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IGU Commission Diversity in Mountain Systems Chairman: Prof. Dr. Jörg Stadelbauer Dept. of Cultural Geography University of Freiburg D-79085 Freiburg Fax: +49 761 203 3575 e-mail: joerg.stadelbauer@geo graphie.uni- freiburg.de Newsletter 14 / December 2007 1 Editorial Dear Colleagues, welcome to everyone in the mountain community. If you are not yet member of our commission, please contact me by sending an e-mail so that I can include you into the list of members. Of course, membership should not be written only on a paper: Please feel motivated to conduct further mountain research, to inform other members about it and to participate in the activities and meetings of the Commission! This is said especially to those who are member of a national specialty group on (high-)mountain research. Members of the Steering Committee 2004 – 2008 of our commission are: Professor Dr. Jörg STADELBAUER (chair) (Germany) University of Freiburg 1
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Page 1: IGU Study Group€¦  · Web viewDiversity in . Mountain Systems. Chairman: Prof. Dr. Jörg Stadelbauer. Dept. of Cultural Geography. University of Freiburg. D-79085 Freiburg. Fax:

IGU CommissionDiversity in

Mountain Systems

Chairman: Prof. Dr. Jörg Stadelbauer

Dept. of Cultural GeographyUniversity of Freiburg

D-79085 FreiburgFax: +49 761 203 3575

e-mail: joerg.stadelbauer@geographie.

uni-freiburg.de

Newsletter 14 / December 2007

1 Editorial

Dear Colleagues,

welcome to everyone in the mountain community. If you are not yet member of our commission, please contact me by sending an e-mail so that I can include you into the list of members. Of course, membership should not be written only on a paper: Please feel motivated to conduct further mountain research, to inform other members about it and to participate in the activities and meetings of the Commission! This is said especially to those who are member of a national specialty group on (high-)mountain research.

Members of the Steering Committee 2004 – 2008 of our commission are:

Professor Dr. Jörg STADELBAUER (chair) (Germany)University of FreiburgDepartment of Cultural Geography D-79085 FreiburgE-mail: [email protected]

PD Dr. Jörg LÖFFLER (Secretary) (Germany)University of BonnDepartment of GeographyMeckenheimer Allee 166D-53115 BonnE-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Yuri BADENKOV (Russia)Institut Geografii Rossijskoy Akademii NaukStaromonetnyy pereulok, 29MoskvaE-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Monique FORTUFR GHSS, Case 7001Centre de Géographie PhysiqueUniversité Paris 7 – Denis Diderot2 Place JussieuF-75 251 Paris Cedex 05E-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Donald A. FRIEND, Ph.D. (USA)

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Department of GeographyMinnesota State UniversityArmstrong Hall 7Mankato, MN 56001E-mail: [email protected]

Professor Dr. Hans HURNI (Switzerland)Department of GeographyUniversity of BerneHallerstrasse 12CH-3012 BernE-mail: [email protected]

Professor Dr. Martin PRICE (UK)Director, Centre for Mountain StudiesPerth CollegeUHI Millennium Institute

Crieff RoadPerth PH1 2NX, UKTel: +44 (0) 1738-877217Fax: +44 (0) 1738-877018URL : http://www.cms.uhi.ac.ukE-mail: [email protected]

Prof. Fausto SARMIENTO, Ph.D.The University of Georgia212-B GG BuildingThe University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 30606Telephone: 706-542-1753email: [email protected]://www.ggy.uga.edu/people/faculty/Sarmiento.htm

The Commission continues to register all interested scholars in an e-mailing list.

Please also visit our website: http://www.geographie.uni-freiburg.de/ikg/igu-mountain/

There, you will find the Newsletters edited by the IGU Commission “Diversity of Mountain Systems” since 2000.

2001: Newsletter #1, Dec.2002: Newsletter #2, June, #3 Dec.2003: Newsletter #4, March, #5 Nov.2004: Newsletter #6, July, #7 Dec.2005: Newsletter #8, July, #9 Sept., #10 Dec.2006: Newsletter #11, June, #12, Dec.2007: Newsletter #13, Aug., #14, Dec.

2 Main event forthcoming: The International Geographical Congress 2008, Tunis/Tunesia

The website for online-application is now open for the 2008 Tunis International Geographical Congress. If you intend to participate, please send the following form to the organizing committee. You will find all information available at the moment on the official website:http://www.igc-tunis2008.com

I add the formal invitation by the national organizers:

Invitation

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    On behalf of the community of Tunisian geographers, it is my honour and privilege to invite you to take part in the proceedings of the XXXIst Geographical Congress that will be held in Tunis from August 12th to 15th 2008.

   The 2008 Tunis Congress will be held under the aegis of His Excellency Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia.

    It enjoys the support of the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, and is backed by various other ministerial departments and academic and research institutions. 

    The Congress will be held in a country rich of a three thousand years old heritage, and enjoying an exceptional geographical diversity. It is a country of openness and dialogue, offering its hospitality to, and providing all world geographers with the necessary means to grant the success of their congress.

    For this major geographical event, the National Organizing Committee of the 2008 Tunis Congress has planned a scientific agenda meant to further develop the reflection and debates of the past two decades, while highlighting new paradigms and promoting new stances to geographers.

    «Building together our territories» will be the major theme of the Congress. Three major issues will be discussed: the territory; the operational orientation of geography; and the role of the players. Going beyond the classical divides of the discipline, these issues make of geography a science that allows man to live intelligently with the others and his milieu.

    Other breaking-news topics themes are also scheduled for debate. The evolution of geographical thought; Cultures and Civilisations for Human Development; the Renaissance of the Mediterranean; the International Year of the Planet Earth, are, inter alia, some of the issues that will be raised, showing the ability of geographers to share their concerns with others.  Tunis 2008 will provide an ideal forum for geographers to express and confront their visions on the major issues of our time.

    The 2008 Tunis Congress will host 36 IGU committees and 4 working groups whose activities will be integrated in the Congress general agenda.  It will also offer the possibility of convening meetings for the different IGU regional networks (the Commonwealth network, Latin America network, South-East Asia network, Australia and the Pacific network) or for other nascent networks (Mediterranean, Africa, the Arab world, etc). The 2008 Tunis Congress will thus be a collective undertaking, aiming mainly at building and contributing to the renewal of Geography. 

