Mountain specific program development:

Mountains are the places where dramatic change in altitude, climate, soil and vegetation take place

over a very short distance. It lies above 2500 masl.

Reason for specific program development

• Mountains support about one-quarter of the planet’s biodiversity, and have nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots (Singh, 2011).

• Providing habitat for unique species and for indigenous peoples of distinct cultures

• Mountain systems provide niche habitats for many rare and/or endangered endemic species these include the blue sheep, snow leopard, ibex, musk deer of the Central Himalaya , red sheep , rare birds, and fish found nowhere .