UCA’s, Mountain Societies Research Centre (MSRC) researchers served as guest editors of this special issue of MRD, an international peer-reviewed journal published by the International Mountain Society, of which UCA and MSRC are institutional members. The issue features information on MSRC and its first background paper on mountain pastoralism; analysis of development initiatives on pasture governance reforms, climate change adaptation, large carnivore conservation, and thermal insulation, and on the quality of life in remote mountain communities in Afghan Badakhshan; and innovative scientific research on differing meanings of pasture, changing pasture use, pasture tenure, farming system modeling, and livelihoods in conflict areas.

Source: University of Central Asia Mountain Societies Research Institute