successful economic activities. There are opportunities for development of these regions and, in particular, for trans- border integration and co-operation. This book brings together research results from experts from all Balkan countries working on the problems of the mountain regions in Southeastern Europe. The volume focuses on the challenges taking place along the rapid transformation in land use, biodiversity, tourism, nature risk and bio-productivity due to the global changes and particularly due to the local impacts of climate change. The key questions for discussion are: - Biodiversity, nature protection and conservation - Natural disasters and risk management - Social-economical development of the mountain regions - Spatial planning in the development of the mountain regions - Sustainable practices and politics for land use - Transborder co-operation.