    The excursion programme will be particularly rich. Owing to the diversity of its landscapes (from the Mediterranean forests to the desert, form the coast hills to the hinterland mountains, from the urban centres to the countryside), and because of the multiplicity of dynamics, constraints and the responses brought by society, the country does indeed offer limitless opportunities.

    The social programme is no less interesting. Other assets of the country will be made available to you and to those accompanying you, so as to make of the Congress an opportunity to share the charming facets of the life of geographers. Beaches, desert dunes, oases, archaeological sites, festivals, the medinas, etc., are yet other opportunities to

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extend the Congress into family vacations.

    Dear colleagues,

    We are looking forward to welcoming as many of you as possible so that we can build together this major event in the life of the community of world geographers, while enhancing and renewing the century-old tradition constituted by the International Congress of Geography.

    See you in Tunis 2008.

                                                                                                 The CNOC Chairman

Adnane Hayder   

Registration

    The 31st Geographical Congress, Tunis2008, will be held during the tourism high season. The Organizing Committee calls into attention that the registration procedures as well as hotel reservations should be done as soon as possible in order to avoid facing any problem. The organizers will apply the rule “First-come, first-served”. Moreover, abiding by the deadline will allow the participants to benefit from registration and accommodation price fees reductions.

Registration Calendar & Fees

Please note: The German National Committee of the IGU has been informed most recently, that the registration fees for senior and student participants were reduced and are now 100 EURO less!

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 *  Please submit proof of student status

Note: The registration fee include the access to the academic works spaces, the participation in the opening and closing ceremonies, the supplies and the cocktail party.

Other ItemsField trip registration posted fees fort each excursion.Participation in training workshops………………….…posted fees for each workshop.Participation in the welcoming programCocktail Party………………………………….............. (Included in the registration fees)Farwell Diner-Gala………………………………………90 EurosParticipation in the social program…………………….Posted fees for each activity

Important : All reservations concerning these items will be stopped in May 31, 2008

Registration Method 

    To register, please fill out the application form with paying attention to the required sections. After confirmation, it will immediately reach us and will be transmitted to the Congress Secretariat which will, in its turn, send you your file number. Once you have paid the fees through the way you have chosen, the Secretariat will transmit your final identifier. For those who will not be able to finalize the registration process from the website of the Congress, it will be possible to download the registration form, fill it out and send it to the congress secretariat. Service contact via email, phone or fax is placed at their disposal by our partner:

Millesima TravelEmail : [email protected] Tel. : +216 71 28 23 24 / 71 28 23 21 / 71 28 23 30Fax. : +216 71 28 24 82Please feel free to contact Millessima Travel for any change of information or application for an additional allowance.

Payment details

Payments are to be made online using Credit Card or by bank wires to the following bank account:

Beneficiary:  I.G.C Tunis 2008

Bank:  Amen Bank 139 Bis, Boulevard 20 mars Le Bardo - 2000 Tunis

Account Numbers: 

Wires from abroad:

IBAN           : TN 59 0720 6004 1105 8108 6783

Code BIC    : CFCTTNTT 

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Wires from Tunisia :

RIB             : 0720 6004 1105 8108 6783 

 Important : Amount indicated are net and must reach integrally the congress bank account, all bank charges are to be paid by sender.

Cancellation Policy 

    All cancellations must reach the congress secretariat by writing (by e-mail :  [email protected]  or by Fax.: +216 71 28 24 82) before May 31st 2008. Cancellations made before May 31st are subject to 90 Euros cancellation fees, after that date, no refund for cancellation will be possible.  

Application Form 

Click on this link to get the registration form : APPLICATION FORM

Abstracts

    The scientific Committee of the Congress Tunis 2008 is happy to invite you to participate in the workings of the 31st International Geographical Congress by presenting papers or posters that relate to one of the Congress topics. For more information concerning these topics, please go back to the Scientific Program section. Upon receiving your paper, the scientific Committee will send you its decision as soon as possible.

Technical Characteristics    The abstracts (paper or poster) have to respect the following technical characteristics:

- Language: English or French- - Maximum word number: 200 (Title is not included)- - Text: Word- - Font:  Arial- - Size: 12- Justification of the text from right to left- - Bold and centered title.- The name or the author at the centre,  below the title

- Institution and post & e-mail addresses at the centre below the author’s name - No figures, maps, or statistic tables.

Abstract Submission    

    You are kindly invited to fill out the " Abstract Submission form "   in the dynamic module, in order to download your abstract. Whenever you have validated your form, we will immediately receive it and send you a confirmation message. If you have not received this confirmation message, please feel free to contact us at the following email: [email protected]

Attention: The deadline for abstract submission is fixed to May 31st 2008

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Remark : If you can not send us your abstract form electronically (through the dynamic module), for logistics reasons, you can just send it via Fax: +216 71 28 24 82 or by email: [email protected] . Please do not forget to mention your name and surname, your institution, country and contact.

Activities of the Commission during the main Congress

Our Commission intends to participate activily in the main congress with specialized technical sessions. Therefore, I once again invite all members of the Commission to send proposals for panels or individual papers either to the organizing committee at Tunis or to me. One paper session will probably be organized in collaboration with Prof. Annick Douguédroit (Chair of the Commission on Climatology); other joint sessions will be possible depending on the interests of participating people. The presence of mountain researchers at the Tunis Congress will also influence the decision of the IGU Executive Committee on the future of a mountain Commission within the IGU network. With the Tunis Congress, the second 4-Year turn of the Commission expires. Nevertheless, we hope to continue the work of a mountain commission within the IGU network under a different label. I shall inform you about the discussions in the next newsletter.

3 Awards, extraordinary events

None.

