Restoring Mountain Ecosystems

Mountains are home to a variety of ecosystems that provide vital services directly to 1.1 billion people and billions of others living in connected lowland areas. Half of humanity depends on mountains for the provision of freshwater alone. Mountain ecosystems cool local temperatures, increase water retention, provide carbon storage, and reduce the risk of erosion and landslides. Mountain forests, wetlands and grasslands also host and support half the world’s biodiversity hotspots. But the world’s mountain ecosystems are under attack due to their particular sensitivity to the planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and pollution and waste. Evidence shows that mountain ecosystems are affected at a faster rate than many other terrestrial habitats. This publication, jointly developed by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme, analyses several mountain ecosystem restoration projects and recommends how the UN Decade’s Ten Principles for Ecosystem Restoration can be applied to mountain ecosystems. Mountain restoration success stories from initiatives that have been selected or shortlisted as the UN Decade’s World Restoration Flagships are also highlighted. As the theme of International Mountain Day 2023 is “Restoring Mountain Ecosystems”, this publication provides an important contribution in addition to celebrating the Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027.

The Pacific Northwest is a global ecological "hotspot" because of its relatively healthy native ecosystems, a high degree of biodiversity, and the number and scope of restoration initiatives that have been undertaken there. Restoring the Pacific Northwest gathers and presents the best examples of state-of-the-art restoration techniques and projects. It is an encyclopedic overview that will be an invaluable reference not just for restorationists and students working in the Pacific Northwest, but for practitioners across North America and around the world.

'Restoring Layered Landscapes' explores ecological restoration in complex landscapes, where ecosystems intertwine with important sociopolitical meanings.

This book includes a set of strategic guidelines and key conservation and development issues for the Mediterranean mountains, grouped into eight priority themes, as a starting point towards the elaboration of action plans for the Mediterranean mountain chains.The book contents are based on the outputs of the rich debate that emerged from case studies and experiences debated by regional experts in a regional workshop which took place in Malaga (Spain) on 10-12 December 2007.

High mountain habitats are globally important for biodiversity. At least 12% of birds worldwide breed at or above the treeline, many of which are endemic species or species of conservation concern. However, due to the challenges of studying mountain birds in difficult-to-access habitats, little is known about their status and trends. This book provides the first global review of the ecology, evolution, life history and conservation of high mountain birds, including comprehensive coverage of their key habitats across global mountain regions, assessments of diversity patterns along elevation gradients, and adaptations for life in the alpine zone. The main threats to mountain bird populations are also identified, including climate change, human land use and recreational activities. Written for ecologists and naturalists, this book identifies key knowledge gaps and clearly establishes the research priorities needed to increase our understanding of the ecology of mountain birds and to aid in their conservation.

The Mountain Partnership is the United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to mountain peoples and environments. The Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership is hosted by FAO. This Annual Report outlines the Mountain Partnership Secretariat’s key achievements in promoting sustainable mountain development in 2021. The publication documents the Secretariat’s work in the areas of advocacy, communication and knowledge management, brokering joint action and leading capacity development initiatives. It frames the Secretariat’s work within the main topics of tackling climate change, restoring mountain ecosystems, empowering youth, promoting mountain products and enterprises, and developing more sustainable tourism in mountains. The 2021 Annual Report also highlights a selection of Mountain Partnership members’ activities around the world to celebrate the many local, national, regional and international collaborations, institutional strengthening, thematic conferences and scientific reports that have taken place within the framework of the Mountain Agenda.

Part I. Cases and questions -- 1: Nurturing nature -- 2: Salmon support -- 3: Alternative models of ecosystem restoration. -- Part II. Fakes or artifacts -- 4: Faking nature -- 5: The big lie: the human restoration of nature -- 6: Restoration or domination? A reply to Katz -- 7: Rehabilitating nature and making nature habitable -- 8: Restoration. -- Part III. Ends and means -- 9: Carving up the woods: savanna restoration in northeastern Illinois -- 10: Restoring oak ecosystems -- 11: Between theory and practice: some thoughts on motivations behind restoration -- 12: Eradicating the aliens: restoration and exotic species -- 13: A field guide to the synthetic landscape: toward a new environmental ethic -- 14: "Sunflower Forest": ecological restoration as the basis for a new environmental paradigm -- 15: Restoration or preservation? Reflections on a clash of environmental philosophies.