During the 1990s mountain development issues came to have a much higher profile on the international development agenda. The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is the largest, most diverse, and possibly the most economically and ecologically importantmountain area in the world. This area is undergoing rapid wide-ranging changes, with much of the change coming about in an uncontrolled way Many people in the rural HKH depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, and many mountain development specialists believe development efforts should focus on harnessing the potential of the great variety of mountain farming niches for developing sustainable agricultural systems. However, planners and policymakers lack the tools they need to access information on existing systems and potentials, to evaluate changes, and to plan for the management of the agricultural and natural resource base. A methodology that can be used to identify and map mountain farming niches and resources is needed as a basis for planningfurther action.
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