News

Honouring the mountains of the world together

11.12.2016

The 11 of December marks the day for celebrating mountains. The day is a chance to reflect on how we all depend on mountains, for water, food, biodiversity, timber and energy, but it is also an opportunity to highlight the plight of mountain peoples, among the world’s poorest and hungriest, and focus on the opportunities for including action to support them in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The theme of this year’s IMD celebration, “Mountain Cultures: celebrating diversity and strengthening identity,” is a tribute to the incredible richness of mountain peoples and landscapes. Covering over 22 percent of the world’s land surface, mountains are home to 13 percent of the world’s population. Many mountain peoples have their own ethnic identity, language, justice systems, cultures and traditions.

A large proportion of the world's minority populations live in mountain areas. While most of these consist of small numbers of people, some large groups exist, such as the Quechua in the Andes, the Amhara people in Ethiopia, and the Tibetans and Yi in China. Isolation, created by the rugged topographic barriers, has helped create and maintain many diverse cultures relatively intact. Unfortunately, the stability of mountain populations, each with different values and belief systems, is threatened by migration, urbanization and conflict.

Mountain peoples have long held vital roles in the management of their ecosystems. Over the centuries, they have developed sophisticated land-use systems, climate change adaptation approaches, traditional diets and mountain products that are unique and rich in globally significant biodiversity.

Furthermore, mountains and mountain-protected areas are places of spiritual solace, inspiration, recreation and relaxation. From skiing and climbing to viewing mountain gorillas in Rwanda and visiting the rock churches in Ethiopia, mountains offer an array of possibilities to all kinds of tourists. According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 376 of the world’s 669 Biosphere Reserves, or 56 percent, contain mountain ecosystems.

The impacts of tourism on culture and identity in the mountains can bring both possibilities and challenges. Community-based mountain tourism can ensure a more equitable distribution of income, help maintain local cultures and knowledge, reduce out-migration and provide incentives for the protection of mountain ecosystems, their goods and services.

Today is the last day to vote for the six finalists' photos of the Mountain Cultures Photo Contest. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the contest called for participants to submit photos of mountain cultures in action for the chance to win a one-year subscription to National Geographic magazine. A FAO jury selected the top six photos from over 340 submissions from 57 countries, and the public can vote for their favourite on the FAO Facebook until 19 CET today, 11 December.

On 9 December during the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Cancun, Mexico, Braulio Ferreira De Souza Dias, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, shared a message on mountains on the occasion of IMD. He noted that the protection and celebration of mountain cultures, identities and traditions are essential to the preservation of biodiversity, strengthening mountain peoples sustainable livelihoods, and achieving the three objectives of the CBD and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

Meanwhile, International Mountain Day celebrations are taking place across the world with group hikes, film festivals, art exhibits and concerts, underlining why mountains matter to us all. Mountain lovers observe IMD with sporting events, mountain product fairs, competitions, seminars and conferences in Algeria, Austria, Bolivia, Canada, Croatia, India, Iran, Madagascar, Nepal, Russia, Spain, Turkey and several other countries.

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.

Read the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity's message on mountains