4 Conferences, Workshops in the future...

A regular service on forthcoming conferences and workshops is provided by the Mountain Forum. Please contact the website: http://www.mtnforum.org/calendar/calendar.htm

4.1 Mountain GIS e-Conference: Promoting Geographic Information and Earth Observation Applications for the Sustainable Development of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region 14 -25 January 2008 Co-organisers: MENRIS Division of ICIMOD and the Mountain Forum Secretariat Online registration: http://www.mtnforum.org/rs/ec/index.cfm?act=reg&econfid=15 Contact person: [email protected] Web site: http://www.mtnforum.org/rs/ec/index.cfm?econfid=15

4.2 DIAMONT Final Conference1 February, 2008

Innsbruck, Austria The Interreg IIIb Project DIAMONT Data Infrastructure for the Alps Mountain Orientated Network Technology) was set up in close co-operation with the AlpineConvention and aims to help with the conceptualization of a pan-Alpine information system, to identify problems of regional development and to find solutions based on existing or innovative regional development instruments. The forthcoming DIAMONT Final Conference will tackle such questions as ‘How are the Alps developing?’, ‘To what degree are they prepared to face the recent challenges of fragmented spatial development and related problems within regions?’, and ‘Which instruments exist or can be developed to steer development towards sustainability?’. The event

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will present project results, look at key aspects of Alpine regional development and discuss various on-going processes. Conference organizers encourage the participation of representatives from politics, public administration, academia, civil society and the interested public. Participation is free of charge and all presentations and discussions will be simultaneously translated into French, German, Italian and Slovenian.

Interested participants should send their registration details (name, institution, address, phone and e-mail) by e-mail ([email protected]) or fax (+43-(0)512-507-2895) before 31 December 2007.

(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

4.3 Mountains of the World – Ecology, Conservation and Sustainable  Development

10 -14 February 2008, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

The broad thematic areas of the conference are (1) Climate and Physical  Environment (2) Biodiversity and Nature Conservation (3) Rangelands and  Animal Resources (4) Water and Soil Resources and (5) Socioeconomic,  Policy and Management Issues. Both oral and poster presentations would  be organized under these main themes. Go to the conference website for more information and for late  registrations: http://www.squ.edu.om/cesar/introduction.htm

4.4 2nd EURAC Workshop on Applied Remote Sensing in Mountain Regions 13-14 March 2008EURAC, Bolzano, Italy

Topic 2008: How can remote sensing contribute to global change research  in mountain regions? Contact:[email protected] Please find more information and a preliminary program at www.eurac.edu/Org/AlpineEnvironment/RemoteSensing/workshop0208.htm

4.5 European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly April 15 - 18, 2008Vienna, Austria

MRI would like to draw your attention to the session “Mountain  Hydrology and Climatology: Present State and Future Scenarios” (Cryospheric Sciences CR14, co-listed in Hydrological Sciences), convened by Daniel Viviroli (Berne, Switzerland) and Carmen de Jong (Grenoble, France) Deadline for abstracts: 14 January 2008. For more information on the session, visit  http://www.cosis.net/members/meetings/sessions/information.php? p_id=299&s_id=5571 The online submission system is open at  http://meetings.copernicus.org/egu2008

4.6 International Symposium on Interdependencies between Upland and Lowland agriculture and resource management1-4 April 2008Stuttgart, Germany

The symposium will address environmental and socio-economic aspects of upland-lowland interdependencies, as well as integrated modelling issues, and aims to provide a multi- and interdisciplinary platform for both scientists and management professionals. Papers are now sought for presentation at the event. For further details, contact the organizers.You can easily register as participant and upload your abstracts at our conference homepage at:https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/uplands2008/We look forward to receive many interesting contributions, which enrich our conference program. Please feel free to contact us in case that any problems occur.

Dr. agr. Michaela NeffSFB 564 - The Uplands ProgramUniversity of Hohenheim (796)70593 Stuttgart, Germany Phone: +49 711-459-23322Fax: [email protected]

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4.7 Understanding and Managing Amenity-led Migration in Mountain Regions15-19 May 2008Banff Centre, Banff, Canada,

Mountain areas worldwide are accustomed to welcoming visitors who enjoy the lifestyle amenities that such places have to offer. They enjoy the natural beauty, recreational opportunities, unique cultures, and return to their homes enriched by their mountain experiences. But what happens when the visitors and others come to stay? An international conference on this subject, ‘Understanding and Managing Amenity-led Migration in Mountain Regions’ will take place in May 2008 in the northern Rocky Mountains at The Banff Centre in Banff, Canada. The Conference, organized by the Mountain Culture Programme of the Banff Centre and the International Amenity Migration Centre (IAMC), will focus on understanding and managing contemporary in-migration into mountain regions motivated principally by the natural and cultural amenities of these places. For details about the conference objectives and the call for papers, case studies and posters, visit the Conference Web site: www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/mtnconferences/am/.

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

4.8 International Geographical CongressAugust 11-15, 2008Tunis, Tunesia(see above)

4.9 The International Seminar on Protected Area Management iAugust 4-22, 2008Northern Rocky Mountains of the western United States.

Designed for senior level planners and managers of nationally significant protected areas worldwide, this integrated state-of-the-art course examines strategies to conserve the world's most special places. The program, sponsored by the US Forest Service International Programs and the Universities of Montana, Idaho and Colorado State, will evaluate policies and institutional arrangements that sustain both people and natural resources. Tuition Cost: To be determinedApplication Deadline: May 2, 2008

4.10 IAG/AIG Regional Conference on Geomorphology: Landslides, Floods and  Global Environmental Change in Mountain Regions 15 -25 September 2008, Brasov, Romania

The geomorphologic community will gather to exchange ideas and methods  for the investigation of landslides, floods, and related geomorphic  processes in connection with global environmental change. Go to http://www.geomorph.org/  to download the first circular.

