The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) promotes and coordinates research on global change in mountain regions around the world. In its seven years of existence it has actively participated in the design of the international research agenda, as noted by the UN Secretary General in his address on Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions in August 2007. MRI's target is interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, but, on matters relating to biodiversity in mountain regions, MRI defers to its sister organisation, GMBA.