The Central Andes and sustainable development: The Mendoza High Mountains Strategic Plan, Argentina

Abstract

The Mendoza High Mountains Strategic Plan (MHMSP) is a key instrument for the public management and land-use planning of the Aconcagua region, Argentina. It involves stakeholders from government, the private sector, scientists and local communities in the Central Andes to promote collective action for making Aconcagua a sustainable tourism destination, within the context of climate change and COVID-19. The MHMSP is supported by the Federal Investment Council of Argentina and the Inter-American Development Bank. The Commission for Sustainable Development of the High Mountains of Mendoza comprises actors from the public and private sectors and was created to monitor the plan’s follow-up. Climate change adaptation and mitigation are part of the process outlined in the MHMSP, and support for the adoption and incorporation of new technologies plays a central role. Local communities whose livelihoods depend on snow tourism are vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Different mechanisms have been incorporated into the plan to promote mountain villages’ adaptation to climate change, to reduce their vulnerability.