The Andes Program of the Mountain Institute (TMI) was established in 1995 in Huaraz, Peru, near Huascarán National Park and Biosphere Reserve.

The Mountain Institute Cooperates with mountain communities to preserve their natural and cutural heratage in areas of the Andes that have global biological singnificance or exceptional historial value.

The Mountain Institute's milestones in the Andes include:

• Developing Peru's first Ecotourism Management Plan for Huascarán National Park in 1996 and several similar plans in mountain protected areas of Peru and Ecuador.
• Promoting public awareness of mountain biological values through the publication of field guides.
• Diversifying livelihood portfolios and conservation by supporting cultural affirmation along sections of the Great Inca Road in Peru.
• Developing the Andean Paramos Ecosystems initiatives with partners in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela to promote sustainable use and conservation of this unique mountain resource.
• Developing community-based conservation projects (1999 - present) to preserve high-altitude Quenual (Polylepis spp) native forests in ways that benefit local livelihoods.
• Developing training and educational tools to improve the capacities of mountain NGOs and grassroot organizations.

Huaraz is located 400 kilometers northeast of Lima, in the Ancash Region. The Andes Program is organized under the following three initiatives

• Mountain Ecosystem Management
• Mountain Sustainable Tourism
• School of Mountain Studies

Additionally, the work carried out by Dr. Johan Reinhard reflects the goals of The Mountain Institute in the areas of cultural heritage preservation and environmental conservation in the Andes.

Museo Cultural, Isla del Sol, Bolivia
Ice Maiden, Peru
Johan Reinhard, Ph.D.

Information on publications and partners of the Andes Program can be found in:

Andes Program Publications