Mountain Research Initiative

The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) is an international network that envisions a world in which research to understand global change challenges and opportunities in mountains is conducted across borders and disciplines, with and for society, in order to generate knowledge that enables decisions, actions, and transformations towards sustainable development.

It is supported in achieving this vision by the MRI Coordination Office, based in Bern, Switzerland.

Making Connections for Our Changing Mountains.

The MRI connects the global mountain research community. With the MRI Coordination Office serving as a central and enabling hub, our flagship activities, synthesis workshops, working groups, events, and online platforms bring researchers and stakeholders from diverse disciplines and backgrounds together.

We work with the mountain research community and society more broadly to identify research priorities and possibilities for common action, and we support this common action by providing targeted funding, coordination, and administrative assistance. We also strive to keep the research community informed, and work with research organizations and funding agencies to ensure that mountain global change topics are recognized and addressed.

Our Seven Goals

Funding and Endorsement

The MRI is a Strategic Partner of Future Earth and a Participating Organization of the Group on Earth Observations.

The MRI is hosted by the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern, and funded by the Swiss Academies of Sciences (SCNAT). For projects and contributions related to IPCC AR6 activities, as well as the climate change adaptation in mountains programme, we receive funding from the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). 

Content

ales-krivec-n-atikx-b00-unsplash low res 0 - climate adaptation.

Adaptation in Mountains

Mountains are highly vulnerable to climate change. They also provide numerous essential services. This theme explores how mountains and mountain communities can be made more resilient.

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Members

MRI Contributed To...

Blue sky with green mountains covered in colourful looking houses

Human populations in the world’s mountains: Spatio-temporal patterns and potential controls

Delve into the data and trends of human populations in mountainous regions, and explore the associations between mountain populations and different environmental covariates. Findings may inform predictions of future mountain population distributions under scenarios of future climatic change.

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A group of people sat around a U-shaped table in a meeting

Taking Action Together for Resilient Mountain Communities in the South Caucasus

Learn about the outcomes of the interactive regional meeting hosted by UNEP and Sustainable Caucasus in Tbilisi, Georgia, which aimed to support regional collaboration among South Caucasus countries for climate adaptation planning and action.

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three people installing mass balance stakes in a snowy mountain environment

Mountain observations: Monitoring, data, and information for science, policy, and society

Explore this easy-to-read overview of the current state of multi-disciplinary mountain observations. Discover the different methods used to observe mountain environments, as well as the diversity of knowledge and data sources available to learn from.

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4 people speaking at a COP27 panel event

COP27 - Cascading impacts: how can we adapt and reduce risk in the mountains and downstream?

Watch and learn about this COP27 side event which focused on the impacts and risks from upstream-downstream hazards in mountains, which have cascading and compounding detrimental effects on both local and downstream ecosystems and billions of people worldwide.

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Mountain with a snowy peak and a pink cloud sky

IPCC WGII Sixth Assessment Report Cross-Chapter Paper 5: Mountains

Explore the new evidence on observed and projected climate change impacts in mountain regions, their associated key risks and adaptation measures in this IPCC cross-chapter paper on mountains.

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Mountains Connect Workshop participants photo

Mountains Connect Interregional Workshop Report

This report captures take-aways for interregional exchange, regional collaboration and advocacy for mountain areas from the Mountains Connect Interregional Workshop held in Vienna in June 2022.

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