finally, we compared the evaluation result with the PAs’ layout in the TMA and determined the conservation gap and prioritization. We find that 43.92% of the high BCD areas and 84.39% of the medium BCD areas within the mountain area are inadequately protected, and 10.79% of the low BCD areas may be overprotected, classifying the above conservation gaps as three priority levels of conservation. Our study indicates that the current PAs in mountain areas are insufficiently protected and urgently need to be expanded; (2) by analyzing the coupling relationship between biodiversity and cultural diversity, it is found that only 23.90% of the relationships between the two were coordinated or above in the TMA; (3) we propose the optimization strategies of four typical conservation gaps in the TMA; (4) we finally develop an integrated conservation model of biological and cultural values for different PA categories in mountain areas based on a gap analysis. Optimizing mountain conservation and management based on the BCD evaluation results is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of human beings and nature while guaranteeing the unbiased allocation of conservation resources in mountain areas.

Evaluating ecosystem protection and fragmentation of the world's major mountain regions.

Conserving mountains is important for protecting biodiversity because they have high beta diversity and endemicity, facilitate species movement, and provide numerous ecosystem benefits for people. Mountains are often thought to have lower levels of human modification and contain more protected area than surrounding lowlands. To examine this, we compared biogeographic attributes of the largest, contiguous, mountainous region on each continent. In each region, we generated detailed ecosystems based on Köppen-Geiger climate regions, ecoregions, and detailed landforms. We quantified anthropogenic fragmentation of these ecosystems based on human modification classes of large wild areas, shared lands, and cities and farms. Human modification for half the mountainous regions approached the global average, and fragmentation reduced the ecological integrity of mountain ecosystems up to 40%. Only one-third of the major mountainous regions currently meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework target of 30% coverage for all protected areas; furthermore, the vast majority of ecosystem types present in mountains were underrepresented in protected areas. By measuring ecological integrity and human-caused fragmentation with a detailed representation of mountain ecosystems, our approach facilitates tracking progress toward achieving conservation goals and better informs mountain conservation.

백두산 관광객 환경책임행동의 선행요인에 대한 연구

Purpose While tourism globally contributes positively to sociocultural exchange and local economic development, the surge in demand at some popular tourist destinations has led to environmental side effects and societal concerns. This study focuses on the environmental protection policies and capabilities of the Baekdu Mountain Conservation Area, a prominent tourist destination in China, and aims to explore the relationships between tourists' destination information source credibility, local attachment, perceived subjective norms, attitudes, and their environmentally responsible behavior.
 Methods The study employs a structural equation modeling approach based on hypotheses derived from prior research findings. Empirical data were collected through a survey administered to tourists visiting Baekdu Mountain, and demographic analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, model fit analysis, and hypothesis testing were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0.
 Results The study reveals that destination credibility significantly influences environmentally responsible behavior. Local attachment also shows a significant relationship with environmentally responsible behavior, indicating that tourists who trust the destination are more likely to develop emotional attachment. Subjective norms were found to influence environmentally responsible behavior through the mediating role of environmental attitudes.
 Conclusion The study provides practical implications for the conservation, environmental protection, and destination management of the Baekdu mountain ecological tourism site. It emphasizes the importance of efforts by tourist destinations in management, operation, and information dissemination to gain and maintain tourists' credibility. This research contributes academically by conducting empirical research on Baekdu Mountain Conservation Area in China, which has not been extensively covered in extant academic literature.

The Prospect of Geotourism in the Cycloop Mountains Conservation Area Papua

The Cycloop mountains in Papua are a nature reserve conservation area that has diverse geology, biology and culture. This paper discusses the prospects of geotourism in Cycloop mountains based on a method of analyzing the community acceptability and tourists preferences, likewise the geosite attraction and geotourism sustainability. The results of analysis indicates that a) village communities in surrounding conservation area accept and wish to get involved in natural activities; b) local tourists are very dominant and motivated on outdoor recreation in groups; c) identified geosites has classified as from Quite Interesting to Interesting based on the index of attractiveness; and d) geotourism activity in the mountains Cycloop is categorized Quite Sustainable reviewed from the environment, society, economy and governance dimension. The exploration and the geological conservation to be the reliable activities in organizing the geotourism. Geotourism is likely to be applied to the conservation area as a form of implementation of the sustainable tourism concept.

