This introductory paper raises general issues and poses questions that are pursued in the other papers. The initial premise of this paper is that impact cannot be discussed in isolation from the broader context of research and development and the overall priorities guiding the centres research, training, and networking activities.

This review paper evaluates the potential of remote sensing for assessing landscape and species diversity in mountainous terrain. Understanding the complex mechanism of biodiversity necessitate its spatial and temporal dynamics and synergetic adoption of measurement approaches with long-term plot inventories.