Abstract
Uplands, mountains, or highlands are both biogeographic and cultural terms that refer to mountainous areas, their biological components and agricultural practices (Sajise and Baguninon 1982). In public perception, mountain regions are often associated with geographical and socio-political peripheries, due to their often remote locations, their higher proportion of ethnic minorities, their landuse and livelihood practices, and their political status. The preamble to Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 states the importance of mountain ecosystems as follows:
“Mountains are an important source of water, energy and biological diversity. Furthermore, they are a source of such key resources as minerals, forest products and agricultural products and of recreation. As a major ecosystem representing the complex and interrelated ecology of our planet, mountain environments are essential to the survival of the global ecosystem. Mountain ecosystems are, however, rapidly changing. They are susceptible to accelerated soil erosion, landslides and rapid loss of habitat and genetic diversity. On the human side, there is widespread poverty among mountain inhabitants and loss of indigenous knowledge” (Menzies 2002).
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Xu, J., Wilkes, A. (2005). State Simplifications of Land-Use and Biodiversity in the Uplands of Yunnan, Eastern Himalayan Region. In: Huber, U.M., Bugmann, H.K.M., Reasoner, M.A. (eds) Global Change and Mountain Regions. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3508-X_54
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3508-X_54
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