Endangered mountain gorillas and COVID-19: One health lessons for prevention and preparedness during a global pandemic.

The world's 1063 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) live in two subpopulations at the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The majority of mountain gorillas are human-habituated to facilitate tourism and research, which brings mountain gorillas into close proximity of people daily. Wild great apes are proven to be susceptible to human pathogens, including viruses that have caused fatal respiratory disease in mountain gorillas (e.g., human metapneumovirus1 ). This is the result of the close genetic relatedness of humans and gorillas as species, and the structural and genetic similarity in molecular receptors that allow viruses to infect cells2 . At the time of writing, there is no evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), has infected a mountain gorilla. However, due to the significant potential for human-to-gorilla transmission, mountain gorilla range States took immediate steps to minimize the COVID-19 threat. These actions included a combination of preventive practice around gorillas and other great apes (e.g., mandatory face mask use, increased "social" minimum distancing from gorillas) as well as human public health measures (e.g., daily health/fever screenings, COVID-19 screening, and quarantines). Minimization of the COVID-19 threat also required socioeconomic decision-making and political will, as all gorilla tourism was suspended by late March 2020 and guidelines developed for tourism reopening. A consortium that collaborates and coordinates on mountain gorilla management and conservation, working within an intergovernmental institutional framework, took a multifaceted One Health approach to address the COVID-19 threat to mountain gorillas by developing a phased contingency plan for prevention and response. The aim of this paper is to describe how range States and partners achieved this collaborative planning effort, with intent that this real-world experience will inform similar actions at other great ape sites.

A multi-pressure analysis of ecosystem services for conservation planning in the Alps

Increasing anthropogenic pressures such as pollution, climate change or invasive species can have multiple impacts on ecosystems and the services (ES) they provide. To address the potential effects on ES provision, we propose a geospatial framework to identify and analyze the cumulative effects on terrestrial and freshwater ES. The framework includs an impact chain analysis based on ten pressures grouped into six categories (pollution, climate change, land-use change, overexploitation, land fragmentation, invasive species) and their single or multiple effects on five key ES of the Alpine environment (recreation, forest protection, CO2 sequestration, habitat maintenance, grassland biomass). Results show that the areas most affected by cumulative effects were located in major urban centers, in the Po Valley, Germany, Slovenia, and in coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea. The spatial coincidence analysis of pressure P-ES on IUCN protected sites showed that protection categories IV and V mostly had high P/high ES scores. Our approach will help in management and planning for mountain conservation aimed at reducing multi-pressure occurrences in transboundary environments. The framework can be used to identify areas with the highest ES provision, characterize areas with high stress from anthropogenic pressures, and examine the effects of pressures on protected areas.

A Humboldtian Approach to Mountain Conservation and Freshwater Ecosystem Services

Complex environmental issues require solutions that cannot be achieved without integrating scientific disciplines and communicating science to people, decision-makers and stakeholders. Nevertheless, although Alexander von Humboldt gifted us with an approach to integrate knowledge across disciplines aiming to broadly understand environmental issues, our current scientific practice largely ignores that holistic approach. Here, we develop a conceptual framework for sustaining mountain integrity and securing their ecosystem services based on cross-disciplinary ideas. We used headwater systems located in tropical old mountains as an example of a meta-ecosystem because they are home to disproportional high levels of algae, invertebrate and microorganism species diversity and endemism as well as securing water availability and quality to nearly half of mankind. We also argue that the interplay between academia and other sectors of society should facilitate the permeability of scientific knowledge into policy- and decision-makers, which is a pivotal issue for improving natural resources management. We argue that the prioritization of tropical montane headwater systems is a feasible, desirable and strategic issue to be included in the global sustainability agenda. Failure to implement sustainable development goals in global mountains is likely to result in catastrophic events with harsh consequences for both humans and biodiversity.

Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality

EcopsychologyAhead of Print Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild VitalityDeadline for Manuscript Submission: January 6, 2020Guest Editors: Tom Fleischner and Laura SewallGuest Editors: Tom FleischnerNatural History InstituteSearch for more papers by this author and Laura SewallBates-Morse Mountain Conservation AreaSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:17 Sep 2019https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.29003.cfpAboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View article"Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality." Ecopsychology, , pp. –FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 0Issue 0 InformationCopyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Guest Editors: Tom Fleischner and Laura Sewall.Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality.Ecopsychology.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.29003.cfpOnline Ahead of Print:September 17, 2019PDF download

Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality

EcopsychologyVol. 11, No. 3 Call for PapersCall for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild VitalityDeadline for Manuscript Submission: January 6, 2020Guest Editors: Tom Fleischner and Laura SewallGuest Editors: Tom FleischnerNatural History InstituteSearch for more papers by this author and Laura SewallBates-Morse Mountain Conservation AreaSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:30 Aug 2019https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.29002.cfpAboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View article"Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality." Ecopsychology, 11(3), p. 199FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byIndigenous Knowledge and Techno-Scientific Modernity: “Hierarchical Integration” Reconsidered Jonathan Coope4 June 2020 | Ecopsychology, Vol. 12, No. 2 Volume 11Issue 3Sep 2019 InformationCopyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Guest Editors: Tom Fleischner and Laura Sewall.Call for Papers for Special Issue of Ecopsychology: Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality.Ecopsychology.Sep 2019.199-199.http://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.29002.cfpPublished in Volume: 11 Issue 3: August 30, 2019Online Ahead of Print:August 15, 2019PDF download

First record of the endangered Arabian Tahr Arabitragus jayakari (Thomas, 1894) in the Hatta Mountain Conservation Area, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Arabian Tahr Arabitragus jayakari is endemic to the Hajar Mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Lack of scientific research from areas of its occurrence has been a challenge in determining its basic ecological aspects such as current distribution range, population status, and abundance. In the present study, we report a new distribution record for the Arabian Tahr from the Hatta Mountain Conservation Area in the Dubai Emirate through camera trap images. A total of 442 images (44 events) were obtained using three camera traps on 564 trap nights between March and December 2016. About 90% of the Arabian Tahr captures were recorded between 1100 and 1600 hr, indicating diurnal activity. This new occurrence record of the Arabian Tahr from this area is considered of high significance as it will drive in more studies and incentives towards the conservation and management of the species and the area as a whole.

Identification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis inhibiting isolates via challenge against salamander skin microbiota.

Rapid declines in global amphibian populations can be partially attributed to chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Due to how quickly it has spread worldwide, and the number of amphibians affected, this fungus is of increasing concern in both the herpetological and mycological communities. We characterized the cutaneous microbiome of Appalachian salamanders, which persist in the presence of the fungus despite high rates of infection in co‐occurring frog populations. The cutaneous microbiome of vertebrates is known as the first line of defense against invading pathogens. We hypothesized that these salamanders might have resident bacteria on their skin with the ability to inhibit Bd growth. Our objectives were to 1) isolate resident bacteria from salamander skin swabs, 2) challenge these isolates against Bd, and 3) genotype all inhibitory isolates. During the summer of 2016, 82 swabs were collected from three salamander genera including Desmognathus (n=36), Eurycea (n=20), and Plethodon (n=26). To isolate cutaneous bacteria, swabs were streaked on Reasoner's 2A agar plates that we checked daily for two weeks. Colonies with unique morphology were isolated onto secondary plates until pure cultures were obtained. To challenge the isolates against Bd, zoospores were harvested from cultures that had been aged 5–7 days, counted with a hemocytometer, and diluted to approximately 1,000,000 cells/milliliter (mL). Tryptone agar plates were then flooded with 1.0 mL of standardized zoospore solution and dried for 45 minutes in a laminar flow hood. Bacterial isolates were streaked onto each plate in co‐culture with Bd. Plates were incubated at room temperature for four days, examined for noticeable zones of inhibition (ZOI), measured in millimeters. Isolates that produced a measurable ZOI were photographed and will be screened in further testing against Bd. We used direct colony PCR and Sanger sequencing to identify all inhibitory isolates. Presently, 63 of the 472 acquired isolates have been challenged, 16 of which produced a ZOI. The challenge phase is ongoing and we anticipate discovery of additional candidate probiotic species. In addition, we plan to test for possible synergistic inhibition by challenging candidates in polyculture.Support or Funding InformationGreat Smokey Mountains Conservation Association and Tennessee Herpetological SocietyThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

