Mountain World in Danger

The changing climate, the warming of the world and acid rain are among the greatest problems facing us at the end of the 20th century. This book describes, for the first time, the effects of these phenomena on the high mountains and forests of Europe. Mountains and the frozen regions (the cryosphere) not only play a major part in our climatic system they are also central to our water supplies. Yet our glaciers are shrinking, our lakes and soils are becoming acidified, our forests are damaged and the whole ecosystems of the Alps and the Causcasus is threatened. Nilsson and Pitt explain the evidence and assess the probable effects upon mountain society, tourism, water, flora and fauna. They also examine the uncertainties. Above all they look, too, at the best possible strategies in response to what is happening and at what the next steps should be.