Water governance relates to management of water, to policies and institutions for water use and conservation, and to processes of decisionmaking in relation to water. Mountain water governance systems have developed in unique ways over time but require special attention in the context of growing competition for water, and changing dynamics given climatic and other global changes. Attention is required at a range of scales and across scales: from considering how communities manage their waters, to reflecting on upstream–downstream issues, thinking about national development interests, and—last but not least—exploring transboundary water issues, since many rivers originating from mountains cross boundaries, and close cooperation between states and nations is needed. In this context, the present issue of Mountain Research and Development (MRD) explores potentials and challenges of water governance for securing water availability and access, for promoting sustainable, equitable, and beneficial use, for enhancing livelihoods and alleviating poverty, and for conserving ecosystems and their services both inside and downstream of mountain areas worldwide.
