Paying tribute to mountains on 11 December
11.12.2014
Today, mountains are celebrated all over the globe as they are every year on International Mountain Day (IMD).
The theme for this year’s celebration focuses on mountain family farmers to tie in with the International Year of Family Farming, which is coming to a close at the end of 2014. In mountains, family farmers contribute substantially to reducing poverty, feeding families and communities, and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. Over generations mountain farmers have refined ways to farm in difficult conditions and produce a wide variety of crops that are adapted to a range of different elevations, slopes and microclimates.
Mountain lovers observe IMD with sporting events, concerts, competitions, seminars, conferences, film festivals and auctions in Algeria, Borneo, Costa Rica, India, Iran, Nepal, the Kyrgyz Republic, Spain, Turkey and several other countries.
Mountain Partnership members will meet in Lima, Peru, alongside the 20th session of the Conference of Parties (COP20) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , to discuss the role that sustainable mountain development plays in reversing degradation, protect water, food, energy and other vital resources for all while improving the social and economic conditions of mountain communities.
At the United Nations in New York, Mountain Partnership members will convene to discuss perspectives on mountains and sustainable mountain development in a Post-2015 world, where Mountain Partnership Ambassador Jake Norton will present an extract from his film, ‘Mount Kenya's Water Tower’.
In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December a day dedicated to mountains. IMD 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.
Please email [email protected] with news and pictures of your celebration
Photo:Mateu i Blai Reina - Ripolles
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