The Mountain Institute

South America - This program addresses water security and climate change adaptation in the Andes Mountains with local communities, government and universities. Our project in Mountain Ecosystem Based Adaptation shared lessons with Perus Ministry of Environment and contributed to the design of the SERNANP climate change adaptation strategy. Accomplishments included: training courses and production of videos to improve food availability for cattle as well as solutions to improve the management of native grasslands In northern Perus Piura region, studies of ethnobotany identifying the biochemical active principles of six promising medicinal plants; training farmers in the processing of medicinal plants; pilot projects to produce potato botanical seed to replace use of virus infected tuber seeds. As a result of our work, highland communities in Piura obtained government support from the National Innovation Fund (PINIA) to conduct applied research in trout production.

North America -The Mountain Institute manages global policy dialogue and awareness raising in this program as well as the global Ecosystem-based Adaptation project components. In the Western USA we are working with indigenous peoples seeking to preserve ancient traditions while protecting their sacred land. The current focus of the program is in the Western United States, where The Mountain Institute works with Native Americans and Federal Protected Area managers on visitor interpretation and collaborative natural resource management in partnership with Portland State University, Oregon. We supported an annual gathering of the Nuwuvi Tribe to strengthen their community and links to the land and natural resources, in Nevada. See additional details in Schedule O.

Asia - In 2018 the Asia Program focused on improving the livelihoods and resilience of impoverished mountain communities, restoring ecosystems, and adapting to climate change in Nepal. Highlights include training of farmers in cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, including provision of seeds and other supplies; establishment of community-run plant nurseries; restoration of degraded lands; citizen-scientists training to monitor biodiversity; and porter and trekking guide training. We initiated the Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation project in Nepal, which will be extended to Bhutan next year. The Institute also initiated work on the conservation of the snow-leopard in two mountain regions. See details in Schedule O.