Rationale: Why Map Environmental Governance in Mountains?
Mountains are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change and land degradation, yet they remain underrepresented in international environmental policy. Nearly 40% of mountain areas cross international borders, making coordinated governance frameworks essential for effective conservation and sustainable development. However, the extent to which existing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) address mountain-specific challenges has remained unclear.
Understanding which international legal frameworks support mountain protection, where governance gaps exist, and how countries engage with these MEAs is critical for advancing global commitments such as SDG 15.4 on mountain ecosystems, and climate adaptation strategies.
Addressing GEO Mountains’ Mission
This project directly supports GEO Mountains’ core mission to increase the discoverability and usability of mountain data and information and to integrate such data for scientific, policy, and practical impact.
By systematically analysing and spatializing over 1,400 MEAs, this work:
- Reveals governance gaps: Identifies which mountain regions have strong legal frameworks and which lack mountain-specific protections
- Supports policy integration: Enables evidence-based advocacy by showing where existing treaties can be leveraged for mountain conservation
- Facilitates transboundary cooperation: Maps which countries share commitments under specific MEAs, supporting coordinated action
What the Database Offers
The dataset integrates metadata from over 1,400 MEAs sourced from the International Environmental Agreements Database (hosted by Université Laval) with global mountain delineations and country-level spatial data. The Spatialised MEAs Database provides researchers, policymakers, and practitioners with:
- Systematic classification of over 1,400 MEAs into three levels of mountain relevance based on treaty text analysis
- Geospatial visualisation of treaty memberships at the country level
- Mountain-specific spatial coverage for 25 Level 1 (mountain-explicit) MEAs, including regional conventions like the Alpine Convention and the Carpathian Convention.
Bridging Data and Policy
Mountains face unique challenges: they are data-sparse, topographically complex, often transboundary, and home to vulnerable communities. Effective mountain sustainability requires both robust observational data and strong policy frameworks.
The Spatialised MEAs Database addresses the policy side of this equation, answering: What governance frameworks exist? Where are the strategic opportunities for coordinated action?
Access and Engagement
Dataset
The dataset is openly accessible via Zenodo.
Web Platform
A prototype interactive web platform enables exploration and research of the multilateral agreements by level of relevance for mountains.
We welcome feedback from the mountain community and invite contributions to help refine and expand the analysis.
Contact: geomountains@mountainresearchinitiative.org