June 7, 2021

The “mountains” ecosystem: where will destruction of mountain ranges bring us to? Mountains play a great role in human life. Rocky massifs deliver 50% of fresh water supplies of the world population. Mountains are home for unique species of plants and animals: snow leopards, mountain goats, wild oxen, vultures, alpine flowers.

But like any other ecosystems, mountains are prone to destruction due to active development by humans, tourism and climate change.

So, for the purposes of construction of roads, ski resorts and new settlements, the areas are cleared of forests. The environmentalists are of the opinion that this can lead to soil erosion and contamination of drinking water.

The climate also has a negative impact on this ecosystem. Natural disasters are more frequently occurring in the mountains: avalanches, landslides and floods.

"The climate change can negatively affect the volume and timing of water supplies to farms, towns, industrial facilities and electric power plants. Mountain species, ecosystems and people dependent on these ecosystems are forced to adapt to the rapid rise in temperatures or migrate," noted the UN officials.

The Sochi National Park employees consider the ecosystem of the Caucasus Mountains to be very vulnerable and fragile.

"These mountains are home for a very large number of plants and animals, narrow endemics, there are species that are found only in the Caucasus on the whole planet. The loss of any species will cause a risk to the biodiversity of the country and the planet. This is the only place where Campanula sclerophylla grows," - commented Boris Tuniev, Deputy Director of the Sochi National Park for Scientific Work

Source: https://ecologyofrussia.ru/ekosistema-gory-rossiya-planeta/

Translated by Muhiddin Ganiev