The Alpine Club of Canada’s ‘Mountain Heritage’: Adventure and Advocacy in the Twentieth Century and Beyond

Founded in 1906, the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) was a key proponent of mountain adventure and advocacy. This paper examines the club’s annual camps, physical culture, and conservation involvement as indicators to understand the integration of mountaineering and parks in Canada in the twentieth century. It surveys the club’s origins and highlights its shifting agendas. The ACC mountaineering camps and classic alpine ascents invented a tradition for middle-class sport and tourism in mountain parks, particularly in the Rockies and Columbia Mountains. The club advocated for climbers but also for conservation in wild places. It participated in contested debates on parks and resource use as a stakeholder on public lands. The paper argues the ACC was a leading proponent of mountain pursuits, conservation, and tourism in a complex political ecology of engaged land use for sport and recreation intertwined with physical spaces and the social production of mountain parks in Canada. Adventure and advocacy were its legacy as well as education on the land. Based on archives, alpine journals, and other published sources, the paper illustrates an integration of people and places in landscapes of sport as well as contemporary mountain adventure, tourism, and conservation issues in Canada and internationally.

Perception and Indicators of Climate Change, Its Impacts, Available Mitigation Strategies in Rice Growing Communities Adjoining Eastern Arc Mountains

Ongoing forest disturbances in the areas adjoining the Eastern Arc Mountains in Kilombero District associated with growing population and farm expansion led to increasing land degradation and fluctuations of hydrological supply downstream. This threatens not only biodiversity but also irrigated rice productivity. A structured Interview in conjunction with awareness creation was carried out in seven villages (Chita, Mbingu, Kisegese, Namawala, Mpofu, Njage and Mofu) to determine level of understanding among rice growers on the potential of these mountains for sustainable water flow downstream and the ability of farmers to detect and prepare towards impact of climate change. A total of 240 respondents (124 men and 116 women) were involved. Results revealed that, the whole concept of Eastern Arc Mountains and its potential for water availability in rice productivity as well as level of awareness on climate change, its impact, and preparedness reflected limited understanding. Awareness creation program was carried out involving 258 farmers (134 males and 124 Females). The study recommends a joint Eastern Arc Mountains conservation multi-stakeholder task force for preparation of a joint climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Furthermore, the study recommends introduction of agro forestry, promoting cocoa production and introduction of zero grazing among conservation measures.

Holy Hills Role in Biodiversity Conservation and Mountain Management: Implication of Multi-Purpose Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in Sustainable Mountain Conservation

Ethiopia had practiced Judaism before Christianity. This church is unique in the continent of Africa and glob in holding judo-Christian sect. In the church tradition forests are considered as shelter of the earth crust which provides enormous scenery to the world. Most of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church and monasteries are built on hills, mountains and high places which are covered with densely forests. This practice and tradition was comes from Eden, the place had all the best and choicest trees and plant, God a tender Father, provide not only for Adam’s needs, but also his pleasure. The church on the earth signifies the new heaven, the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, Adam. Therefore, gardening was the first kind of employment on record in which man was engaged. Though trees and plants produced the necessary flower and fruits by the will of God, dressing and keeping are necessary to maintain in their perfection. The greenery in Eden is the underlying principles on which Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church dwell to conserve nature. Existing literatures on the nature conservation role of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is not the detail. Therefore, published articles and Holy Scriptures were reviewed and presented in a more coherent manner. The main objective of the paper is to explore past and present work on sacred grove role in general, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in particular in mountain ecology management and biodiversity conservation. The result shows that unreplaceable role of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church in conserving forest and mountain biodiversity in Ethiopia by indicating large scale forests and ecosystem is currently under the custodianship of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church and its role on carbon emission reduction in the changing world. Therefore, recognizing the indigenous knowledge in biodiversity and mountain conservation and customizing the best practice from it would help global efforts on remnant resource conservation. It is a win-win scenario for diversity management and mountain conservation policy formulation effort too.

