Strategies for adapting to climate change are crucial to sustain human development while ensuring the supply of ecosystem services, especially in mid-altitude mountains. This paper presents main methodological developments and results of an inter-and transdisciplinary research that was applied to the Vercors massif in southeastern France. The approach linked regional climate projections with impacts on social-ecological systems, socio-economic activities, as well as adaptation capacities and management responses. We built on an extensive participatory process and an in-depth analysis of expert and local knowledge. This process provided a generic and transdisciplinary knowledge model together with an integrated framework for adaptation management (AMS-MAIA method). Our analyses showed that many adaptation practices were already underway in the study area, implicitly or explicitly, and highlight key functions and some relevant cross-sectoral insights for adaptation. The research also assisted in collecting information on climate sensitivity through social-ecological indicators across spatial units. It provided resources and a prototype of web-based tools to assist local communities in setting up cross-sectoral adaptation strategies. We offer an original method for governing adaptation based on management standards and continuous improvement, while 2 highlighting limitations of such formal and stringent approaches that require social and political license.