Over 160 mountain biosphere reserves are included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Their high environmental sensitivity provides key conditions for the study global change impact. UNESCO has joined together with 13 international organizations and educational institutes in an international effort to address the impact of environmental and climate change on ecosystems and people in mountain regions. In this way, mountain biosphere reserves are used as an 'early warning' system.

Developing an overarching research strategy The GLOCHAMORE project is established in mountain biosphere reserves worldwide, in developed and developing countries. It was conducted through a series of product-oriented meetings and workshops, integrating activities from the natural and social science communities. It was launched jointly with the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) and a network of global change researchers from a wide variety of disciplines. The GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy available here.

Detecting signals of global environmental change, identifying consequences and designing responses
A number of scientists were also given the opportunity to briefly outline perspectives for Global Change Research in MBRs. A common thread throughout these presentations was that this Initiative is very welcome from two main perspectives:

• as a research based initiative: the research aspect is an essential component of this initiative. The MBRs selected were largely chosen because of the global change research currently undertaken as well as the relatively advanced research infrastructure in terms of on-site facilities as well as the number of scientists working within the MBR.
• as a development based initiative: although 13 MBRs are in Europe and N. America, 12 MBRs are from developing countries, which emphasizes the capacity-building nature of the Initiative.
  

The objectives of the project are to:

• detect signals of global change in mountain biosphere reserves as a template for mountains in general. The focus is on: assessing change in the biophysical environment; understanding ecological and hydrological processes, with and without local human interference, along altitudinal and other gradients (e.g. land use); develop a network of observation sites to serve as an 'early warning' system for detecting global change impacts.
• define the consequences of global change for core mountain regions and for lowland systems depending on mountain resources - to understand better the consequences for people and ecosystems.
• facilitate sustainable land, water, and resource management with and for people in mountain biosphere reserves. The aim is to define responses at local and regional scales. This includes assisting policymakers by indicating the extent of degradation of key mountain resources, and by evaluating the impact of alternative resource management strategies.

The Future
The GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy (or phase I of the initiative) was formulated thanks to the collaboration of more than 100 global change scientists during five wokshops held in several European destinations. It serves as a reference and orientation for research proposals in Mountain Biosphere Reserves (MBRs) and similar sites and covers global change areas of work that include the natural sciences as well as the social sciences. Phase II of the initiative involves the implementation of the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy and is entitled GLOCHAMOST for Global Change in Mountain Sites.

GLOCHAMOST
Implementation of the research strategy is the second part of the initiative (or phase II). The already well-established network of over 160 mountain biosphere reserves (MBRs) included in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves provides ideal laboratories for evaluating and detecting global change. Their high environmental sensitivity provides key conditions for the study of global change impacts. In addition, the priviledged relationship with MAB National Committees ensures access to national knowledge centres. Moreover, these MBRs are strategically situated in all the world's main mountain regions and thus provides global coverage.

The main objective :

• To implement the GLOCHAMORE research strategy in representative mountain biosphere reserves.

Expected results:

• To implement a strategy that helps mountain communities better cope with global and climate change, both established and implemented.
• To better conserve biodiversity and freshwater resources and improve livelihoods.

Biosphere reserves provides unique opportunities to detect and analyze global change processes and phenomena

• Mountain biosphere reserves are widely distributed in 40 countries, allowing comparative studies and analyses of regional differentiation of environmental change processes.
• Conditions - e.g. meteorology, hydrology, cryospheric to be explained for unspecialized readers conditions and ecology - change strongly over relatively short distances in mountain regions (due to the strong altitudinal gradients). Thus biodiversity tends to be high, and characteristic sequences of ecosystems and cryospheric systems are found.
• The boundaries between these systems may shift, due to environmental change. This provides sensitive indicators of forcing mechanisms. to be explained for unspecialized readers
• The higher parts of many mountain biosphere reserves are not heavily affected by direct human activities - providing locations where the environmental impacts of climate change alone can be studied.
• These core protected mountainous areas are usually surrounded by buffer zones and transition areas more influenced by human activities. Changes also occur in socio-economic conditions, land-use and land-management, resource exploitation and the appeal of mountain regions for tourism.

The Biosphere Reserves selected to take part in the initial stages of the project are listed below. This list is not exclusive and other sites may subsequently join the project network.

1. Algeria: Tassili N'Ajjer
2. Australia: Kosciuszko
3. Austria: Gossenköllesee
4. Austria: Gurgler Kamm
5. Canada: Mount Arrowsmith
6. Chile: Araucarias
7. Chile: Torres del Paine
8. China: Changbaishan
9. Colombia: Cinturón Andino
10. Germany: Berchtesgaden Alps
11. India: Nanda Devi
12. Kenya: Mount Kenya
13. Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul
14. Mongolia: Uvs Nuur Basin
15. Morocco: Oasis du Sud marocain
16. Peru: Huascarán
17. Russian Federation: Kavkazskiy
18. Russian Federation: Katunsky
19. Russian Federation: Sikhote-Alin
20. South Africa : Kruger to Canyons
21. Spain: Sierra Nevada
22. Sweden: Lake Torne Area
23. Switzerland: Entlebuch
24. Switzerland: Park Suisse
25. USA: Glacier
26. USA: Niwot Ridge
27. USA: Denali
28. USA: Olympic

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