Abstract ID: 3.11459 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Mountain regions are increasingly facing uncertainties; as climate change accelerates irreversible shifts in ecosystems, glaciers, hydrology, and livelihoods. Mountain communities are particularly vulnerable, necessitating innovative and forward-thinking strategies to navigate these challenges. This study uses insights from researchers and local practitioners working in 24 case studies from 17 countries across six continents to explore change, possible and desirable futures. Insights from our diverse case studies are used to develop a global research framework embedded within local knowledge that tackles these new challenges and promotes sustainable development in mountain systems. Our analysis reveals five key principles for envisioning Mountain Futures. First, normative visioning empowers communities to collaboratively create transformative futures grounded in shared values and aspirations around sustainability. Second, transdisciplinary research and the integration of diverse knowledge systems are essential for developing holistic, culturally relevant adaptation strategies that incorporate diverse perspectives in decision-making. Third, bridging social and earth system sciences is crucial, requiring the integration of socio-economic and biophysical data through methods such as remote sensing, surveys, interviews, workshops, and field experiments. Fourth, adaptive responses are necessary to address the rapid ecological and socio-economic changes in mountain systems, considering both local and transboundary contexts and scales, and short- and long-term perspectives. Finally, governance systems must be flexible and collaborative to effectively manage dynamic environmental and social shifts, especially in transboundary regions where cooperative management frameworks and shared policies that address common goals are critical. These co-created approaches for envisioning Mountain Futures can help us to acknowledge the connections of ecosystems to human cultures and develop more holistic ways of understanding change and possible futures and their management applications. Building on these principles, we propose actionable recommendations to guide the future research agenda that supports policy and practice. By integrating these insights, the proposed research framework can support sustainable, resilient, and inclusive futures for mountain communities to navigate through the increasing challenges facing mountain social ecological systems.