Bishkek Global Mountain Summit
Mountain Watch
International year of the mountains

A project of the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the UNEP Mountain Programme, in collaboration with UNEP Regional Offices, the GRID Centres, Global Environmental Facility, Food and Agriculture Organization, ICIMOD and other partners.

Mountain Watch Report

The first Mountain Watch report provides a highly visual, map-based overview of:
  • the ecological and social values of mountain ecosystems,
  • current and potential pressures facing mountain environments and people,
  • approaches to sustainable development in mountain areas.
Mountain Watch profiles methods that have been developed to aid decision-makers to assess the condition of mountain ecosystems, the pressures that affect them and the services that they provide. A new analysis of global data sets is supplemented by regional and local case studies drawn from around the world. The report provides a map-based synthesis of information on environmental change, and its implications for sustainable development. Major gaps in available information are highlighted to guide future assessment work.

The study is guided by the conceptual framework of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) and the 'ecosystem approach' recommended by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Supporting information for the Mountain Watch document is made available over the internet, through the UNEP.Net Mountains Portal.

The Mountain Watch report was distributed to all delegates at the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit held in Kyrgyzstan as the concluding event of the International Year of Mountains, 2002. The report contributes to an assessment process, launched at the Bishkek Summit, which involved a series of regional workshops to be organised during 2003. In addition, we hope that Mountain Watch reporting process will involve many stakeholders living in the mountains and visiting them. This process will lead to production of a book entitled World Atlas of Mountain Environments. Organisations or individuals interested in contributing to the Mountain Watch process are encouraged to contact UNEP Mountain Programme office and UNEP-WCMC at the addresses below.

For information about Global Environment Faciliy's mountain projects, please contact
Fumiko Nakao, Program Manager for Mountain Ecosystems, Global Environment Facility, 1818 Hst. N.W., Washington DC 20433, USA
fax +1(202)522-3240, email : fnakao@worldbank.org, http://www.gefweb.org/

Andrei Iatsenia, Coordinator, UNEP Mountain Programme, International Environmental House, 15, Chemin des Anemones, CH-1219 Chatelaine, Geneva, Switzerland,
fax+41(0)229178004, email iatsenia@unep.ch , http://www.globalmountainsummit.org.

Dr Adrian Newton, Head of Forest, Dryland and Freshwater Programme, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, UK CB3 0DL
fax: +44 (0)1223 277314, email: adrian.newton@unep-wcmc.org , http://www.unep-wcmc.org/