{"title":"Reframing Pastoral Practices of Bofedal Management to Increase the Resilience of Andean Water Towers","authors":"K. Yager, Manuel Prieto, R. I. Meneses","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00011.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00011.1","url":null,"abstract":"Across the Andes, a critical challenge for mountain socioecological systems is securing water for future generations. Pastoral communities are especially vulnerable because their livelihood practices are often unseen or perceived as a threat to natural resource conservation. In addition to the challenges of climate change, socioeconomic and political processes complicate the drivers of pasture degradation and sustainable water management. Often overlooked systems in assessments of Andean water towers are bofedales (high-altitude peat wetlands), which are critical to supporting mountain pastoral livelihoods. While “natural” azonal mountain peatland and humid meadow development occurs across the Andes, we posit that bofedales are sociohydrological systems created through pastoral management practices over generations. Drawing on the results of applied research on bofedales across the Andes and a literature review of published papers, we present a conceptual reframing of bofedal typologies and change analysis, which prioritizes the role of pastoralists in interdisciplinary research and comparative assessments of land-use and land-cover change in Andean highland regions. We identified key socioecological challenges to sustainable bofedal management, related to herder decision-making and articulated within broader socioeconomic processes. Reframing bofedales as sociohydrological constructs permits the identification of actionable knowledge and the support of water conservation practices applied by pastoralists across Andean water tower regions. If Andean pastoralists are recognized as stewards of sociohydrological systems that are critical to water towers, rather than perceived as threats to natural resources, bofedal conservation planning may be prioritized and locally supported.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"A1 - A9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49070109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Fernández-Giménez, A. E. Aich, Oussama El Aouni, Ilhame Adrane, Soufiane El Aayadi
{"title":"Ilemchane Transhumant Pastoralists' Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Adaptive Strategies: Continuity and Change in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains","authors":"M. Fernández-Giménez, A. E. Aich, Oussama El Aouni, Ilhame Adrane, Soufiane El Aayadi","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00028.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00028.1","url":null,"abstract":"Mountain rangelands are critical resources for mobile pastoralists, and they provide benefits to humankind broadly. Yet mountain pastoral social–ecological systems (SESs) face challenges that affect both mountains and rangelands. Herders' traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) underpins their adaptive strategies and serves as a resource for future adaptation. This holistic case study of Ilemchane transhumant herders in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains applies a simple framework to explore how herders' biophysical TEK, practices, and institutions interrelate and how climate and social changes affect the SES. Using participant observation, interviews, and surveys, we find Ilemchane climate, plant, and ecological knowledge shape their practices and institutions, which in turn reinforce or alter TEK. Building on a recent synthesis of mountain SES, we identify a paradox of remoteness, wherein Ilemchane remoteness both maintains traditional transhumant culture and TEK and threatens it. Overcoming this paradox may require internal organization, collective action, and external support.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"R61 - R73"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46592052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Páramo to Pasture Conversion in a Mountain Watershed: Effects on Water Quality and Quantity","authors":"Carlos Matovelle","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00026.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00026.1","url":null,"abstract":"The typical vegetation cover of the Andes in southern Ecuador is composed of grassland wetland ecosystems. These form the basis of the area's hydrology, regulating water flows and supplying water to the lower regions of the basins. This study focuses on the Rircay River subbasin, where the dynamics of human activities have transformed natural ecosystems to alternative land uses, particularly cattle pastures. My study examines the change from native wet grasslands to introduced grasslands for livestock grazing. The research uses cartographic land use and land cover change data from 1990 to 2015. Subsequently, I evaluate the effect of these changes on river flow. Flow is measured at a control point at the exit of the total area. At this point, specific water quality parameters resulting from livestock contamination are measured and related using nonlinear models. The results are conclusive and indicate a marked decrease in river flows and an increase in the concentration of pollutants due to the increased area occupied by livestock pastures.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"R74 - R81"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46919107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Rana, Vaibhav Kalia, Sharda Singh, S. Randhawa, R. Chauhan, Anu Katoch, Anupama Sandal, R. Thakur, S. Upadhyay
