GMBA resources & publications

Printed documents

COP15 leaflet "Relevance of mountain biodiversity in the context of the Global Biodiversity Framework: Trends, indicators, and tools for science-based policy and management in mountains"

Infographics developed on the occasion of the International Mountain Day 2020 in collaboration with the Mountain Partnership

Policy brief and information panel developed in collaboration with the UN Environmental Program, the Mountain Research Initiative, and Grid Arendal to raise the importance of mountain biodiveristy conservation in the post-2020 framework. 

YouTube videos

Snethlage M, Geschke J, Spehn E, Ranipeta A, Yoccoz N, Körner C, Jetz W, Fischer M, Urbach, D (2022). A hierarchical inventory of the world’s mountains for global comparative mountain science. Nature Scientific Data 9:149. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01256-y

Körner C, Urbach D,  Paulsen J (2021). Mountain definitions and their consequences. Alpine Botany 131: 213-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-021-00265-8

Payne D, Spehn E.M., Prescott G.W., Geschke J., Snethlage M., Fischer M. (2020). Mountain biodiversity is central for sustainable development, in mountains and beyond. One Earth 3(5): 530-533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.10.013

Payne D., Snethlage M., Geschke J., Spehn E.M., Fischer M. (2020). Nature and people in the Andes, East African Mountains, European Alps, and Hindu Kush Himalaya: current research and future directions. Mountain Research and Development 40(2): A1-A14. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-19-00075.1

Payne D., Hoorn C., Randin C., Flantua S. (2020). Past changes in species diversity: A view from the mountains. PAGES Magazine 28(1): 18-19. https://doi.org/10.22498/pages.28.1.18

Payne D, Spehn E, Snethlage M, and Fischer M (2017). Opportunities for research on mountain biodiversity under global change. Current Opinions in Sustainability Sciences 29: 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2017.11.001

Körner C, Jetz W, Paulsen J, Payne D, Rudmann-Maurer K, Spehn E (2017). A global inventory of mountains for bio-geographical applications. Alpine Botany 127(1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-016-0182-6

Paulsen J and Körner C (2014). A climate-based model to predict potential treeline position around the globe Alpine Botany 124(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-014-0124-0

Körner C, Paulsen J and Spehn EM (2011). A definition of mountains and their bioclimatic belts for global comparisons of biodiversity data. Alpine Botany 121:73-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-011-0094-4

Schmeller D, Urbach D, …, Adler C (2024). Towards a set of Essential Biodiversity Variables for assessing change in mountains globally. BioScience biae052. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biae052

Marciniak G, Urbach D, ...., Paillard S (2024). Leveraging capacity for transformative sustainability science: The Future Earth Pathways Initiative. Global Sustainability 7, e21, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2024.19

Bütikofer L, …., Urbach D, …, Randin C (2024). High-resolution land use/cover forecasts for Switzerland in the 21st century. Scientific Data 11:231. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-03055-z

Ly A, Snethlage M, Geschke J, ..., Urbach D (2023). Subnational biodiversity reporting metrics for mountain ecosystems. Nature Sustainability. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-023-01232-3

Adhikari B, Urbach D, ..., Prescott, G (2023). A multi-methods approach for assessing how conserving biodiversity interacts with other Sustainable Development Goals in Nepal. Sustainable Development. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sd.2582

Schmeller D, ..., Urbach D, ..., Ripple W (2022). Scientists' warning of threats to mountains. Science of the Total Environment 853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158611

Adhikari, B, Chettri N, Urbach D, Prescott, G, Fischer, M (2022). A systematic assessment of Nature’s Contributions to People, their drivers, and their linkages to the Sustainable Development Goals in Nepal. Environmental Research Letters 17(9). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac8e1e

Thornton J, ..., Urbach D, ... Adler C (2022). Human populations in the world’s mountains: spatio-temporal patterns and potential controls. PlosOne. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271466

Cheddadi R,..., Urbach D, ... Ficetola, G (2022). Priority conservation areas for Cedrus atlantica in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Conservation Science and Practice, e12680. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.12680

