Welcome to GMBA
The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) is a cross-cutting network of DIVERSITAS with the task to explore and explain the great biological richness of the mountains of the world.
2011-12-19New publication: Effects of climate change and how to manage them
GMBA has published a new paper about mountain biodiversity and climate change:
Eva Spehn (2011) Effects of climate change and how to manage them
ICIMOD periodical 60:40-43, Earth Observation and Climate Change
Mountain ecosystems are characterised by steep environmental gradients, including steep gradients of temperature and moisture. They are islands of high-elevation habitats, isolated by the surrounding lowlands. Changes in environmental conditions are especially threatening endemic species that occur in limited areas, such as on mountain peaks. Of these changes, shorter periods of snow cover below the tree line and changes in water availability may be more important drivers of change than temperature change itself. The likely losers from climate warming among plant species in the mountains are late successional species, species with small,restricted populations, and species confined to the summits or the plains; in comparison, ruderal species (weeds), species with large, widespread populations, and mid-slope species are likely to be winners.
Download article here (PDF, 0.5 MB)
or download the whole periodical at ICIMOD ICIMOD.
2011-07-11Conference: Planet Under Pressure 2012 - New Knowledge Towards Solutions
26-29 March 2012 London, UK
Abstract submission is now open for this major international science conference focusing on solutions to the global sustainability challenge.
The conference will provide a comprehensive update of the pressure planet Earth is now under. It will discuss solutions at all scales to move societies on to a sustainable pathway and will provide scientific leadership towards the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20.
This is an open call for participants and for abstracts for presentations and posters to be submitted against the session topics described on the conference website under the following outline:
Day 1: State of the planet: the latest knowledge about the pressures on the planet
Day 2: Options and opportunities: exchanging knowledge about ways of reducing the pressures on the planet, promoting transformative changes for a sustainable future and adapting to changes in the global system
Day 3: Challenges to progress: clarifying what is preventing or slowing humanity from implementing potential solutions
Day 4: Ways ahead: a vision for 2050 and beyond, and exploring new partnerships and pathways towards global sustainability
Each day will include relevant aspects of the conference themes:
A. Meeting global needs: food, energy, water and other ecosystem services
B. Transforming our way of living: development pathways under global environmental change
C. Governing across scales: innovative stewardship of the Earth system
The closing date for abstract submission is 19 August 2011.
For further information on submitting an abstract, conference themes and sessions, mentoring and funding visit: www.planetunderpressure2012.net
2011-05-19Conference on Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in Mountain Areas
Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany, 16-18 April 2012
The conference is organized along the following six themes:
- Soil care in mountain landscapes
- Supplying, using, sharing and cycling of matter and water
- Linking highland farmers to modern food chains
- Land use and land cover change
- Sustainable and competitive livestock systems
- People participation in natural resource management
Extended abstracts of oral or poster presentations (400-600 words in length) are to be submitted to the conference website until 1 November 2011.
Additional information: https://uplands2012.uni-hohenheim.de
2011-02-02Conference: Planet Under Pressure - New knowledge towards solutions
A major international science conference focusing on solutions to the global sustainability challenge.
26-29th March 2012, London, UK
The 2012 international Planet Under Pressure conference will provide a comprehensive update of the pressure planet Earth is now under. The conference will discuss solutions at all scales to move societies on to a sustainable pathway. It will provide scientific leadership towards the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development - Rio+20.
More information: http://www.planetunderpressure2012.net/
Submit a session until 18th of March 2011.