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Mountain Research Initiative
Mountain Research Initiative

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The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) is a non-profit research network organization that promotes global change research in mountain regions across borders and disciplines through connection, communication, and collaboration – with a view to supporting pathways towards sustainable mountain development.

The origins of the MRI are found in the 1990s, coincident with the preparations for the IYM in 2002. The International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP), together with the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) and the Global Terrestrial Observation System (GTOS), proposed a joint initiative to “achieve an integrated approach for observing, modeling and investigating Global Change phenomena and processes in mountain regions, including the impacts of these changes and of human activities on mountain ecosystems” (UN Assembly 2000: 8).

At present, the MRI is supported by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and hosted by the Institute of Geography at the University of Bern. The MRI currently connects more than 11,000 global change researchers working in mountain regions across the world.