What would happen if there were no mountains?

PIXABAY

“Mountains are essential to our lives” the motto of the international day of the mountain prays inviting us to reflect on their importance, on what they bring to our daily lives.

Ecologists call ecosystem services the benefits that an ecosystem provides to society. A very simple and straightforward example is that of the goods or raw materials produced by the ecosystem, such as food, water and wood.

There are somewhat more complicated examples, such as so-called regulating services that help to mitigate and reduce impacts; for example, soil erosion control. So imagine what we would be without the ecosystem services that mountains provide us.

To begin with, mountains cover 24% of the surface of our planet and are home to 1.2 billion people with their cultures, languages ​​and beliefs and a multitude of endemic species: 25% of terrestrial biodiversity is found in the mountains! !

Let’s imagine that all of this suddenly disappears: Poof! Accomplished mountaineers, keen hikers and clueless weekenders (all of which account for 15-20% of global tourism) are left with no mountains to visit and experience. But hey, if we were city dwellers who didn’t leave town even by mistake, that wouldn’t affect us, would it? Let’s see.

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mountains

Mountains are the source of six of the twenty most important food crops. We lacked potatoes, tomatoes, apples, corn, barley and sorghum.

Moreover, mountain agricultural systems have provided food for human beings in a diverse and sustainable way over the centuries, so it is time to cross off the list the food, wood and fiber they provide us. At this stage, we can think that we could still grow our food in low areas, suitable for agriculture…

Mistake! We forget that the mountains provide us with between 60 and 80% of the fresh water on the planet. For this reason they are said to be the “water towers” of the world. In the mountains, precipitation is higher than in lowland areas, and water accumulates in the form of ice and snow.

Runoff from mountain slopes feeds the flow of rivers and groundwater. We therefore find ourselves without most of the water we had to meet the needs of agriculture, industry, daily use and energy production. Our city dweller would have severe shortages of food, water, goods and energy.

But beware, we do not stop there. Healthy mountain ecosystems protect us from natural hazards and the impacts of extreme events such as droughts, floods and major storms, as they have the ability to regulate climate, air quality and water flow. the water. Downstream areas are the most vulnerable, so our lowlanders will be more frequently and intensely exposed to these events.

threats

Now that we are aware of the importance of the mountain in our daily life, what threats await them? Mountain ecosystems are very vulnerable and sensitive to global change.

The effects of climate change are manifesting at a faster rate in mountains than in other ecosystems, and the change in land use that occurs when traditional agricultural and livestock practices are abandoned is the greatest threat to ecosystem services provided by mountains.

And in our mountains, what is happening? Since the second half of the last century, the mountains of Navarre, for example, have lost their population. The commune of Roncal has lost more than 20% of its population since 1998. Fewer inhabitants in the mountains implies the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices.

In recent years, the number of sheep that go up to graze in the mountains has decreased by 35% and that of cattle by 7%, which means that in the last 50 years, 30,433 hectares of pasture have disappeared in Navarre (its surface was seen reduced by 30%).

Preserving our mountains and the quality of life of their inhabitants also means ensuring the quality of life of the inhabitants of the plains.

What can we do to achieve this?

It is essential to develop appropriate policies that respond specifically to the challenges faced by these mountain areas, without forgetting to accompany these policies with effective and well-targeted investments.

At ISFOOD, we work to identify innovative solutions for the economic enhancement of mountain products. We must develop adequate value chains that help to market mountain products and allow fair remuneration for high quality products and, in this way, guarantee the viability of a model of sustainable management of the mountains of Navarre.

In conclusion, whether we are mountain dwellers in love with nature or city dwellers by conviction, let us spread: #MountainsMatter. Life goes to us.

Character font: Leticia San Emeterio / THE CONVERSATION

Reference article: https://theconversation.com/how-would-our-life-without-mountains-be-125213

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