Building climate resilience in mountain regions

Mountain regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their complex topography, ecological sensitivity, and socio-economic marginalization. Despite their strategic role in biodiversity, water supply, and cultural heritage, mountain communities remain underrepresented in climate adaptation planning. This study examines climate resilience in the Troodos Geopark of Cyprus, a Mediterranean mountain region experiencing increasing pressures from extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and rural depopulation. Although multiple resilience frameworks exist, few have been systematically applied in mountain contexts with localized, stakeholder-driven data. To address this gap, the study integrates literature-based assessment with empirical data gathered through the ClimEmpower project, including two Community of Practice (CoP) workshops and structured questionnaires with local community leaders. The findings highlight agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism as the most climate-sensitive sectors, while institutional barriers—such as limited technical capacity, fragmented governance and inadequate public awareness—impede effective responses. Emergency preparedness was found to be particularly weak, with limited early warning systems, evacuation plans, or biodiversity monitoring in place. Participants prioritized capacity building, project management, and data accessibility as critical needs for local action. By aligning stakeholder insights with climate resilience indicators, the study reveals the importance of grounding adaptation strategies in lived realities and governance constraints. These results not only inform regional planning in Troodos but also offer transferable lessons for other mountain regions across Europe where localized knowledge and capacity gaps hinder climate adaptation. The approach underscores the need for participatory, indicator-informed resilience assessments in highland contexts.