Global initiatives and the 2030 agenda

ALIGNING MOUNTAIN TOURISM WITH THE SDGS

Mountain tourism development must be strategically managed to ensure it actively contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in combating desertification, land degradation and biodiversity loss. By examining cross-regional projects, we can identify the actionable elements necessary to align tourism with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Case Study 1: Disi Women’s Cooperative Association (Jordan)

• The Initiative: A local association based in Wadi Rum dedicated to empowering women through economic programs, authentic cultural tourism and environmental heritage restoration.
• Successes: The successful implementation of the Bedouyat Program provides visitors with authentic cultural experiences – such as traditional cooking, storytelling, and art – while directly generating employment for local families. Environmentally, the cooperative successfully cultivated and planted endangered native species, including planting 1,000 Ghadha trees in natural valleys to stabilize soil.
• Challenges: The cooperative had to combat the near-extinction of native plants caused by unmanaged tourism and overgrazing over the past decade, while simultaneously working to overcome entrenched social and cultural barriers for women in the region.

Case Study 2: MOVING (MOuntain Valorisation through INterconnectedness and Green growth)

• The Initiative: The EU-funded Horizon 2020 MOVING project (2020-2024) was designed to build capacities and co-develop policy frameworks across Europe. By establishing Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs) in 23 diverse mountain regions across 16 countries, the project aimed to create new, sustainable value chains that contribute to the resilience of mountain areas against climate change.
• Successes: The project successfully delivered a comprehensive package of "Policy Tools for Mountain Areas," which included participatory vulnerability matrices and spatial maps. These tools guide decision-makers in upgrading mountain value chains – such as sustainable eco-tourism, traditional forestry, and high-altitude agriculture – so they respect socio-ecological systems. It also produced a strategic repertoire of 30 actionable recommendations to secure sustainable mountain development in post-2027 EU policies.

• Challenges: The initiative had to navigate and address severe overlapping crises in mountain areas, including the steep decline of rural productive activities, demographic shrinkage, and the heightened vulnerability of local biophysical assets (such as aging forests and shifting water reserves) due to the accelerating impacts of global climate change.

Key Elements for SDG-Aligned Mountain Tourism

To ensure that future tourism development in mountain regions contributes positively to the SDGs, several key elements must be integrated into project design:

• Participatory Innovation: Tourism models must utilize participatory methodologies, such as Living Labs and Multi-Actor Platforms, to empower local communities and co-create locally adapted solutions.
• Direct Economic Empowerment: Tourism must be directly linked to local income generation through community-based initiatives, ensuring economic benefits remain within the local ecosystem.
• Active Biodiversity Conservation: Sustainable tourism must go beyond "do no harm" and include active environmental restoration, such as restoring endangered native plants and combating habitat fragmentation.
• Climate Resilience and Education: Initiatives must build climate awareness and resilience by combining green entrepreneurship with comprehensive environmental management training.