4.11 10th International Symposium on High Mountain Remote Sensing Cartography  September 8-11, 2008; Field Excursion: from September 12-19, 2008. Kathmandu, Nepal

The Symposium will be organized by ICIMOD (International Centre for Integradet Mountain Development) in Kathamndu, Nepal. Remember that the symposium not only includes oral and poster sessions but also a multi-day field excursion to the most scenic places in Nepal Himalaya.More information about the symposium can be obtained from:http://www.icimod.org/home/page.php?p=annDeadline for abstract submission is March 15, 2008 ([email protected])

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5 Conferences, Workshops, Meetings, Events in the past

5.1. Workshop on A Global Change Research Network in African Mountains 23-25 July 2007Kampala, Uganda The workshop report can now be downloaded from the MRI website:  http://mri.scnatweb.ch/content/view/170/80/

5.2 Managing Alpine Future15-17 October 2007Innsbruck, Austria Read the conference notes by Dr. Astrid Björnsen  http://mri.scnatweb.ch/content/view/199/27/

5.3 The North American Mountain Hydroclimate Workshop 17 -19 October 2007Boulder, USA The webcast is now online! To view the presentations go to  http://mri.scnatweb.ch/content/view/196/73/

5.4 9th International Symposium on High Mountain Remote Sensing Cartography (HMRSC-IX) Proceedings are available:http://www.uni-graz.at/geowww/hmrsc/proceedings9.htm

5.5 Global Warming and Ecosystem/ Biodiversity Changes: Facing the Challenge of Changing EcosystemsDec. 2, 2007An international seminar on 'Global Warming and Ecosystem/Biodiversity Changes' was organised by the Asia-Pacific Network (APN) for Global Change Research in Kobe, Japan in December 2007. ICIMOD, through Mr Basanta Shrestha, presented a paper on the 'Impact of Climate Change on Himalayan Glaciers and Glacial Lakes', which generated considerable interest from an audience of mostly international experts studying global warming. The participants also spoke on the latest scientific results and pointed out the importance of adaptation. The participated looked into such questions as: How does global warming affect ecosystems? How do we face the challenges of changing ecosystems? It is believed that temperature rise and precipitation change will not stop even if we moderately reduce greenhouse

gases. We need to begin raising societal adaptability for changing ecosystems in addition to efforts to mitigate global warming.

5.6 Workshop 'Climate Change and Vulnerability of Mountain Ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayan Region: Nepal Stakeholders'12-13 December 2007Kathmandu/Nepal: ICIMOD ICIMOD organised a two-day national stakeholders' workshop for Nepal on 'Climate Change and Vulnerability of Mountain Ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayan Region'. This was held from 12-13 December 2007 at the ICIMOD Headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop is a part of activities under the MacArthur Foundation project on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Vulnerable Mountain Ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayan region. The objectives of the workshop were to assess the impacts of climate change on the vulnerable mountain ecosystems of Nepal in particular, and to identify adaptation and coping strategies, gap areas, and the research questions for climate change research. The introductory session included presentations on four thematic topics, namely: (a) climate change scenarios in the eastern Himalayan region: regional trends and projections, (b) biodiversity resources of the eastern Himalayan region: challenges to climate change, and (c) water, wetlands, and hazards: responses to climate change, and (d) climate change and human well being. About 50 participants representing government and non-government organisations, academia, research institutions, and civil society actively participated and provided valuable inputs while working in thematic work groups. Climate change has become the critical global challenge of our times. The participants also agreed that this stakeholder workshop takes place at the right time when many problems are anticipated in such areas of concern as the freshwater resources, water-induced hazards, human health and biodiversity as a result of changing climate scenarios, which could have wide ranging impacts on livelihoods and human wellbeing. The priority action is to initiate sound scientific research and knowledge sharing mechanisms while identifying gap areas for future research and proper climate change adaptation strategies for the region.

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6 Nature Protection, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Mountain Heritage

6.1 Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Foundation has been involved with holistic mountain development for the past two decades in the central and western Himalaya of India. The Foundation promotes various appropriate technologies to improve the quality of life for mountain communities in cross-cutting sectors, such as drinking water, sanitation, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and forestry. The Foundation is also involved in the promotion of mountain products: it has organized a network of 2 000 women who process some 20 products that are now available in urban markets and has also recently exported natural honey and dried pomegranate to France. (Contact: Kalyan Paul, Executive Director; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.grassrootsindia.com).

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

6.2 Andes InitiativeThe recent first meeting of the Andes Initiative of the Mountain Partnership (Tucumán, Argentina, 6-8 September 2007) brought together around 150 members and observers from countries, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to identify common areas of concern and map out concrete areas for collaboration in the context of the membership of this Initiative. Hosted by the Government of Argentina, and organized by the Argentina National Committee for Mountains, in collaboration with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN), the three-day meeting featured informative presentations from representatives of governments, NGOs and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and offered opportunities for discussion on potential future joint activities in a series of breakaway sessions. Importantly, the Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, Marco Onida, participated in the meeting and expressed the strong interest of the Convention members to establish a channel of communication and cooperation with partners in the Andean region in the context of the Mountain Partnership. The meeting concluded with the adoption of two documents -- the Tucumán Declaration and the Plan of Action for Sustainable Development of the Andes -- which provide both the political and operational basis, respectively, for taking the Andes Initiative forward. The Tucumán Declaration, signed by governments of most of the Andean

countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), underlines collective commitment towards working together within the framework of the Andes Initiative to improve conditions in the region’s mountains through specific priority areas. These include sustainable livelihoods, the conservation of ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage, climate change adaptation measures, institutional strengthening and activities with a focus on crosscutting issues such as education, training, gender, youth, networking and local participation. The Declaration also states that the Andean Initiative will maintain close links with the ‘Proyecto Páramo Andino (or ‘Andean Paramo Project). This project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and coordinated by CONDESAN, is working to improve the conservation of páramo ecosystems -- wet, high-altitude tropical grasslands -- with equity to local inhabitants in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The meeting’s Plan of Action for Sustainable Development of the Andes is an operational document that provides practical steps and measures in which to achieve the Declaration’s goals.

Read the Tucumán Declaration and the Plan of Action for Sustainable Development of the Andes (both in Spanish) here . For more information on the Andes Initiative and its members, visit the Web site.

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

6.3 New UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in mountain areasA total of 23 selected regions and protected areas from 18 countries are to join the global network of biosphere reserves. The decision was taken in Paris at the September 2007 conference of the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB). Some of the new additions to UNESCO's World Network include mountain regions such as the reserves of Western Nghe An in Viet Nam, Sierra de Alamos-Río Cuchujaqui in Mexico and Apaneca-Llamatepec in El Salvador. The latter, for instance, promotes sustainable coffee plantations and cultivation, thereby strengthening an important regional economic sector. This is in keeping with the definition of Biosphere Reserves, which see themselves as model regions which innovate and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development at the regional level. The network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves now comprises 529 model regions in 105 countries, 41

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of them in alpine countries. For further information, visit: http://www.unesco.org/mab/ (English and French).

