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Report on the International Symposium of Mountain Studies, part of the 34th Inter-
national Geographical Congress, Istanbul (16–20 August 2021)
Alexey Gunya & Fausto Sarmiento
Keywords:
Management & Policy Issues eco.mont – Volume 14, Number 1, January 2022
ISSN 2073-106X print version – ISSN 2073-1558 online version: http://epub.oeaw.ac.at/eco.mont
https://dx.doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-14-1s46
46
Abstract
The 34th International Geographical Congress was held online from 16 to 20 August 2021. Its main themes were
strengthening our collective response to global problems and building bridges between continents. The International
Geographical Union Commission of Mountain Studies (IGU-CMS) organized an International Symposium of Moun-
tain Studies (Istanbul) as part of the congress, with 11 presentations over three different sessions. Three explored the
development of mountain research methodology (montology), which underpins the advancement of mountain science.
These focused on: montology as applied to mountain conservation; getting to grips with urbanization; and the reality
of periglacial geographies. Other topics covered by the presentations included disciplinary methods of ecosystem
dynamics, land-use change, transhumance, climate change model simulations of terraced landscapes, conservation
of flagship species and mountain responses to extreme weather scenarios. The IGU-CMS also presented its plans for
an edited book series on montology and announced the launch of its first volume (Montology Palimpsest: A Primer of
Mountain Geographies) in time for next year’s IGU Paris 2022.
The range of participants and topics at the 34th In-
ternational Geographical Congress reected the cur-
rent state of geography, which is inuenced by global
trends: environmental change under the inuence
of climate factors, diffusion of digital technologies
into all spheres of life, pandemics, migration crises,
etc. The overarching themes of the congress were
strengthening our collective response to global prob-
lems and building bridges between continents.
In his keynote lecture, Professor Mike Meadows
called geography the “science of sustainability”, and the
core objective of geography “the study of the relation-
ship between humans and the environment”. He argued that,
perhaps more than any other scientic discipline,
geography makes a significant contribution to
understanding human-environment relations, as
demonst rated in the following areas: 1) hazard and
risk research, 2) human impact studies, 3) Earth sys-
tem science, 4) remote sensing and GIS, 5) environ-
mental history, 6) landscape studies. This interaction
between physical and human geography is evident in
the study of mountains. The results of studies in the
world’s mountain systems were presented in several
sessions at the congress. Of particular note was the In-
ternational Symposium of Mountain Studies, with 11
presentations given over three sessions.
Three presentations explored the development of
mountain research methodology (montology), which
underpins the advancement of mountain science.
The presentation by the Chair of the Commission of
Mountain Studies, Professor Fausto Sarmiento (USA),
focused on aspects of practical montology (Applied
Montology: Critical Biogeography of Andean Treelines and
the Humboldtian Paradigm on Satoyama Landscapes). Mon-
tology, as a complex science of mountains, where the
issues of the relationship between humans and the
mountain landscape with all the ensuing consequences
(the transformation of mountain ecosystems, the in-
uence of natural and destructive processes, the cul-
tural heritage of mountain peoples and civilizations,
etc.) are systematically considered, is a vivid expression
of modern trends in geography.
The presentation by Andreas Haller and Domenico
Branca (Austria) examined the prospects for studying
urban areas in mountain regions (Ideas on Urban Mon-
tology: Periurbanization, Verticality, and Ecological Comple-
mentarity in the Peruvian Andes). They proposed a new
direction of research – urban montology. In contrast to
traditional montology, which assumes a homogenous
rural landscape, urban montology focuses on the study
of dense urban space in the mountains.
Meanwhile, the presentation by Yuri Golubchikov
(Russia), A Holistic Approach to High-Latitude and High-
Altitude Regions of the World, outlined the opportunities
for combining studies of high-latitude and high-alti-
tude regions of the world within the framework of a
new direction in geography – periglacial geography.
Two presentations provided an overview of the
state of mountain research at country level (Turkey
and China). The Turkish mountains were the focus
of the presentation by Neslihan Dal and Barbaros
Gönençgil (Description of Mountains and Mountainous
Areas in Turkey). It was emphasized that Turkey is a
mountainous country, characterized by a wide range of
mountain landscapes and development problems in-
herent in mountainous areas. Barbaros Gönençgil was
head of the organizing committee for the congress
and is an active member of the IGU Commission of
Mountain Studies. The review of mountain research
in China made by Dunlian Qiu (Mountain Research in
China) showed that mountain research in China is
represented in many universities and academic insti-
tutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Dunlian Qiu is the editor of one of the world’s leading
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Alexey Gunya & Fausto Sarmiento
journals for mountain research (Journal of Mountain Sci-
ence). It should be noted that in the context of dynamic
changes in the mountains of the world, such reviews
of other mountainous countries would be very useful.
