International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as “International Mountain Day”. This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the ‘Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002). FAO was the designated lead coordinating agency for International Year of Mountains and is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as the “International Mountain Day”. It is observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. The theme for the International Mountain Day 2010 is “Mountain Minorities and Indigenous Peoples”. It aims to raise awareness about indigenous peoples and minorities who live in mountain environments and the relevance of their cultural heritage, traditions and customs.
MESSAGE: José Antonio Prado, Director, Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division, Fax: +39-06-57055 137, E-mail: mountain-day@fao.org
This year’s International Mountain Day provides an apt occasion to reflect on how important it is to empower indigenous communities and help them promote and preserve traditional knowledge, including sciences, agricultural practices, responses to global change, medicines and health practices, fauna and flora, oral traditions, crafts and arts. Please find enclosed communication and promotional material prepared by FAO to help you celebrate this special event and to share it with your relevant key-partners. These communication materials are posted at the following website: http://www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp. For any further information or specific questions related to this year’s theme, please contact Sara Manuelli (Sara.Manuelli@fao.org) or mountain-day@fao.org. In the follow-up to the International Mountain Day 2010 please do not forget to send us a report about the celebrations of the Day in your country or institution. Also we would very much appreciate receiving feedback on the relevance and usefulness of the communication materials we have provided.
Further Details on International Mountain Day 2010 Theme:
http://www.fao.org/mnts/home3/imd-note2010/en/
Mountain Voices: http://www.mountainvoices.org/india.asp.html
This website presents interviews with over 300 people who live in mountain and highland regions round the world. Their testimonies offer a personal perspective on change and development. Pick one of the countries above. Or search through the interviews by theme. This project was initiated by the Panos Oral Testimony Programme.
Who Celebrated Mountain Day 2010
Climate Change and Sustainability of Himalayan Ecosystem’ TERI New Delhi, India
International Mountain Day on December 11, 2010, offers a unique opportunity to recognize the significance of Himalayas to the sustainability of life of in the region, highlight the opportunities and challenges in mountain development, and to build partnerships that may bring positive change to livelihoods in the region.
Climate, natural resources and livelihoods have an extremely profound interconnection, especially in the context of the Himalayan region. In the purview of changes in climate, the delicate balance between the trio is very likely to get affected influencing the sustainability of Himalayan ecosystem. This calls for a concerted intensive approach to be adopted for adjustments in livelihood practices in order to adapt to the climate change. To address these issues from the perspectives of ‘National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem’ (NMSHE) of the Government of India from the research and development perspectives, for planning and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for Himalayan states, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi in association with Planning Commission of India and OXFAM India is organizing this panel discussion to deliberate on challenges and opportunities in the perspectives of Climate Change impacts influencing the sustainability of Himalayan ecosystems, on December 10, 2010. Details>>
Centre for Environmental Education-CEE North, India
International Mountain Day was celebrated by the Centre for Environment Education in a remote tribal village Ramawari, Gund located on the banks of the river Sindh in the Kashmir Himalayas. Ramawari village which has some 450 odd households with a population of about 4,500 is predominantly inhabitated by the Gujjars and Bakerwals, the famous nomadic people of Himalayas who have mastered survival under harsh Himalayan conditions. On the bright morning of December 11th around 150 students along with their teachers and Headmaster assembled at the grounds of Ramawari Middle School to welcome their village elders. Village Headman and other prominent elderly members including the women participated in the celebrations which began with the cultural performance by the students on the theme “Mountain Minorities and Indigenous Peoples”. The participants in the age group of 8-14 years presented folksongs describing tribal life styles. These songs also had a blend of how indigenous people adapt to the local conditions. Few students spoke about their perception on climate change and their observations like soil erosion on the banks of their river Sindh and flash floods, deforestation in the upper ridges of village Ramawari. The Headmaster appraised the gathering about climate change, the global issue of concern and how the impacts were visible locally in terms of less snow fall, unexpected floods or rise of water in the river, less water during winters as compare to past levels. Details: IYM-CEE North>>
American Alpine Institute, USA
This year, we have decided to benefit the Central Asia Institute with our International Mountain Day activities. The Central Asia Institute is a non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in the remote mountainous regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Climate change impacts and adaptation for sustainable livelihoods of Mountain communities in UGANDA
A large percentage of the mountain population and more particularly the poor are mainly dependent on climate-sensitive sectors for their livelihood. Climate conditions in some parts of the mountain areas may become much hotter and drier, and with unpredictable rainfall. The wetter areas, however, may experience more but extreme rainfall events with serious consequences such as frequent slope failures and flash floods. Recent landslide and flooding disasters in the mountains and surrounding areas of Uganda (e.g. Mt Elgon, Rwenzori ranges and Kabale highlands) reminded us of the havoc that extreme climate conditions can induce especially where ecosystems have been degraded.
