Mountain Area Research and Management: Integrated Approaches

Description

This book brings together scientists and practitioners from five continents to present their experience in undertaking activities that contribute to our understanding and informed management of mountain areas. In particular, they address the challenges of working in interdisciplinary teams and of effectively involving stakeholders. The result is a powerful book that integrates research from different disciplines in the natural and social sciences, and in some cases indigenous knowledge, to address the question of how knowledge is gained about mountain areas and how can it be integrated and used in effective management. A comprehensive introduction covers the challenges in mountain area research and management, and the need for integrated approaches. This is followed by chapters that look at key areas of mountain research and management over the past 25 years, covering inter-and trans-disciplinary research, subsistence cultures and sustainable development, innovations in watershed management and biodiversity conservation. Subsequent chapters cover key areas of research and management on five continents with a focus on comparison of common challenges and solutions across regions. The concluding chapter brings these experiences together. Published with Parks Canada

Martin F. Price is Professor of Mountain Studies at the UHI Millennium Institute, Perth, Scotland. He has worked with FAO, IUCN, UNEP, UNESCO and the European Commission on diverse mountain initiatives.

'An essential resource for anyone interested in contributing to improved livelihoods and environmental stewardship in mountain areas.' Peter Trutmann, Coordinator of the CGIAR Global Mountain Program 'This volume on interdisciplinary work in mountain areas is an excellent compilation of examples as well as lessons learned. In effect it provides guidance on how best to approach such work. While different in training and backgrounds, the [authors] clearly articulate the global conviction that interdisciplinary work is the only approach. This volume of case studies repeats this strong and important message.' Nikita Lopoukhine, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and former Director General of National Parks, Parks Canada 'Over the past twenty years, the rhetoric surrounding interdisciplinary earth science and public participation in research and management has had a 'wishful thinking' feel to it, unconstrained by a critical analysis of what works in the real world and what doesn't. Finally we have that analysis: a book that examines real-world projects that tried to do the right thing and teases out the lessons we must learn from them.' Greg Greenwood, Director, Mountain Research Initiative 'A highly welcome and timely guide for anyone interested in or supporting improvement of livelihoods and environmental stewardship in mountains as we begin a century and beyond of uncertainty. The authors bring together historical information, interdisciplinary methodology and provide examples of lessons learned that provide options to manage the complexity of interactions in mountains. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in contributing to improved livelihoods and environmental stewardship in mountain areas.' Peter Trutmann, Coordinator of the CGIAR Global Mountain Program 'The book is well illustrated with succinct boxes, figures and tables and has very full bibliographies.' David Pitt, Policy Matters. 'The CLIMET work followed a gradient in the Rockies, from coast to continental, moving through the national parks of Olympic, North Cascade to Glacier Waterton Lakes on the USA Canada Border. The last is a very useful success story which should be widely imitated since it is a rare peace park as well as a World Heritage site. A vital lesson is that conservation depends often on conflict resolution particularly across often irrational (and not only in ecological terms) national boundaries.' David Pitt, Policy Matters