Mountain ecosystems provide essential services such as water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and land use for agriculture, forestry, and tourism. However, climate change and land-use transformations threaten these ecosystems, altering vegetation dynamics, disrupting ecological processes, and impacting livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires a long-term perspective that integrates ecological, climatic, and land-use data to assess past, present, and future trends.
Paleoecological and historical records reveal how mountain ecosystems have responded to environmental changes over decades to millennia. Combining these records with modern data and modeling enhances our understanding of ecosystem resilience, species shifts, and sustainable land management. Key research areas include long-term biodiversity monitoring, fire and forest dynamics, and the influence of climate variability on treeline shifts and vegetation patterns.
Integrating scientific data with stakeholder knowledge is crucial for adaptive management strategies that balance conservation and socio-economic needs. Collaborative approaches involving scientists, land managers, policymakers, and local communities can enhance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts through sustainable land-use planning, biodiversity conservation, and evidence-based policies.
The PAGES DiverseK working group applies these principles by integrating long-term ecological data to inform sustainable management strategies. A recent DiverseK workshop brought together scientists and stakeholders for interdisciplinary discussions on climate and land-use impacts, biodiversity conservation, and adaptive management. This presentation will introduce key insights from the session, highlighting how historical and modern ecological perspectives can strengthen mountain ecosystem resilience and guide sustainable decision-making.