What is Uganda doing/planning during this 2010 IMD?
- Create awareness through the media about climate change and the importance of ensuring mountain safety and protection.
- Link/network with civil societies and other organizations having a stake in mountain areas to encourage them in strengthening their efforts in ecosystem conservation
- Advocate for use of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation and mountain protection, and lobby for increased support for improved livelihood
- Advocate for good governance at local levels; fair and accountable, common property resource management, rights of poor and marginalized mountain communities
Details: International Mountain Day 2010 in Uganda
Nature Park Papuk, Croatian Mountaineering Association and Slavonian Mountaineering Association
Nature Park Papuk, Croatian Mountaineering Association and Slavonian Mountaineering Association will mark these years International Mountain Day with an organized trip to the unknown Papuk. The traditional trip to the unknown Papuk this year will be held on the western part of Papuk aiming Crni vrh (864 m).
DAY (Lok Virsa to organize seminar to celebrate the International Mountain Day on Dec 11)
Development Communications Network (DEVCOM-Pakistan), Lok Virsa – National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage and WWF-Pakistan has announced an art competition and a youth seminar to celebrate the International Mountain Day on December 11, 2010.
International Mountain Day – share your mountain themed artwork
The photograph shown is by Michiel Van Balen, and is titled “The Boys” – named after the youths who train their horses by galloping them across the Lesotho mountains in Southern Africa. He describes his encounter with them as a “sort of Lord of the Rings experience”
CBD and Mountain Day
“The Great Smoky Mountains are a sanctuary for the Cherokee people. We have always believed that the mountains and streams provide all that we need for survival. We hold these mountains sacred, believing that the Cherokees were chosen to take care of the mountains as the mountains take care of us.” Jerry Wolfe, Cherokee Elder, 2000
International Mountain Day in Iran
The Alpine Club of Iran, celebrated the International Mountain Day (11 December) by organizing some gatherings and meetings in various cities; Babol, Semnan, and Tehran, and also by participating in an exhibition which was organized by the municipality of Tehran. We tried to draw the attention of the public and the “decision- makers” of the society to the importance of preservation of mountains. In order to attain this goal, we invited TV and radio reporters and journalists to the gatherings to broadcast the news regarding the mountaineering community’s concern to the mountain preservation issue. Reporters and journalists can also play the role of teachers and instructors to teach the fundamentals of environmentalism to all. In Babol, the gathering was held in cooperation with “The Mountaineers Society”, a NGO which is committed to mountaineering and mountain preservation. In this gathering Dr. Esmaeil Kahrom, an environment activist; Abbas Mohammadi, the manager of “Mountain Watch Committee” of ACI; and Davoud Mohammadifar, the author of The History of Mountaineering in Iran and other mountaineering books, made speeches. In Tehran, the gathering was held in cooperation with Ararat Club (belonged to the Iranian society of Armenians).In this gathering, Henric Majnounian a professor of environment, the author of many books on environment and mountain preservation issue, and an experienced collaborator to the Department of Environment, made speech. Other lecturers in this meeting were Albert Kocharian from Ararat Club, and Abbas Mohammadi. ACI also gave articles and notes to some newspapers, news agencies, and weblogs to propagate the concept of protecting mountains which are responsible for providing our most vital substance: fresh water.
Abbas Mohammadi Manager; Mountain Watch Committee
Am.kouh@gmail.com www.mountainwatch.persianblog.ir www.alpinecub.ir
