About us :: IUCN-WCPA Mountain Protected Areas Network

About the Mountain Protected Areas Network

Who we are
The Mountain Protected Area Network is a global network of mountain experts devoted to preserving and protecting our precious mountain regions of the world. It is led by a team of experts to work on a wide range of mountain protection issues.

How we relate to the IUCN
The Mountain Theme was established by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) in 1992 with the goals of:

1. Having IUCN play a strong role in the Mountain Agenda follow up on Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 from the Rio Earth Summit.

2. Developing a support and exchange network of protected area managers, researchers and other professionals dealing with mountain protected areas who share common issues because of the nature of these three-dimensional earth features.

3. With the Network, promoting a greater awareness of values of mountain protected areas (MtPAs) among the international community of governments, environmental NGOs, donors and the general public.

Our Strategies for protecting mountains
Here are some more links to information about our network and what we are doing to protect the world's Mountain Biome. As you explore this website you will learn about the nature and scope our work, including our Mountains Strategy for 2005-2008

Our outputs and results
As part of our work, we are planning three upcoming workshops in the coming years for mountain protected area managers. They will involve leading mountain management experts and will focus on these topics of great importance for mountain regions. Further information on these workshops will be posted as their date approaches:

Theme of our upcoming Workshop November 2006:
Mountain Conservation Connectivity Management

Theme of our Workshop in 2007:
Transboundary Conservation Management in Mountains

Theme of our Workshop in 2008:
Managing Ecotourism in Mountain Protected Areas

--What is a "mountain protected area"? Mountain protected areas are parks, wilderness and wild land areas, reserves, refuges, world heritage sites, and other mountain areas granted protection status in various ways around the world. One example of a mountain PA is Denali National Park in Alaska (above).
--How valuable is the Mountain PA Network? Read a testimonial.
--Why is mountain protection so important to mankind's future? Read the IUCN Mountains Facts Sheet.
--How many people are in the Mountain PA Network? Currently there are approximately 500 members of our Networkaround the world.
--What kinds of work do they do? Our members work for many NGOs, universities, governments, agencies, and broad stakeholder groups such as recreationists, indigenous peoples, women's groups, youth groups, etc..

Featured Network Member ~ Ms. Nikhat Sattar

Mountain PA Network member Nikhat Sattar (below) of Pakistan gave a presentation at a mountains theme workshop during the 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok in 2004.

Nikhat is also part of the Strategic Planning Team of IUCN's Asia Programme that is serving as a lead in providing information for disaster relief in the high mountains of Pakistan devastated by a massive earthquake on October 8, 2005. Read more information from Nikhat and her IUCN team...