INTRODUCTION

Mountain areas are complex territories where nature, culture, economy, and community life are interconnected. They are living spaces where rural populations have developed traditional practices, local food systems, spiritual meanings, and cultural identities over centuries. (Romeo et al., 2022; FAO, 2022). For this reason, any green strategy for mountain areas should move beyond a narrow environmental approach. It should combine biodiversity protection, sustainable tourism, climate resilience, local entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and community participation. (Romeo, 2023).

Within the PeakED project, the participating countries offer different but complementary mountain contexts. Greece is represented through Mount Olympus, a mountain of exceptional biodiversity and mythological significance. Bulgaria is represented through the Rila Mountains, where protected ecosystems coexist with one of the most important spiritual and cultural landmarks of the Balkans, the Rila Monastery. Poland is represented through the Carpathian Mountains, a transnational mountain system that supports biodiversity, rural communities, and traditional highland culture. Jordan is represented by Jabal Umm ad Dami and Wadi Rum, where desert mountain landscapes are connected to Bedouin heritage, arid ecosystem resilience, and community-based tourism. (UNESCO, n.d.).

The purpose of this report is to analyse these mountain areas separately and then connect them through broader green strategies and policy themes. The report focuses on existing strategies and policies for mountain areas; the role of tourism in valuing natural and spiritual heritage; the connections among nature, rural, and mountain tourism; and practices for promoting sustainable food systems and adding value to local products.