Mountains cover 25 percent of the Earth's land surface, host 12 percent of its people and supply fresh water to almost half of the world's population. On every continent, mountains provide mineral resources, energy, forest and agricultural products, as well as biodiversity. Yet despite these resources, mountains are economically marginal lands where poverty is pervasive.
Over the past decade, the World Bank has invested more than US$1.3 billion in more than 90 projects around the world that partially or wholly support biodiversity conservation and a sustainable approach to mountain development. World Bank mountain projects include the establishment and strengthening of new protected natural areas and biological corridors; improved management of 'paper parks' and existing protected areas; conservation of medicinal plants; and promoting community management of mountain protected areas and indigenous reserves.
These projects are financed through the use of different and innovative mechanisms. For example, payments for environmental services, debt-for-nature swaps, and environmental trust funds are formulated to be as direct and targeted as possible to maximize their contribution to conservation efforts.
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