NORTH CAUCASUS SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
THE MISSION

North Caucasus is the area sheltering a variety of nations. For centuries people of different descent have been contributing to the unique mutual cultural and historical heritage. The accumulated treasures of wisdom continue being helpful in finding common ground between people and retaining invaluable life experiences in unfavourable high mountain settings. Generations of mountain dwellers have been passing on to further generations their environmental friendliness and tactful attitude to ancestral traditions.

Our globalizing civilization and progressive anthropogenic impact cause significant ecological changes that inevitably modify mountain ecosystems. Moreover, year by year we are facing new challenges and risks threatening international environmental safety.

In light of this, “The Man and the Biosphere Programme” (MAB), mapped out by the UNESCO in 1971 as a plan of action to overcome global contradictions affecting natural habitats and growth of civilization, remains unmistakably vital.

 Being backed by enormous scientific resources and facilities of North Caucasian universities and research institutes, the NCSC appears as an independent association of experts representing a wide range of scientific branches and fostering the cause of sustainable development of mountain territories. We are ready to establish partnerships with all international scientific and governmental institutions facilitating a sustainable development of mountain territories and the maintenance of the entire biological and cultural diversity in an age of universal changes and subsequent adaptation needs for socio-ecological systems. In fact, we are talking about a strong network of academic specialists and research workers concerned with sustainable development of mountain territories. Across the globe, one can already identify several likewise-oriented communities of scientists functioning both at the regional (the Alps, The Carpathians) and continental levels (Mountain Research Initiative, for Europe; Mountain Partnership, globally).

The main tasks of the NCSC center around synchronizing organizational provisions for events focused on exchanging information, sharing both academic and real-life experiences, integrating different schools of thought and shaping practical guidelines. Equally important are efforts to harmonize scientific agenda and research projects and mobilize expert communities. The same refers to working out a scientific methodology and principles of environmental safety for North Caucasus. In pursuit of the above, the NCSC closely cooperates with the Eurasian Center for Sustainable Development, attached to the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, and the UNESCO Mountain Group MAB-6 “Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions” of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Science, which is implementing “The Man and the Biosphere” Programme by the UNESCO, Project 6 “Anthropogenic Impact on Mountain Ecosystems”, in the Russian Federation.

Manifesting its mission, the NCSC confirms its commitment to the progress of modern civilization along with guarantees of sustainable development and ecological safety of mountain territories.