{"title":"Climate Vulnerability Assessment of Farming Systems in Himachal Pradesh, Indian Himalayas","authors":"R. Rana, Vaibhav Kalia, Sharda Singh, S. Randhawa, R. Chauhan, Anu Katoch, Anupama Sandal, R. Thakur, S. Upadhyay","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00056.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00056.1","url":null,"abstract":"This study assessed the climate vulnerability of the agriculture, horticulture, and livestock sectors at the block scale in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. This region exhibits the most conspicuous manifestations of climate change. The study sites were selected to represent different elevation zones. A total of 108 indicators for the sectors were chosen to assess climate vulnerability as a methodological framework suitable for a mountain perspective. The net climate vulnerability in the agriculture sector was lowest in blocks that had greater accessibility to the road network, were nearer to markets, had high literacy and more institutions, and were shifting to enterprises other than agriculture. The net vulnerability index (VI) for horticulture revealed that vulnerability was reduced by a shift toward off-season vegetable cultivation, productive soils for crops, and the establishment of new orchards. The net VI of the livestock sector was lower if there were fewer diseases and pests and they were quickly managed, if there was good access to veterinary facilities, if slopes were less steep, and if improved grassland was available. The composite net VI of all blocks in different sectors of this farming system revealed that the Naggar block, followed by Kullu and Nirmand, was the least vulnerable.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"R50 - R60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43780199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transforming Degraded Rangelands and Pastoralists' Livelihoods in Eastern Bhutan","authors":"J. Millar, Karma Tenzing","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00025.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00025.1","url":null,"abstract":"High-elevation rangelands in Bhutan provide livelihoods for many herding communities. However, severe rangeland degradation in the far eastern region is threatening livestock productivity, biodiversity conservation, and household wellbeing. This paper describes a 3-year community-based rangeland project in eastern Bhutan aimed at restoring and protecting high-elevation rangelands, including wildlife habitats, grasslands, and watersheds, while improving livelihoods. Herder families (120) of the Brokpa ethnic group participated in group management training, savings schemes, pasture improvement, revegetation, and conservation education. Herders restored 35 ha of severely eroded rangeland and sowed 80 ha of improved pasture, and 148 household members invested in savings, with 10 households borrowing funds to diversify income. Households were interviewed before and after the project using semistructured interview guides to determine their perceptions of the project's impacts and limitations. Respondents were satisfied that gully erosion was under control, savings groups were generating income, community cohesion had improved, and awareness of red panda conservation had increased. However, there was ongoing winter fodder shortage, heavy rain damage, and lack of consensus about improving communal pasture areas. We conclude that pastoralists' willingness and ability to restore mountain rangelands will depend on the security of their use rights to graze and manage high-elevation areas. Building trust between mountain communities and agencies and staying committed to long-term social and environmental change are essential for practitioners and policymakers.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"D1 - D7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45662339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanina Arzamendia, Verónica Rojo, N. M. González, J. Baldo, M. Zamar, H. Lamas, Bibiana L. Vilá
{"title":"The Puna Pastoralist System: A Coproduced Landscape in the Central Andes","authors":"Yanina Arzamendia, Verónica Rojo, N. M. González, J. Baldo, M. Zamar, H. Lamas, Bibiana L. Vilá","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00023.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00023.1","url":null,"abstract":"In mountain socioecological systems, the interaction between nature and people is at the core of planning local long-term sustainable development strategies. Pastoralism is the main traditional socioeconomic livelihood in dryland mountains. It is strongly associated with long-established land use practices that provide essential material and relational contributions, both of which shape human populations and nature. The aim of this work is to characterize the traditional pastoralist system of the Puna (northwest Argentina) in a framework that highlights its diverse values and valuations within nature–people coproductions. We use the conceptual framework of the Intergovernmental Science–Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services as a tool to analyze and understand these socioecological systems. We also identify 3 coproduction types at different steps of the benefit flow from ecosystems to quality of life. Pastoral livelihood persists in the Argentine Puna, cocreating a landscape with natural and anthropic (water sources, grasslands, wildlife, livestock, and techniques) elements interacting through complex mechanisms involving environmental conditions and cultural and economic practices. Some drivers that threaten the system's sustainability are overexploitation and land use change. These are visible as poaching or conversion of pasturelands into mining areas. Finally, we identify a number of knowledge gaps. These include lack of information on some regulatory contributions of nature to people, biodiversity status, and trends and statistical information on Indigenous Peoples and local communities; the flow of relationships; and coproductions related to the local expression of the quality of life. We also highlight the need for spatially explicit information and comprehensive knowledge of drivers and socioecological dynamics of the landscape.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"R38 - R49"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44088879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Kaur, D. Sharma, P. Rana, Udayan Mishra, A. B. Shrestha, I. Koziell, P. Gyamtsho