Lynn Resler (USA) explored a classic theme in
mountain geography (Phytotopographic Interactions in Three
Mountain Environments and Potential Pathways for Ecosystem
Development). She explained how a study focusing on
various regions of the United States demonstrated sig-
nicant variability in alpine vegetation across different
mountain environments. It should be noted that such
studies are still central to mountain geography, with
links to Carl Troll’s mountain geoecology. Another
study in a similar vein, Сurrent Trends of Landscape/
Land Cover Change of Protected Areas of North Caucasus
(Case Study of Alanya National Park) (N. Alekseeva,
A. Cherkasova, Russia) was presented. The presenta-
tion emphasized that the main changes in the middle
mountains are related to land use transformation, and
in the high mountains to climate change.
Transhumance and mountain terrace farming are
typical mountain practices. It should be noted that
their relevance continues to be signicant. This is
evidenced by the announcement of a special issue of
the journal Mountain Research and Development on tran-
shumance. A. Gunya presented a report (co-authors
I. Kerimov, U. Gairabekov, H. Zaburaeva, Z. Gaga-
eva, Y. Karaev) entitled Contemporary Transhumance in the
North Caucasus: Chances and Risks for Sustainable Develop-
ment, focusing on an assessment of the migration of
livestock between high-altitude zones. It was noted that
the scale of transhumance has declined sharply over
the past thirty years. Modern transhumance is based
on family associations and tribal alliances, with grazing
regulated by traditional institutions and market rela-
tions.
A report on arable mountain terraces in the Cauca-
sus Mountains (Caucasus Mountain Agricultural Terraces)
was presented by Idris Idrisov (co-authors N. Rya-
bogina, A. Borisov, Russia). The speaker noted that
agricultural terraces are most widespread in the East-
ern Caucasus. They are highly resilient parts of the
landscape and can be used in modern environmental
model simulations.
The survival of high-altitude communities that rely
on niche biological products was discussed in Sanjeev
Poudel’s (Australia) presentation on Community-Based
Management of “Himalayan Gold” (Caterpillar Fungus) in
Remote Landscapes of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal.
Local communities, in order to prevent people from
outside the area collecting caterpillar fungus, have de-
veloped their own rules for access to the mountain
environments concerned. This ensures that revenues
from the sale of the caterpillar fungus are guaranteed
and pressure on mountain ecosystems is reduced.
An important aspect of mountain research related
to extreme weather events was discussed in a presen-
tation by Kenichi Ueno (Japan) entitled Perspectives of
Mountain Studies in the Coming World of Extreme Weath-
er. Signicant climate change is accompanied by a
decrease in the ability of the world’s population to
withstand impending risks. The way out of this pre-
dicament is education and training, not only using
conventional approaches, but also by developing ad-
aptation strategies.
The International Symposium of Mountain Stud-
ies demonstrated that in modern conditions we must
pursue new approaches, and develop existing ones, for
studying mountainous countries. At the meeting of the
IGU Commission of Mountain Studies, held imme-
diately after the symposium, it was noted that there
is a need for analysis to provide an overview of the
state of mountain research globally. It was also agreed
that a similar symposium should be organized for the
IGU Centennial Congress Paris 2022 to maintain the
momentum and drive mountain geography forwards.
The IGU-CMS has also signed a contract with Spring-
er Nature Switzerland for the publication of an edited
book series on montology, which will help take the
message worldwide. Several volumes will be published
with the rst, entitled Montology Palimpsest: A Primer of
Mountain Geographies, scheduled for release next year.
The intention is that this volume will constitute an up-
dated textbook of mountain geography almost a dec-
ade after Price et al. (2013).
Reference
Price, M.F., A.C. Byers, D.A. Friend, T. Kohler &
L.W. Price 2013. Mountain Geography: Physical and Hu-
man Dimensions.
Authors
Alexey Gunya
is full professor at the Institute of Geography of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Co-Chair of
the Commission of Mountain Studies of the Interna-
tional Geographical Union.
Fausto Sarmiento
is full professor at the Department of Geography
at the University of Georgia, USA, and Chair of the
Commission of Mountain Studies of the International
Geographical Union. E-mail: fsarmien@uga.edu
University of California Press.