(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

6.4 Forging partnerships for the Central Karakorum National Park, PakistanSignificant progress is now underway to develop Pakistan’s Central Karakorum National Park (CKNP), an area of spectacular beauty encompassing Mount K2 and the Baltoro glacier (the biggest outside the poles). A project for the establishment of the Park has recently been approved, thanks to the commitment of the Northern Areas Government and the support of the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya Partnership, Karakorum Trust and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In particular, the HKKH Partnership has organized a first exercise to explore the future of the area using Scenario Planning. Several preliminary assessments have been carried out to develop research and baseline studies on wildlife, glaciology, biodiversity, forestry and livelihoods. A series of workshops has been organized to develop a common management planning process and build partnerships for research. The Karakorum International University, where some events were hosted, is emerging as a key actor

capable of catalyzing long-term research in the region.

This is just one of the many catalytic activities underway by the HKKH Partnership Project -- a regional initiative aimed at improving the management of the ecosystems of the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya Mountain Complex through capacity-building, development of new methodologies and tools, and the implementation of management oriented research. The HKKH Partnership Project, which was developed by the Italian Cooperation in the context of the Mountain Partnership, is supported by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by IUCN in partnership with ICIMOD, CESVI and Ev-K2-CNR. The Project is active at regional, national and local levels with a special focus on three protected areas. As well as work in CKNP, the Partnership is engaged in activities at Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park (SNP) in Nepal, and Qomolongma Nature Preserve (QNP) in Tibet Autonomous Region of China. To find out more about HKKH activities and publications, visit the Web site or contact Emanuele Cuccillato (IUCN), Chief Technical Advisor for the HKKH Partnership Project, at: [email protected].

(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

7 Organisations

Mountain Research Initiative (MRI)The actual Newsletter #9 is available onhttp://mri.scnatweb.ch/dmdocuments/MRI_Newsletter_no9.pdf

The University of Berne is the new home of the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI). Thanks to Dr. Rolf Weingartner, the new chair of our Scientific Steering Committee, MRI’s coordination office is now located at the Institute of Geography, GIUB.One way in which MRI supports researchers working on global change in mountain regions worldwide is through facilitating communication and exchange. MRI asks you to join the regional networks to find out what others are doing, to network with new colleagues, or to contribute information on your activities to the Newsflashes!

New Office Address:Claudia Drexler Communication and Event Management The Mountain Research Initiative c/o Institute of Geography, University of Berne Hallerstrasse 12

CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland phone:    +41 (0) 31 631 80 18 skype:     claudiadrexler email:    [email protected] www:    http://www.mri.scnatweb.ch

CIPRADie CIPRA ist in sieben Alpenländern vertreten: Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Liechtenstein, Schweiz, Slowenien und Österreich. In Südtirol unterhält sie eine regionale Dependance. Die nichtstaatliche Dachorganisation mit über 100 Mitgliedsorganisationen versteht sich als moderne Drehscheibe für Informationen. Sie sammelt Daten und Fakten zu Themen wie Klima, Verkehr, Berglandwirtschaft, Tourismus, Energie und Bauen, bereitet sie auf und lässt sie interessierten Menschen in den Alpen und ausserhalb zukommen. Alpenschutz von oben, auf Regierungsebene? Oder von unten, mit Gemeinden und Bevölkerung? Beides ist wichtig, davon ist die CIPRA überzeugt. Sie inspiriert und kontrolliert einerseits ein internationales Vertragswerk wie die Alpenkonvention, betreibt andererseits kommunale

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und regionale Netzwerke. Eine Doppelstrategie zum Schutz der Alpen, die sich bewährt hat.

3. Alpenreport der CIPRA: Ermutigung zum Aufbruch "WIR ALPEN! MENSCHEN GESTALTEN ZUKUNFT"Der neue Alpenreport der Internationalen Alpenschutzkommission CIPRA, "Wir Alpen! Menschen gestalten Zukunft", zeigt, wie sich engagierte Macher sowohl für den Schutz als auch für den wirtschaftlichen, sozialen und kulturellen Fortschritt der Alpenregion einsetzen. Die Vernissage fand im Rahmen der Eröffnungsfeier des Walliser Multimedia-Festivals BergBuchBrig am 25. Oktober statt. "Unser Buch zeigt, wie moderne, dynamische und erfolgreiche Menschen der Alpenregion an ganz vielen Orten und auf ganz unterschiedliche Weise einen Aufbruch eingeleitet haben, wie sie Entvölkerung und Brain Drain entgegenwirken", erklärt Andreas Götz, Geschäftsführer der CIPRA International, anlässlich der Vernissage des 3. Alpenreports an der BergBuchBrig. "Im Buch wird nicht den Grossprojekten und der Abhängigkeit vom Staat das Wort geredet, sondern der Kreativität und der Ermutigung der Zukunftsmacher." Diese neue, überraschende Perspektive auf die Alpen widerspiegelte sich auch im musikalischen Rahmen der Veranstaltung mit Nadja Räss und Willi Valotti mit ihrer innovativen Interpretation der traditionellen Volksmusik. Die Zukunft  gehört denen, die sie mitgestalten. In den Alpen arbeiten viele engagierte Menschen in ungezählten Initiativen als Zukunftsmacher. Doch die meisten von ihnen wissen nicht, dass anderswo Menschen an den gleichen Problemen tüfteln wie sie. An dieser Stelle setzt der dritte Alpenreport der Internationalen Alpenschutzkommission CIPRA an. Es geht darum, alpenweit Erfahrungswissen zu sammeln, zu ordnen und jenen zur Verfügung zu stellen, die dieses Wissen benötigen. Das Buch basiert auf der aufwändigen CIPRA-Studie "Zukunft in den Alpen" und zeichnet nicht nur ein umfassendes Bild der akuten Bedrohungen, sondern konzentriert sich auf Lösungen. Im ersten Teil erzählen Reportagen von Menschen, die sich für Lösungen engagieren. Kreativ, innovativ und erfolgreich. Etwa das Schweizer Bergdorf, das per Internet seine Isolation überwindet. Die glückliche Renaissance einer Regionalbahn in Italien. Ein idyllisches Tal in Slowenien, das als privat gemanagtes Schutzgebiet bewahrt wird. Erfolgreiche Holzbaukünstler, die Vorarlberg zum Mekka für Architekten aus aller Welt machen. Der zweite Buchteil zeigt auf wissenschaftlichem Hintergrund und in leicht verständlicher Sprache: Die geschilderten Praxisbeispiele sind keine Einzelfälle. Sie stehen als Trendsetter für zukunftsweisende Entwicklungen im gesamten

