Mountainous areas are often associated with natural beauty and rugged landscapes, but they also present a unique set of challenges for the people who live there. Marginalisation, economic disparity, and unbalanced use and conservation of ecosystem services are just a few of the issues that mountain communities face. MARGISTAR, a collaborative COST Action forum, was established to address these issues and promote innovative solutions towards a greener, digital future – this is the MARGISTAR mission.
What has MARGISTAR been tasked to do?
MARGISTAR focuses on the natural, environmental, social, and economic inter-relationships and interactions in mountainous areas. Through a range of physical and virtual meetings, the forum brings together scientists, policy makers, mountain actors, NGOs, SMEs, public bodies, and private organisations to identify the challenges faced by marginalised mountain communities and co-design innovative pathways towards their green, digital, and healthy futures.
How will MARGISTAR support marginalised mountainous regions?
The forum’s use of methods like nudging citizens and pinching policymakers are expected to have key scientific, societal, and policy impacts by challenging business-as-usual discourses and supporting agricultural, land use, and rural policies. MARGISTAR engages young and ITC researchers to ensure a fresh and dynamic perspective is brought to the table. Additionally, MARGISTAR will establish a society-science-policy metaphor and platform named Fairway in Europe to stimulate the dialogue between scientists, policy makers, mountain actors, NGOs, SMEs, public bodies and private organizations, and the establishment of local Knowledge and Information Systems.
MARGISTAR’s multi-disciplinary approach supports the EU’s efforts for inclusive, competitive, and green economies and societies. The forum’s mission is to excel in knowledge exchange, co-creation, and capacity building for socially just green recovery and climate mitigation and adaptation. Its ultimate vision is to revitalise marginalised mountainous areas across Europe and leave no one behind.
By providing a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, MARGISTAR is working towards a future where mountain communities can thrive sustainably. With its focus on inclusive, bottom-up approaches, the forum helps to ensure that the unique challenges facing mountain communities are given the attention they deserve.
