ABSTRACT
The issue of the deforestation and degradation of mountain landscapes is a classic example of the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the state of knowledge and understanding of natural and anthropogenic processes in mountain environments. As a result of the uncertainties in data, processes and interactions of different parts of the system, the understanding of degradation and deforestation issues is hazy but the implications for policy are profound. Changing attitudes are required to promote the introduction of new approaches to policy and methodologies for tackling the wide-ranging effects of mountain degradation.