Alpenbogen. Übergeordnete Themen sind: Soziale Handlungsfähigkeit / Regionale Wirtschaft / Schutzgebiete: Artenvielfalt und Wertschöpfung / Mobilität / Stadt-Land-Beziehungen / Partizipation und Politik / Klimawandel Der dritte Teil präsentiert die durch Wissenschafter zusammengetragenen Zahlen und Fakten zu Themen wie Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Bevölkerungs- und Raumentwicklung in aussagekräftigen Tabellen, Gafiken und Karten."Wir Alpen" richtet sich an die Bevölkerung und die Besucher der Alpenregionen sowie Verantwortungsträger und Fachleute in und ausserhalb der Alpen - kurz, an alle engagierten Menschen, denen die Zukunft der Alpen ein Anliegen ist und die sich in ihrer täglichen Arbeit oder in ihrer Freizeit für eine ökologische und nachhaltige Entwicklung einsetzen. Das Buch erscheint auch auf Französisch, Italienisch und Slowenisch. Download (Flyer) http://www.cipra.org/de/3-alpenreport Weitere Informationen www.cipra.org Bestellungen [email protected] oder CIPRA International · Im Bretscha 22 · Postfach 142 · FL-9494 SchaanTel: +423 237 40 30 · Fax: +423 237 40 31

Les Villes des Alpes de l'Année et la Convention alpiner enforcent leur collaboration

Le 11 janvier, les Villes des Alpes de l'Année et la Convention alpine ont réaffirmé leur volonté d'engager une collaboration durable à travers la stipulation d'un accord (Memorandum of Understanding). Leurs activités concrètes seront définies dans le cadre d'un programme de travail commun.Le Memorandum of Understanding a été signé à Brigue-Glis/CH par Marco Onida, Secrétaire général de la Convention alpine, et Ursula Rütsche, Conseillère municipale d'Herisau/CH, dans le cadre de l'Assemblée des membres de l'association Ville des Alpes de l'Année. "C'est une étape importante qui va dans le sens d'une amélioration et d'une intensification de la collaboration entre les Villes des Alpes et la Convention alpine. Dans les semaines à venir, nous définirons ensemble des activités concrètes dans le cadre d'un programme de travail", a déclaré Marco Onida. Des idées ont déjà été ébauchées, telles que des manifestations communes sur le changement climatique et ses répercussions sur les Villes des Alpes, des échanges sur les thèmes sociaux et culturels, le problème des transports et les solutions de mobilité respectueuses de l'environnement. En outre, les deux partenaires vont améliorer leurs échanges d'informations et s'employer à développer une présence commune face au public. Les activités consacrées par la "Ville des Alpes de l'Année" à la Convention alpine

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bénéficieront du soutien et de l'accompagnement de l'association et du Secrétariat permanent de la Convention alpine.Au mois d'avril 2005, le Secrétariat permanent et l'association Villes des Alpes de l'Année avaient déjà signé un accord sur deux ans en vue de renforcer leur coopération. Cette première initiative a abouti à l'organisation commune d'un congrès international intitulé "Villes des Alpes et espaces protégés proches", qui s'est tenu l'année dernière à Chambéry (France), et a remporté un vif succès (plus de 300 participants). Ursula Rütsche a expliqué ce qui a poussé l'association à s'engager en faveur du Memorandum: "Les Villes des Alpes revêtent une importance centrale pour la Convention alpine. Les deux tiers de la population alpine vivent dans les villes alpines. Les villes jouent un rôle décisif dans le développement des zones rurales environnantes. L'engagement des Villes des Alpes en faveur du développement durable de l'arc alpin est indispensable".

Depuis 1997, un jury réunissant la Communauté de travail Villes des Alpes, la Commission internationale pour la protection des Alpes CIPRA et Pro Vita Alpina élit une " Ville des Alpes de l'Année " qui met en œuvre de manière exemplaire la Convention alpine à travers des projets concrets et d'autres activités. Les Villes auxquelles ce prix é été décerné se sont réunies au sein de l'association "Ville des Alpes de l'Année".Pour télécharger le Memorandum of Understanding:http://www.alpenstaedte.org/f/pdf/090108MoU_ConvenzioneAlpiCittaAlpine_fr.pdfContact: Aurelia Ullrich,Bureau de l'association Ville des Alpes de l'Année,Tél. +423 237 40 39,portable +41 79 651 51 19,[email protected]

8 Scientific networks and research projects

8.1 Mountain Forum

New Executive Secretary of the Mountain Forum appointedWe congratulate Mr. Francis Neuman on his appointment as the next Executive Secretary of the Mountain Forum Secretariat. Mr. Neuman, a Dutch national, brings his wide experience of all aspects of knowledge management and information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D), together with his expertise in catalyzing and advising on initiatives of European, African and international networks, which have engaged civil society organizations, universities as well as international, regional, government agencies. Mr. Neuman will take up his new role at the Mountain Forum Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal by mid-January 2008. We would like this opportunity to thank Ana Maria Ponce, outgoing Executive Secretary, for her commitment and energy in promoting networking for sustainable mountain development and her strong collaboration with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat to deliver timely and relevant communication services and products to Mountain Partnership members. We wish her every success in her new ventures.

