versión On-line ISSN 0717-6643 KORNER, Christian. THE ALPINE
LIFE ZONE UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE. Gayana Bot. [online]. 2000,
vol.57, n.1, pp. 1-17. ISSN 0717-6643.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-66432000000100001. Nearly forty
percent of mankind depend in one way or another on mountain
ecosystems. Local ecosystem services are slope stability, water
yield, agricultural products or recreational value. Continental
scale influences include drinking water supply, ground water
recharging, irrigation water, hydroelectric power, flood
control, traffic routes etc. In this paper I review evidence of
alpine ecosystem responses to global change. It is emphasized
that soil conservation is the centerpiece of any consideration
of sustainable land use in alpine terrain. Complete vegetation
cover of high biological diversity is essential to protect soils
and secure `ecosystem services' in upland systems. It is
illustrated that this is not necessarily in conflict with land
use and that land use may even contribute to biological ri