{"title":"HKH2Glasgow: Promoting Ambitious Climate Action for the Hindu Kush Himalayas","authors":"N. Kaur, D. Sharma, P. Rana, Udayan Mishra, A. B. Shrestha, I. Koziell, P. Gyamtsho","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00049.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00049.1","url":null,"abstract":"In November 2021, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) met in Glasgow, UK, to deliver on the ambitions set out in the Paris Agreement. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) worked with its regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region to ensure mountain voices were heard at COP26. To do so, we launched the HKH2Glasgow campaign. The aim of the campaign was to (1) promote ambitious climate action for the HKH at COP26 and (2) launch a framework to scale up investment in mountain-specific climate priorities.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"P1 - P3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41382157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rannveig Ólafsdóttir, Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir, Edita Tverijonaite
{"title":"Running Wild: Environmental Attitudes of Long-Distance Runners in the Icelandic Highlands","authors":"Rannveig Ólafsdóttir, Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir, Edita Tverijonaite","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00018.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00018.1","url":null,"abstract":"An increasing number of sports events are taking place in wilderness and mountain areas. The Laugavegur Ultra Marathon (LUM) is one such event. It follows the 55-km (34.2-mile) route of the Laugavegur trail in the southern Icelandic highlands. The trail has been selected as one of the world's most scenic long-distance hiking trails by many of the world's leading travel media. This paper focuses on LUM runners' attitudes toward environmental issues to identify their values as a group and to examine whether there are different attitudes between Icelandic and international runners. An online survey was distributed to all participants finishing the race in 2018, a total of 553 runners; the response rate was 45.2%. The results reveal that most runners participating in LUM were running for their own personal goals and challenges, using the trail's wilderness setting as a driver to reach their target. As a group, the runners had relatively ecocentric orientations. With regard to environmental values, however, there was a large difference between Icelandic and international runners. The Icelandic runners significantly favored anthropocentric orientations, preferring more infrastructure and services along the route, compared with international runners, who preferred the wild character of the route. When it comes to planning sports events in natural settings, such as mountain marathons in wilderness areas, it is important to raise the environmental awareness of both users and event organizers. Moreover, to sustain the wilderness character of the trail, it is beneficial to attract more runners who have an ecocentric view.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"R32 - R39"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41410585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Case Study on Developing a Comprehensive Voluntary Environmental Performance and Process Standard for Alpine Resorts Using Four Business Management Principles","authors":"B. Foster","doi":"10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00078.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-20-00078.1","url":null,"abstract":"In 2018, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) in Teton Village, WY, USA, discontinued its International Standards Organization 14001 environmental management system. JHMR needed a replacement voluntary environmental program (VEP) that would empower resort employees to directly mitigate climate change, reduce waste and pollution, minimize water use, and restore biodiversity, along with improving building, education, and purchasing. I developed the Model for Alpine Resort Sustainability (MARS) based on 2 research objectives of improving existing industry-specific VEPs and empowering employees to directly mitigate resort environmental impacts through their work. MARS involves 4 business management principles: (1) use ski industry-specific criteria to drive accountability comprehensively across 25 resort departments; (2) quantify greenhouse gas emissions, using both absolute and intensity or normalized bases, and apply quantification to solid waste production and water consumption; (3) employ modern management techniques and software to focus on action over documentation; and (4) strategically align with the core business objective of alpine resorts to provide profitable outdoor recreation by decreasing costs and increasing revenues. MARS provides the most comprehensive, research-based accounting to date of alpine resort environmental impacts and mitigation indicators. MARS could be applied to larger resorts receptive to change.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":"41 1","pages":"D1 - D11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46535851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Azevedo, V. R. Clark, J. Millar, G. Mukwada, J. Postigo, M. Wurzinger, Sarah-lan Mathez-Stiefel
{"title":"Focus Issue: Pastoralism and Rangelands in Mountains","authors":"J. Azevedo, V. R. Clark, J. Millar, G. Mukwada, J. Postigo, M. Wurzinger, Sarah-lan Mathez-Stiefel","doi":"10.1659/mrd.4104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.4104","url":null,"abstract":"Mountain rangelands (open grasslands, mixed forest meadows, closed forests, and alpine lakes and wetlands) play vital roles for humans, supporting livestock grazing, hunting, and harvesting of plants. They thus provide livelihoods for a large number of rural mountain communities across the globe. These systems are also key for water supply to lowland areas and watershed health, carbon sequestration and storage, fire regulation, and, increasingly, recreational use and tourism. They are vital for the conservation of mountain species and habitats, including endemic species and habitats exclusive to mountains. Many of these ecosystems require management to maintain species diversity and productivity and supply a range of high-quality ecosystem services.","PeriodicalId":49793,"journal":{"name":"Mountain Research and Development","volume":" ","pages":"1 - 2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2021-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49105915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}