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MRD smallThe journal Mountain Research and Development has issued a call for papers related to the role culture plays in our transition towards sustainable development in mountains for its three peer-reviewed sections: MountainDevelopment, MountainResearch, and MountainAgenda. Notices of intent should be submitted by 30 September. 

In 1996, the World Commission on Culture and Development (WCCD) published a report on Our Creative Diversity. The WCCD wanted to emphasize the fundamental relevance of culture in sustainable development and to address questions such as: What are the cultural and socio-cultural factors that affect development? What is the cultural impact of social and economic development? How can valuable elements of a traditional culture be combined with modernization? What are the cultural dimensions of individual and collective well-being? Through this Focus Issue, Mountain Research and Development aims to highlight the importance of these questions for sustainable development in mountains.

the village smallSession proposals are invited for the Global Land Programme's 4th Open Science Meeting, 'Transforming Land Systems for People and Nature,' which will be held 24-26 April 2019 in Bern, Switzerland. 

Land use is key for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in an increasingly threatened global environment. Should land system science produce a unifying vision for the planet? How do global narratives for use of land correspond to what people want when striving for access to land across diverse and distinctive regions? How can we support transformations that mutually reinforce global sustainability visions and goals, and people’s aspirations and needs?  

mountains central asia smallThe University of Central Asia's Mountain Societies Research Institute is accepting registrations and contributions for the Youth Mountain Forum – a side event taking place as part of the World Mountain Forum 2018. 

The Youth Mountain Forum will provide its participants with a global platform to bring the attention of policy makers, politicians, and practitioners to challenges posed by global climate change. To contribute to the discussion of sustainable mountain development issues, students and young professionals from Central Asia and the Mountain Partnership countries of Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific are invited to submit contributions.

ankole cows 2111168 200x150Members of the mountain research community are encouraged to submit proposals for sessions on mountain ecosystems in line with the conference theme of 'Management of Ecosystem Services for Nature Conservation and Human Well-Being in Africa.' 

Taking place in Togo in early 2019, the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) Regional Conference Africa 2019 has been organized to draw attention to the key role ecosystems play in the economy, human well-being, and culture of (Sub-Saharan) Africa.

mountain melt EDW July 2018 smallA new paper published in the International Journal of Climatology examines seasonal patterns of warming amplification at high elevations worldwide – and finds highly significant temperature trends.

Thanks to research efforts, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests warming rates are amplified by elevation, with high mountain areas experiencing more rapid changes in temperature than lower elevation environments. However, despite the interest in this phenomenon, the global assessment of seasonal signals of EDW has received limited attention. As a result, there is still restricted seasonal evidence of EDW. A new paper published in the International Journal of Climatology attempts to go some way towards bridging this gap.

chile 1463830 200x150MRI Executive Director Dr. Carolina Adler was among over 100 experts who came together in July to advance preparations for the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate – or SROCC. Synthesis reviews and multiple case studies are still being sought for the assessment process.

The Third SROCC Lead Author Meeting took place 23-28 July 2018 in Lanzhou, China and brought together experts from more than 30 countries to continue their work towards the First Order Draft of SROCC. As a lead author of the chapter focused on changes in high mountain regions, MRI Executive Director Dr. Carolina Adler was among their number. 

rocky mountains 384683 200x150As treelines scale new mountain heights in response to a warming climate, research published in the journal Global Change Biology suggests factors such as unsuitable soils may be slowing their climb.

There have been a number of studies that point to warming mountain slopes enabling the spread of treelines upwards into new areas. However, this spread is not uniform, with local variation and lags in response to climate warming suggesting that other factors may also be at play.

mountains from aboveAn exciting range of mountain and cryosphere related sessions will be taking place at the American Geophysical Union 2018 Fall Meeting in Washington D.C. in December.

The AGU Fall Meeting is the largest Earth and space science gathering in the world, and will take place this year 10-14 December. This 2018 meeting also marks the advent of the AGU’s Centennial year, and aims to provide a special opportunity to share science with world leaders in Washington, D.C.

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