A research agenda for mountain futures
Abstract
Mountain regions are at the forefront of global change challenges, facing accelerating transformations in ecosystems, cryospheric, and hydrological systems. These biophysical changes, combined with limited infrastructure, restricted livelihood diversification, food insecurity, and lower incomes, are eroding the resilience of mountain social-ecological systems (SES). Drawing on insights from 25 case studies across 18 countries and five continents, we present a global synthesis that validates and operationalizes five key principles for sustainable mountain futures through the lens of uncertainty, translating them into a contemporary research agenda for mountain SES: (1) co-producing knowledge across scientific, Indigenous, and dynamic local systems builds shared understanding and trust under uncertain futures. (2) Bridging social and biophysical sciences reveals system feedback and thresholds that drive uncertain development pathways. (3) Integrating local and transboundary scales strengthens adaptive capacity across spatial and temporal uncertainties. (4) Leveraging scenario-thinking approaches supports collective anticipation and the co-creation of transformative pathways. (5) Ensuring effective anticipatory governance and flexible institutions fosters learning and decision-making amid persistent uncertainty. Together, these principles offer a framework for engaging with uncertainty to foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable mountain futures.
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BibTeX
@article{zimmer2026research,
title = {{A research agenda for mountain futures}},
author = {Anaïs Zimmer and Adrienne Grêt-Regamey and Ignacio Palomo and Carolina Adler and Meryem Aakairi and Marie Anière and Fabien Anthelme and Chloe Baruffa and Bolette Bele and Vincent Ralph Clark and Aida Cuni-Sanchez and Sebastian Eiter and Richard Field and Warinkwi Flores and Katherine Hanly and Jan Hartmann and Amina Maharjan and Sara Manuelli and Dominic Andreas Martin and Nelly Nambande Masayi and Paula Mayer and Graham Mcdowell and Holly Moulton and Anne Nolin and Lydia Olaka and Binaya Pasakhala and Jorge Recharte and Neema Robert Kinabo and Luciana Rojas and Hanne Sickel and Lobzang Stanzen and Peter John Taylor and Irene Teixidor-Toneu and Catherine Tucker and Sabarnee Tuladhar and Robert Marchant},
journal = {Cell Reports Sustainability},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100775},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05738478v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A research agenda for mountain futures
AU - Anaïs Zimmer
AU - Adrienne Grêt-Regamey
AU - Ignacio Palomo
AU - Carolina Adler
AU - Meryem Aakairi
AU - Marie Anière
AU - Fabien Anthelme
AU - Chloe Baruffa
AU - Bolette Bele
AU - Vincent Ralph Clark
AU - Aida Cuni-Sanchez
AU - Sebastian Eiter
AU - Richard Field
AU - Warinkwi Flores
AU - Katherine Hanly
AU - Jan Hartmann
AU - Amina Maharjan
AU - Sara Manuelli
AU - Dominic Andreas Martin
AU - Nelly Nambande Masayi
AU - Paula Mayer
AU - Graham Mcdowell
AU - Holly Moulton
AU - Anne Nolin
AU - Lydia Olaka
AU - Binaya Pasakhala
AU - Jorge Recharte
AU - Neema Robert Kinabo
AU - Luciana Rojas
AU - Hanne Sickel
AU - Lobzang Stanzen
AU - Peter John Taylor
AU - Irene Teixidor-Toneu
AU - Catherine Tucker
AU - Sabarnee Tuladhar
AU - Robert Marchant
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/15
JO - Cell Reports Sustainability
DO - 10.1016/j.crsus.2026.100775
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05738478v1
AB - Mountain regions are at the forefront of global change challenges, facing accelerating transformations in ecosystems, cryospheric, and hydrological systems. These biophysical changes, combined with limited infrastructure, restricted livelihood diversification, food insecurity, and lower incomes, are eroding the resilience of mountain social-ecological systems (SES). Drawing on insights from 25 case studies across 18 countries and five continents, we present a global synthesis that validates and operationalizes five key principles for sustainable mountain futures through the lens of uncertainty, translating them into a contemporary research agenda for mountain SES: (1) co-producing knowledge across scientific, Indigenous, and dynamic local systems builds shared understanding and trust under uncertain futures. (2) Bridging social and biophysical sciences reveals system feedback and thresholds that drive uncertain development pathways. (3) Integrating local and transboundary scales strengthens adaptive capacity across spatial and temporal uncertainties. (4) Leveraging scenario-thinking approaches supports collective anticipation and the co-creation of transformative pathways. (5) Ensuring effective anticipatory governance and flexible institutions fosters learning and decision-making amid persistent uncertainty. Together, these principles offer a framework for engaging with uncertainty to foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable mountain futures.
SN - 2949-7906
SN - 2949-7906
ER -