(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

FAOWatershed management

One of the key challenges in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is controlling watershed degradation and the negative impacts of socio-economic change on mountain ecosystems. Recent initiatives are improving understanding and approaches to watershed management. Earlier this year, FAO and collaborating institutions widely disseminated findings of their large-scale assessment and global review of the status and future trends of integrated and participatory watershed management, which took place during the 2002-2003 period, through case studies and the resource book, ‘The new generation of watershed management programmes and projects’. This provides a critical summary of the state-of-the-art of watershed management, and outlines a new approach based on the principles of adaptive, collaborative and result-oriented management. This new approach to watershed management is now being tested and applied in several FAO-assisted field programmes, including a major post-earthquake rehabilitation project in the mountain areas of Pakistan, a World Bank programme for strengthening watershed management in Tajikistan, and a Programme for Integrated Management of the Fouta Djallon Highlands (West Africa), supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Interest in adopting the new approach has also been expressed by the Mekong River Commission and by the governments of Ethiopia, Lesotho and Libya.

To find out more about watershed management activities, at the field and policy level, please contact Thomas Hofer, Sustainable Mountain Development Officer, FAO at: [email protected].

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The Spanish-language version of the ‘The new generation of watershed management programmes and projects’ (‘La nueva generación de programas y proyectos de gestión de cuencas hidrográficas’) is now available. Should you wish to order copies, please e-mail Paolo Ceci, FAO at: [email protected].

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

Mountain ProductsCountries on the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean draw on a rich common food heritage and there is scope to use the region’s economic, cultural and social networks to promote high-quality food products. This cooperation is set to be strengthened at the forthcoming FAO Seminar on ‘Quality Food Products Linked to Geographical Origin and Traditions in the Mediterranean’ (Casablanca, Morocco, 8–9 November 2007), which is being organized by the FAO Mountain Products Programme, part of the Sustainable Livelihoods Initiative of the Mountain Partnership, and the FAO Specific Quality Policies Programme, in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. The meeting will attract representatives of government and local authorities, civil society, private sector and development organizations, as well as experts on quality products from the region, in efforts to exchange information and knowledge on current approaches and practices related to quality products at the institutional and local level. For further information on the meeting and the FAO Mountain Products Programme, contact Alexia Baldascini at: [email protected] or visit the Mountain Products Programme Web site.

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

8.3 Wenner-Gren Foundation. The Institutional Development GrantDeadline for applications: 1 February 2008The Wenner-Gren Foundation has two major goals: to support significant and innovative anthropological research into humanity's biological and cultural origins, development and variation, and to foster the creation of an international community of research scholars in anthropology. The Wenner-Gren Foundation has now launched a new funding programme, the Institutional Development Grant (IDG). The Grant is intended to strengthen (or to support the development of) anthropological doctoral programmes in countries where the discipline is underrepresented. The grant provides $25,000 per year, is renewable for a maximum of five years (total support of $125,000), and may be

used for any purpose to achieve the academic development goals of the applicant department.. The deadline for the mandatory preliminary inquiry is 1 February 2008.

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

8.4 Mountain Studies InstituteStudying risk in the San Juan MountainsMountain Studies Institute (MSI), a Mountain Partnership member, is an NGO that enhances the understanding and sustainable use of the San Juan Mountains (Colorado, USA) through research and education. An on-going project 'Air Quality in the San Juan Mountain High Country', aims to address gaps in data and public awareness through a scientific study of mercury deposition and an outreach campaign. Data is being collected to determine the current risk posed by mercury deposition, establish a baseline with which to compare future changes, and understand sources of mercury to aquatic ecosystems. Mercury was selected as the focus of the scientific study because of concerns expressed by various stakeholders, including land managers, watershed groups, residents, elected officials, and health professionals. For further information on the project’s progress, visit the MSI Web site.

(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

8.5 Monitoring vegetation for climate change in Everest Dendrochronology is the dating of past events (climatic changes) through study of tree ring growth. For the entire period of a tree's life, a year-by-year record or ring pattern is formed that reflects the climatic conditions in which the tree grew. This type of study is being applied in Nepal’s high Himalaya and Alpine vegetation in hopes to discover verifiable information on climate change in the region. Dr. Dinesh Bhuju from Resources Himalaya Foundation, a Mountain Partnership member, together with Dr. Marco Carrer from the University of Padova in Italy, is currently monitoring permanent plots at Yaren (Pangboche, alt. 4 050m) and Debuche (Tengboche, alt. 3 850m) in Everest (Sagarmatha). Cores of the dominant tree Abies spectabilis have been extracted from both the plots for dendrochronological study. Scanning of tree-rings in the collected cores will help calculate their respective age as well as construct the environmental history of the site, such as anthropogenic disturbance, natural calamity and temperature fluctuation. For further information, visit the Resources Himalaya Foundation Web site.

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(Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

8.6 Using water to power remote Andean villagesThe pioneering work in sustainable energy of Soluciones Prácticas Peru (ITDG) won second prize in the ‘Light and Power’ category of the Ashden Awards. The Eastern slopes of the Andes in North Peru are among the least developed parts of the country with the majority of people living in remote villages with little or no access to grid electricity. But Soluciones Prácticas Peru has transformed the lives of communities through the installation of micro-hydro plants providing electricity to over 30,000 people. Since 1992, its Renewable Energy Promotion Fund has been actively promoting micro hydro-power and has proven the most effective source of electricity for the region, given the high rainfall and the extensive network of rivers and streams. Since the arrival of micro-hydro the area is thriving: those who had left are returning, bringing their businesses with them, and others are also migrating to the area. Some villages have even doubled in size and for over 60 percent of villagers, their incomes have increased as a direct result of micro-hydro power. Crucial to the success of the project is the involvement of the community. The villagers themselves contribute towards installation costs and are responsible for the day-to-day running of the plants. Now, an increasing number of villages are approaching Soluciones Prácticas for installations and it hopes to extend the scheme eventually to include parts of Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, where lack of access to essential electricity is a daily reality for many. Read a summary of this Soluciones Práticas work, and visit the Soluciones Prácticas Web site here.The Ashden Awards reward and promote local sustainable energy solutions in the UK and the developing world. Visit the Web site for application details, as well as detailed summaries and photographs of past winners’ work.

