Table of contents:
Forewords. Preface. Mountains of the world: a global priority. The
human dimension of mountain development: Mountain peoples and
cultures. The spiritual and cultural significance of mountains.
Comparative inequalities - mountain communities and mountain
families. Economic and political framework for sustainability of
mountain areas. Conflicts in mountain areas: a predicament for
sustainable development. Mountain ecosystems, resources, and
development: Highland waters - a resource of global significance.
Energy resources for remote highland areas. Mining in mountains.
The diversity of mountain life. Protection of nature in mountain
regions. Tourism and amenity migration. Mountain forests and
forestry. Mountain argiculture. Mountain watersheds - integrating
water, soils, gravity, vegetation, and people. Risk and disasters
in mountain lands. Climate change. Mountain agenda for the
twenty-first century: Sustainable mountain development - Chapter 13
in action. Agenda for sustainable mountain development. Author
biographies. Index.
Mountains of the World focuses on the human dimension of mountain
development and on the science of mountain ecosystems, resources,
and development. It begins by introducing the mountain cultures and
peoples, the sacredness of mountains, and the economics and
politics of sustainable development in mountain areas. Then the
book deals with mountain water and energy resources, mining,
biodiversity, conservation, tourism, forestry, farming, watershed
management and erosion control, risk and disasters in mountain
lands, and climate change. Finally, it offers much-needed agendas
for scientific research and sustainable development in the
world's mountains.
"This exciting book offers a compilation of topical global mountain themes, many of which have stemmed from points of discussion at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Meserli and Ives adopt a multidisciplinary approach with substantial accentuation towards addressing questions on sustainable mountain development. The book focuses on the most important themes affecting mountain environments today and not only is it able to generate an awareness of contemporary concerns, but it also offers a considerable number of thoughts and suggestions on how these concerns can be overcome in the future. It uses interesting and relevant examples and case studies throughout the book, held in numerous appendices which have been excellently integrated into the chapter texts. Although written by many authors, the book has a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting style of writing, which is remarkably consistent throughout. Overall, this is an extremely stimulating collection of mountain themes held in a single volume. Both positive and negative factors are considered in the concepts and issues it explores and so it is able to generate a holistic outlook. There is excellent referencing in most chapters, covering both historical and up-to-date texts." - Land Degradation and Development, 2000
Inhaltsangabe
Forewords. Preface. Mountains of the world: a global priority. The human dimension of mountain development: Mountain peoples and cultures. The spiritual and cultural significance of mountains. Comparative inequalities - mountain communities and mountain families. Economic and political framework for sustainability of mountain areas. Conflicts in mountain areas: a predicament for sustainable development. Mountain ecosystems resources and development: Highland waters - a resource of global significance. Energy resources for remote highland areas. Mining in mountains. The diversity of mountain life. Protection of nature in mountain regions. Tourism and amenity migration. Mountain forests and forestry. Mountain argiculture. Mountain watersheds - integrating water soils gravity vegetation and people. Risk and disasters in mountain lands. Climate change. Mountain agenda for the twenty-first century: Sustainable mountain development - Chapter 13 in action. Agenda for sustainable mountain development. Author biographies. Index.
