Call for contributions: Mountain Forum Bulletin, July 2007 issue

Dear Mountain Forum Member,

The theme of the World Environment Day 2007, which falls on 5 June, is "Melting Ice ­ a Hot Topic?" In support of International Polar Year, the World Environment Day theme selected for 2007 focuses on the effects that climate change has on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world.

This is an opportunity for us all to raise awareness about the need to address the effects that climate change is having on mountain environments and on mountain biodiversity; to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; to promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and to advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

Keeping the above in mind, the Mountain Forum Bulletin team has decided that the theme of the next issue of the Mountain Forum Bulletin (July 2007) will be "Melting Mountains" in order to highlight promising models, and to build partnerships at all to enhance political attention and action towards the climate change, which each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving and restoring mountain environments.

We are, therefore, looking for:

1) Feature article(s) (1000 - 1500 words) on any of the following:

- subjects related directly to mountain issues and climate change; focus could be placed on success stories, adaptive strategies to cope with impacts of climate change in mountain regions.

- relationships between the effects that climate change and habitats, flora and fauna, natural resources, human beings;

- scientific evidence of climate induced disasters; facts related to receding glaciers; the value of traditional and sustainable land use practices contributed by indigenous and local communities to mitigate climate change;

- the UNEP Convention on Biodiversity (UN CBD) (Decision VIII/30 climate change and biological diversity) and the fundamental importance of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 "Managing Fragile Ecosystems Sustainable Mountain Development", adopted by the Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).

2) Updates (600-800 words) on your organisation, projects, or initiatives for the 'Member Initiative| section. If the initiative is linked to the theme of the World Environment Day, we would definitely like to hear from you!

3) Upcoming events (until December 2007!)

4) Book review (400 words): review a book on a topic related to "climate change and mountains"; include a digital image of the front cover of the book reviewed.

5) Submit the name of a climate change specialist working in mountain regions who we could interview.

Please refer to our basic Guidelines for authors/contributors.

When possible, we ask you include a few photos to illustrate contributions wherein, credits and captions should accompany all photos.

Please send your contributions to: mtnforum@mtnforum.org

The deadline for submitting your contribution(s) is no later than 23 April 2007.

We look forward to sharing the next issue of the Mountain Forum Bulletin with you.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Mountain Forum Bulletin Team