Mountains are home to more than 85% of the world’s amphibian, bird and mammal species. Lowland slopes are rich in animal and plant species. And rugged, high-elevation environments, although lacking such biological diversity, play a key role in maintaining biodiversity in the wider mountain catchment area.
The variation in mountain ecosystems also allows humans to extract multiple benefits from them. These include food, building materials, water, carbon storage, agricultural pasture and nutrient cycling.