Sustainable Environmental Conservation in East Africa through Agroforestry Systems: A Case of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania

Sustainable conservation of any ecosystem needs a balance between resource utilization and management. The Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) of East Africa which covers a large area more particularly in Tanzania needs such kind of balance for its sustainability. With potential biophysical resources such as fluvial, vertisols and xerosols soils with the annual rainfall exceeds 1200 mm per year, may attracts more degradation than conservation. This review aims to assess the influence of agroforestry and related farming systems in the intensification of sustainable conservation in the area. Thereby, we reviewed 39 peer reviewed publications from the data base and some secondary data to attain the goal. It is discernible that agroforestry has increased crop yields for over 50% in the area. However, the ongoing degradation threatens the sustainability of the EAM. Forest degradation will offset over 100 million tons of carbon that is stored in the EAM. Besides, environmental degradation will significantly affect the water sources that feed over 3.5 million people in the downstream. Then, the supply of water for Hydro-Electric Power, environmental requirements and agricultural activities in the downstream will be adequate affected. To curb the authentic and potential degradation, the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Funds (EAMCEF) is operational in the area. Norway is among the great funders of EAMCEF. Therefore, for the robustness of sustainable conservation in EAM, a collective effort from various stakeholders especially donors are needed.

Estimating density of a rare and cryptic high-mountain Galliform species, the Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii

Xu, Y., B. Wang, L. Dou, H. Yue, N. Yang, L. Yang, S. Liu, and J. Ran. 2016. Estimating density of a rare and cryptic high-mountain Galliform species, the Buff-throated Partridge Tetraophasis szechenyii. Avian Conservation and Ecology 11(1):10.http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ACE-00853-110110

Governance and management strategies in national parks: implications for sustainable regional development

This paper examines two European national parks (Jostedalsbreen, Norway; Hohe Tauern, Austria) and explores the connection between management strategies and regional sustainable development. The paper shows that contextual factors play an important role in the designing management organisation. Park management is adapted to specific conservation policies: the Austrian management is suited to “high use pressure – full range” areas, while the Norwegian model fits the lower pressure and high mountain conservation approach with very limited use demands. The complex management structure in Austria is a result of national and regional structures; the Norwegian model comes from national sector policy approaches.

Dynamic Integrated Protection and Development of Historic Area: A Case Study of Jinggang Mountain Conservation Planning

This paper discusses on the extension of integrated protection, and aim at the contradiction of protection and development of the history protection area. Put forward the dynamic development protection concept as a solution. Take the conservation planning practice of Jinggang Mountain revolutionary site area as an example, analyze the dialectical relationship between protection and development, discusses the possible of dynamic integrate development view in the protection planning.

Collaborative Community-based Governance in a Transboundary Wetland System in the Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract International mountain conservation paradigms have shifted in the past 30 years from establishment of centrally governed protected areas that exclude communities, to collaborative and community-based conservation stewardship with communities that depend on resources for their livelihoods. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) embodies this collaborative paradigm by suggesting that people and local governments can be collective stewards for the “wise use” of wetlands on which they depend for water resources and livelihoods. Although collaborative approaches are increasingly recommended to govern large and complex mountain waterscapes across multiple jurisdictions, recent international case study comparisons highlight the site-specific nature of institutional design and the effect that changing social relations and overlapping or conflicting rights and boundaries have on promised collaborative outcomes. This article illustrates the usefulness of a recently devel...

A Strategy of Sustainable Environment Management: The Case Study of Wutai Township in Taiwan

After Typhoon Morakot in 2009, the Taiwanese government relocated three indigenous villages to the lowland, leading to changes in traditional lifestyles and customs. Using the Wutai community as a case study, this paper suggests a strategy for sustainable post-disaster indigenous development . The paper focuses on two issues, the traditional land use of Rukai people in Wutai Township and their methods used regarding village relocation, afforestation and mountain patrol after Typhoon Morakot. Our research found that about 73.0% of locals who agree with afforestation in Aboriginal territory, 54.3% would like to sign a contract with the government which lasts more than twenty years, and 84.5% wish to be included in mountain patrol. Therefore, we propose that a mountain patrol foundation be established, to be responsible for the recruitment of mountain patrol members, planning afforestation, and conservation. Moreover, through the foundation, a mountain academy might be established, which could handle dynamic activities and systematize disciplines so as to link traditional environmental knowledge and modern conservation skills. Also, the foundation could help the local communities to develop eco-tourism and other related industries to increase local incomes and conservation funds, as a step towards sustainable development.