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IMD celebrations in Africa

04.01.2021

Governments and organizations throughout Sub-Saharan Africa honoured International Mountain Day (IMD) 2020. Mountain lovers in Guinea, Kenya and Rwanda celebrated the day with outdoor activities, like hiking and tree planting, and inclusive discussions about the future of each country’s mountains.

The Government of Kenya together with the National Environment Management Authority celebrated on 8-11 December under the theme "Protecting mountain biodiversity". Activities included adopting a forest, tree planting and launching an arboretum and environmental resource centre. Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, was Chief Guest.

The Kenya Forest Service also participated in a tree planting and forest adoption event on 11 December under the theme "Mountains matter for youth".

In Guinea, the Association des Jeunes pour le Développement Agricole (Youth Association for Agricultural Development) took a group camping near the mountains. The activity aimed to raise awareness about mountain biodiversity and the important services that mountain ecosystems provide.

This year, the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) in Rwanda celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary and IMD together. ARCOS' event on 11 December was held under the theme "Mountain biodiversity: Africa's Natural Capital".

Also in Rwanda, the Virunga Wildlife Clubs' IMD celebration had a focus on community-based conservation. By conducting an awareness raising campaign on biodiversity conservation, in particular on mountain gorillas and their habitat, they encouraged participation in Virunga National Park's forest landscape restoration programme.

To inform the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of your International Mountain Day 2020 activities if you have not done so already, please email [email protected].

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Photo by Muxe Dlomu