Masao C, ..., Urbach D, ..., Fischer M (2022). Stakeholders’ perspectives on Mount Kilimanjaro conservation status, trends, and challenges. People and Nature 00, 1–19. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10310

Haider S, ..., Urbach D, ..., Seipel T. (2022). Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring species distributions along elevation gradients. Ecology and Evolution 12(2): e8590. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.8590

Schneider F et al. (2021) Co-production of knowledge and sustainability transformations: a strategic compass for global research networks. Current Opinions in Environmental Sciences 49: 127-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2021.04.007

Randin et al (2020) Monitoring biodiversity in the anthropocene using remote sensing in species distribution models. Remote Sensing of Environment, 239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.111626

Flantua et al (2020). Snapshot isolation and isolation history challenge the analogy between mountains and islands used to understand endemism. Global Ecology and Biogeography 29(10): 1651-163. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/geb.13155

Norstroem et al (2020). Principles for knowledge co-production in sustainability research. Nature Sustainability 3: 182-190. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0448-2

Sayre et al. (2018). A new high-resolution map of the mountains of the world and an online tool for visualizing and comparing three characterizations of global mountain distributions. Mountain Research and Development 38(3): 240-249. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-17-00107.1

Adler et al. (2018) Observing and monitoring mountains in a changing world: new horizons for the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) initiative, Global Network for Observations and Information on Mountain Environments (GEO-GNOME). Mountain Research and Development 38(3): 265-269. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-8-00065.1

Price M, Greenwood G, Spehn M (2016). Introduction: Mountains of Our Future Earth—Perth 2015. Mountain Research and Development 36(4):403-406. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.3604

Nick S., Guisan, A., Morán-Ordóñez, A., Ballif, C. (eds.), 2024. RE-BD AR2024. Accelerating renewable energy development while enhancing biodiversity protection in Switzerland. CLIMACT, EPFL, UNIL. Lausanne, Switzerland, 108 pages. DOI: 10.5075/epfl.20.500.14299/241642

Urbach D (2024). Biodiversité et services écosystémiques en montagne. Arpeamag 300: 55-63
Tobias S, Sigriest E, ..., Urbach D, Randin C (2024). Faire vivre les paysages face aux changements climatiques. Arpeamag 300: 49-55. Arpeamag Magazine; .pdf on request.

Urbach D, Azevedo J, Belsky J, Clark R, Postigo J, and Wu Y (2024). Focus Issue: Restoring mountain systems for social-ecological resilience. Mountain Research and Development 43(4): 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.4304

Tobias S, …, Urbach D, Randin C (2023). +4 °C et plus: les paysages suisses face au changement climatique. WSL Rapport 140. https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/wsl/islandora/object/wsl%3A35310

Von Büren R, Gregori S, Urbach D, Wipf S, Alexander J (2023). Propagation des espèces : expérience dans les régions de montagne suisses. N+L Inside 3/23

Urbach D, Hilpold A, Körner C (2023). Mountain biodiversity under change. In Safeguarding Mountain Social-Ecological Systems; A Global Challenge: Facing Emerging Risks, Adapting to Changing Environments and Building Transformative Resilience in Mountain Regions Worldwide. Schneiderbauer S., Szarzynski, J. and Shroder, J (eds).

Payne D, Mathez-Stiefel S, Wymann Von Dach S, Zimmermann A, Molden D, Breu T (2020). Focus Issue: Mountain Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. Mountain Research and Development 40(2): 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.4002

Payne D and Messerli P (2020). Wir benötigen Biodiversität weil sie die Welt gerechter macht. SCNAT Hotspot 41/20: 11. Announcement

Payne D, Mathez-Stiefel S, Wymann Von Dach S, Zimmermann A, Molden D, Breu T (2020). Focus Issue: Mountain Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. Mountain Research and Development 40(2): 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.4002

O'Connor et al. (2020). Earth Observations for SDG: Compendium of Earth Observation contributions to the SDG Targets and Indicators. Announcement

Pihl, E et al. (2019).10 New Insights in Climate Science 2019, Future Earth & The Earth League, Stockholm. Science Insights