Summary and Conclusion

Abstract

The chapters in this book have drawn our attention to a number of topics that are of political relevance: the fact mountains are the water towers for humanity, play a major role in climate change, and are a haven of biodiversity. They play an important role in the provision of ecosystem services, a point stressed by Debarbieux and Price (Chap. 4). The inhabitants of mountain regions, in particular the farmers, bear a high responsibility for this. While they are usually conscious of their role, they have to balance economic survival against the costs of ecosystem preservation. Poverty is a major issue with many mountain people, particularly in the Himalayas, in many parts of Southeast Asia (where it concerns mainly the indigenous minority groups) or in the Andes. It is caused by both natural and social factors, such as remoteness, access to basic facilities, household structure, policy, etc. Poverty is an important obstacle to improving people’s livelihood. For centuries they have been using the resources of the mountains, exploiting them according to their needs and using the technology available. Globalization has nowadays entered this world as well and they have to fight for their traditional ways of living.