Aims: The Journal of Mountain Science (JMS) is devoted to mountains and their surrounding lowlands-ecoregions of particular global importance, with a particular emphasis on the important highlands/ mountains in the world, such as the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, the Rockies and the many other mountain ranges of our planet.

The publication aims to enhance international academic exchanges on mountain research, to speed up the integration of theoretical results and technical methods of mountain research in different countries, and to promote the development and progress of all the disciplines of mountain science. Therefore, this journal pursues to be a principal medium for rapid publication of research achievements and a platform for academic discussions and exchanges in the international community of mountain science. It introduces the results from mountain research in China to colleagues abroad and, at the same time, recommends the achievements made by scientists from other countries to Chinese colleagues. In addition, this publication also bears the mission of introducing the mountain research achievements of the developing countries to the world scene.

Scope: The coverage of this journal ranges widely, and generally includes interaction between mountain environmental change and human activities, degradation and restoration of mountain ecosystem, dynamics of debris flows, landslides and soil erosion in mountain areas, watershed management and development, protection on indigenous resources, cultural diversity and wealth, and investigation or standpoint in local economic or socio-cultural issues.

The publication mainly publishes academic and technical papers as well as research reports concerning environmental changes and sustainable development in mountain areas under natural conditions or/and with the influence of human activities. It particularly welcomes the papers on new concepts, new technologies and new methods deriving from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, as well as the papers raising key issues and book reviews. Academic papers and research reports should display universal, strategic and innovative characteristics in both theory and practice. Technical papers should report on development programmes, project planning and community actions.