8.7 Mountain Research Initiative Projects

Global change Research Network in African Mountains (GCRN_AM)There is now a Newsflash of the African Network for Global Change  Research! Read the November Newsflash: http://mri.scnatweb.ch/dmdocuments/gcrnAfrica_Nov07.pdf

Small Research Grants for African Scientists

2008 Int. Workshop on Evaluating Climate Change and Development ·

Publications: Forest Management in Cameroon ·

Fotos Kampala meeting and field-trip Who is Who: update! or the first edition, October 2007:

http://mri.scnatweb.ch/dmdocuments/gcrnAfrica_oct07.pdf

Grant informationGEO Data portalWho is Who in African Mountain

ResearchEGU Humboldt Conference in 2009

The American Cordillera Transect for Global Change Research and conclusions of Euromontana’s completed project on mountain food products (2002 – 2004), as well as details on its current research project EuroMARC (European Mountain Agrofood products, Retailing and Consumers), which focusses  on assessing perceptions and expectations from consumers and various types of retailers. In this launch stage, all comments and/or contributions  would be welcome.

(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

9 Bibliography, Recent Publications

Jack Ives. Skaftafell in Iceland - A Thousand Years of Change. Ormstunga, Reykjavik, 2007Skaftafell has become one of the primary destinations for the increasing number of visitors to Iceland as well as for Icelanders. Over the last forty years, renowned mountain expert Dr. Jack D. Ives has witnessed the conversion of this isolated and austerely beautiful landscape into a national park, together with the transformation of its people and their ways of life. Because Jack's career has taken

him into many outstanding mountain regions throughout the world, he came to recognize the global significance of Skaftafell’s natural and cultural heritage. This new book evokes the incomparable people and landscapes of Skaftafell in words and more than 90 colour and black and white photographs. (Source: Jack Ives; (Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

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For many years Jack Ives has  nursed the idea of bringing together under one cover an account of his friendship with Ragnar Stefánsson, an Icelandic sheep farmer, and his family.He met Ragnar in 1952 on the first of many visits to Skaftafell. As an English undergraduate student he was overwhelmed both by the grandeur and remoteness of the landscape and, by the culture and history of the farmers of the area.It was through his interest in Iceland that he met Pauline, his wife of more than fifty years and, a year later, experienced the trauma of losing two of his closest friends in the ice fields of Öræfajökull. But with the passage of time and numerous return visits, another equally important understanding captured his intellect and emotions.He witnessed the conversion of a remarkable isolated and austerely beautiful landscape into a national park together with the transformation of the people and their ways of life. Indeed, Skaftafell has become one of the primary destinations for the increasing number of visitors to Iceland as well as for Icelanders. Because Jack's career has taken him into many outstanding mountain regions throughout the world, he came to recognize the global significance of Skaftafell’s natural and cultural heritage. Therefore, it is not over-presumptuous to attempt to demonstrate this vital importance. Sometimes the impressions of a visitor can provide a useful and complementary perspective to those of native-born Icelanders.The book is subdivided into three parts supplemented by eleven appendices. The first part attempts to explain Ragnar’s own sense of time and place and his relationship with his local and wider region. To do this, it is necessary to go back to Ingólfur Arnason’s first landfall in AD 874 under the headland that bears his name, Ingólfshöfði, which could be seen by Ragnar from his farmhouse.In working through the centuries, using the somewhat unconventional approach to assume perceptions and attitudes of a number of principal characters, some possibly mythical, others startlingly real, the author eventually reaches 1952, the date of his own first arrival. At this point he moves to the second part.This is a narrative of the University of Nottingham student expeditions of 1952–1954, including a detailed account of the fatal accident of August 1953. It also outlines some of the results of their research. It is recounted at some length because it demonstrates how Jack came to be bound to Ragnar and Skaftafell. It is also an example of the influence of Iceland and Icelanders on the lives of visitors from overseas.The third part is an account of the second half of Ragnar’s life that is inseparably linked with the origins and evolution of the Skaftafell National Park leading to the author's presumption of eventual World Heritage recognition. He  uses his own extensive experience with UNESCO, the United

Nations University, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), as well as his university teaching and mountain research career, to illustrate the many challenges and opportunities that development of the park entails.The final section is a collection of eleven appendices that provide greater detail for those interested in such topics as seal hunting, jökulhlaup, glacier movement, mountaineering, the history of Skaftafell, and aspects of the Nottingham student expeditions.All proceeds from the sale of this book are to be used to establish a research fund for administration by the Skaftafell National Park.(http://www.ormstunga.is/english/titles/skaftafell-e.htm)

Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention. First Report on the State of the Alps, ‘Transport and Mobility’ The Alpine Convention has recently published the first issue in its new series of publications on the state of the Alps. The series aims to provide the public at regular intervals with comprehensive information on the ecological, economic and social development of the Alps within the framework of the Alpine Convention. The current report provides for the first time an alpine-wide overall view on the issue of transport and mobility in the member states, namely Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Monaco, Italy and Slovenia. The publication is already available in English. Translations into French, German, Italian and Slovenian will shortly be available. (Peak to Peak. The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Sept./Oct. 2007)

Landscape Development in Mountain Regions. Proceedings of the ForumAlpinum 2007 Mountain landscapes were the theme of this year’s ForumAlpinum (Engelberg, Switzerland, 18- 21 April 2007), organized by the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR). The proceedings have now been published by the Austrian Academy of Sciences Press as an online edition. The publication comprises summaries of all the contributions made at the Forum’s four plenary sessions on the topics of ‘Values and Valuation’, ‘Transformation Processes’, ‘Cooperation and Decision-making in Landscape Management’ and the ‘Role of Landscape in a Changing Society’. The proceedings also feature current European research programmes and projects, and abstracts of the twenty-nine displayed posters. Download the Proceedings. (Source: Thomas Scheurer, Executive Secretary, International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR).(Peak to Peak: The Mountain Partnership Newsletter, Nov./Dec. 2007)

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Facilitating Sustainable Mountain Tourism, Volume 1: Resource Book http://books.icimod.org/index.php/search/publicatio

n/502 Volume 2: Toolkit http://books.icimod.org/index.php/search/publication/503

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Please send your informations for further issues of this Newsletter and any comment to: [email protected]

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