News
 European events for IMD23.02.2018From the Alps to the Apennines to the Carpathians and beyond, International Mountain Day (IMD) was widely observed in Europe throughout the month of December. The Alpine Convention hosted the third edition of the Reading Mountains Festival, an opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity of the Alps – its many languages, its different, yet common cultural heritage, and its art in many shapes and forms – to spread the message of a sustainable development and protection of the Alps. This year, more than 140 stakeholders, organizations, schools and individuals organized events in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Nepal, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland. Their activities took the form of readings by local authors, presentations of books set in the region and other innovative events to celebrate IMD. In Albania, the PSEDA-ILIRIA Organization celebrated IMD on 11 December in close cooperation with the Regional Administration of Protected Areas and the Independent College of Tirana. Volunteers planted trees and collected waste in Mount Dajti National Park. Additionally, students learned about the park’s administration, about the environmental challenges the park is facing and about how to contribute to sustainable development. In Austria, the Federal Institute for Less-Favoured and Mountainous Areas celebrated IMD with a reading by Austrian writer Dimitré Dinev, to which more than 50 people attended. The celebration ended with a buffet of organic food. Focusing on mountain geodiversity and geoheritage in the light of climate change, the Department of Geography at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, together with the Croatian Geomorphological Society, held a lecture on IMD, on the topic "Velebit - Geological Museum of the Karstic Dinarides”, with presentations by Ivo Velić and Josip Velić, the researchers and authors of several geological guides. Vanoise National Park organized hosted its IMD event at the Meribel Centre in Les Allues, France. The park shared the results of the Plan de Tuéda Nature Reserve’s 2017 activities and the new regulations on tourism and sports. Bertrand Loheac, a technician from the Savoie Fishing Federation, presented a summary of a study of lakes on Mount Coua. Lepidopterist Philippe Francoz exhibited a collection of butterflies, and the evening concluded with a potluck. Also in France, University of Foix students highlighted how the Pyrenees Mountains are under pressure in observance of the 2017 IMD theme. The Club Alpin Francais accompanied the students on a walk, during which they provided information on the Pyrenees. Guests from the university and town hall then gave lectures on the issues facing the mountain tourism and agricultural sectors. The day closed with a presentation of the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, or Pyrenees High Level Route, and an evening of traditional harmonica music. In Ireland, geo-explorer Gosia Horajska was awarded the International Mountain Day Award by Mountain Research Ireland, who gives the award each year to raise awareness of the importance of mountains and to recognize individuals working for their sustainable development. Horajska, who has spent her career researching the world of rocks and minerals, established Kerry Geo Adventures to share her knowledge and passion with others by providing participants opportunities to explore and learn about how Kerry’s rugged landscape was formed. In Italy, the autonomous Region of Valle d’Aosta celebrated IMD in October, in connection with the second edition of the international and interregional event “Lo pan ner – I pani delle Alpi” (Rye bread – the breads of the Alps). Several activities were organized, including conferences, workshops and baking in village ovens, connected to the many aspects of making rye bread. The event highlighted the rich diversity of mountain peoples’ cultures and identities and provided an opportunity to pass on popular traditions while promoting the sustainable use of mountain environments. From the mountain island of Pico, Azores, Portugal, MiratecArts announced the finalists of the International Photography Contest and presented the programme of the fourth Montanha Pico Festival on IMD. The Montanha Pico Festival took place throughout the month of January 2018, featuring art exhibitions, a film festival, concerts and tea-talk events on the highest mountain of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Madalena Port also hosted an exhibition by award-winning photographer Nelson Silva, titled "Pico Mountain". The Faculty of Geography together with the Geography Students Association (ASG) at the University of Bucharest, Romania, celebrated IMD on 11 December along the theme of climate, hunger and migration in mountains. Meteorologist Alexandru Băran described his expedition to Central Asia, where he climbed Peak Lenin and Khan Tengri; Professor Anca Munteanu shared her latest publication, Risks and Hazards in Piatra Craiului Mountains, which synthesizes 15 years of field research; and in closing, the ASG presented their GeoTrip Project, which aims to bring youth more into contact with nature. Several IMD events were organized throughout Spain: • The City Council of Alaquàs, Spain organized two activities in celebration of IMD. To increase environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices among citizens, Alaquàs held a round table discussion on 5 December. Speakers included Laura Prieto Estévez, head of the Centre for Forest Genetic Resources of Alaquàs, and Eduardo Rojas, Dean of the College of Engineers of Montes. The round table was followed by a community tree planting ceremony on 16 December. See photos of 2017 IMD celebrations on the Mountain Partnership’s Flickr gallery Photo: Jesús Reina Fraile |
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