Major scientific textbook and reference volume on the human dimension of mountain development and on the science of mountain ecosystems, resources, and development. Contains nineteen full-length chapters in three sections. The first covers mountain cultures and peoples, the sacredness of mountains, and the economics and politics of sustainable development in mountain areas. The second section deals with mountain water and energy resources, mining, biodiversity, conservation, tourism, forestry, farming, watershed management and erosion control, risk and disasters in mountain lands, and climate change. The concluding section offers much-needed agendas for scientific research and sustainable development in the world's mountains today.