Overview
In an era characterized by climate change, economic shifts, and transformative societal dynamics, mountainous regions face unprecedented challenges and opportunities.
The Mountain Socio-Ecological Futures Working Group emphasises the need for positive narratives and seeks to connect with other MRI research strands. Its primary goal is to exchange innovative ideas to imagine and shape new responses to ongoing climate-driven social-ecological changes in mountain areas. Additionally, it aims to create an urgently needed community of practice for proactively managing these emerging resources in a sustainable manner.
Established: 2023
Current Phase: First Phase
The MRI Working Groups are open to all members of the MRI network. Information on how to join can be found at the bottom of this page.
Objectives
The Working Group aims to:
- Collect and synthesize experiences on adaptive and transformative capacities of mountain social-ecological systems (to be defined based on risks, nature’s contribution to people, existing infrastructures, and other variables).
- Co-define a global research agenda that integrates local knowledge that could be applicable to emerging mountain landscapes and their downstream areas.
- Advance approaches for monitoring deglaciating areas, including soil, water, and vegetation dynamics.
- Identify and promote innovative projects and practices that support sustainable mountain futures.
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Research Questions
- What are the main adaptive and transformative capacities of social-ecological systems in mountain social-ecological systems?
- How can emerging mountain landscapes and their downstream areas best contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being in future?
- Which emerging research areas can support transformation of these new social-ecological systems towards sustainability?
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Focus Areas
The Working Group’s activities currently focus on:
- Adaptive and transformative capacities of mountain social-ecological systems
- Emerging research spaces and cryosphere-downstream linkages
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Biodiversity conservation and human well-being
- Role of communities in adapting to change (climate, policy, economic, etc.)
- Monitoring systems of deglaciating landscapes
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Activities, Outputs, and Achievements
Research and Publications
- Position paper submitted to Nature Climate Change.
- Palomo I., Lana S., Rabatel A., Dangles O. 2025. The Voices of Glaciers: Stories of Grief and Hope Amidst Shrinking Glaciers in the Tropics. With the collaboration of Cauvy-Fraunié S., Ceballos J. L., Adler C., Mark B., Marchant R.,Morales Arnao B., Pérez Arias J. D., Aguilar Durán D. & Zimmer A. Marseille-Paris, IRD Éditions-UNESCO | Read more: The Voices of Glaciers: A Human Chronicle of Ice, Loss, and Resilience
- Cuni-Sanchez, A., Aneseyee, A.B., Baderha, G.K.R. et al. Perceived climate change impacts and adaptation responses in ten African mountain regions. Nat. Clim. Chang. 15, 153–161 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02221-w | Read more: Climate Change in African Mountains: Perceived Impacts and Adaptation Responses
- Gillson, L., Seddon, A., Mottl, O., Zhang, K., Kirsten, K., Gell, P., Marchant, R.A., Schwörer, C., Razanatsoa, E., Lane, P.J., Courtney-Mustaphi, C.J. and Dearing, J. (2025), Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology. Glob Change Biol, 31: e70017. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70017
- Survey on challenges and opportunities in deglaciating areas (2022).
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Conferences, Workshops, and Scientific Sessions
- Focus Session at IMC 2025:
Mountain Futures – Assessing Challenges and Co-Producing Solutions to Mountain Social-Ecological Futures. - Focus Session at IMC 2025:
The Future of Low-Latitude Alpine Ecosystems in a Changing World: What to Expect from Nature-Based Solutions. - UNESCO online event presenting The Voices of Glaciers (March 2025).
- International Year of Glaciers launch event, Quito, Ecuador (2025).
- Participation in the African Mountain Congress (March 2025), including presentations on agroforestry futures, climate adaptation, and forest-based carbon values.
- Inaugural Workshop of the Mountain Socio-Ecological Futures Working Group, Davos, Switzerland (June 2024).
- INTECOL session on social-ecological change assessment tools (2022).
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Working Group Participants
Working Group Co-Leads
- Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland | Visit Webpage
- Rob Marchant, University of York, York, United Kingdom | Visit Webpage
- Ignacio Palomo, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Institute of Environmental Geosciences (IGE), Grenoble, France | Visit Webpage
Working Group Members
View the current membership list here.
How to Join
MRI Working Groups are community-led initiatives open to all members of the MRI network. Researchers and practitioners from all backgrounds and career stages are welcome to participate. Early career researchers (typically within five years of completing a postgraduate degree), women, and colleagues from developing countries and underrepresented mountain regions are particularly encouraged to get involved.
The first step to joining an MRI Working Group is becoming part of the MRI network. You can do this by creating a profile in the MRI Expert Database. By joining the network, you become part of a vibrant international community of more than 10,000 experts working across research, policy, and practice, united by a shared commitment to mountain regions worldwide.
As a member of the MRI network, you can apply for MRI funding opportunities, participate in Working Groups, and engage in a range of collaborative activities.
Once you have joined the MRI network, you can become a member of the Mountain Socio-Ecological Futures Working Group by completing the form below. You will be added to the Working Group mailing list and receive updates on research collaborations, events, knowledge exchange activities, and other opportunities to contribute to the group’s work.
If you have any questions about the Working Group or its activities, please contact one of the Working Group Co-Leads listed above.
