Focus Issue: Pastoralism and Rangelands in Mountains

Abstract

Mountain rangelands (open grasslands, mixed forest meadows, closed forests, and alpine lakes and wetlands) play vital roles for humans, supporting livestock grazing, hunting, and harvesting of plants. They thus provide livelihoods for a large number of rural mountain communities across the globe. These systems are also key for water supply to lowland areas and watershed health, carbon sequestration and storage, fire regulation, and, increasingly, recreational use and tourism. They are vital for the conservation of mountain species and habitats, including endemic species and habitats exclusive to mountains. Many of these ecosystems require management to maintain species diversity and productivity and supply a range of high-quality ecosystem services.