Photo:©/Mehmet Kandemir

Ankara, Turkey – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) celebrated International Mountain Day with an 'International Mountain Day Panel' held at Middle East Technology University (METU) Technocity Cozone on the evening of December 11.

The theme of this year was “Mountains matter for youth ". In the ceremony the importance of the role of youth, as the agents of change and leaders of the future, in conserving mountain ecosystems was emphasized.

The event started with a short video message from the Mountain Partnership Secretariat Coordinator Yuka Makino, addressing Turkey.

FAO's Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative for Turkey Viorel Gutu made the opening remarks next. He pointed out that mountains host 15% of the world's population. He added that mountains also provide sustenance to 1.1 billion mountain people and more. Gutu stated that climate crisis and related disasters affect mountains and their sources, and added:

“It is not a coincidence that our theme this year is 'Mountains matter for youth'. Young people are not only the agents of change and leaders of the future, but also protectors of mountains and natural sources. We are honored to give youth the opportunity to be the initiators of bringing mountains and mountain communities to the attention of the international community with our theme this year.”

FAO Forestry Officer Peter Pechacek spoke following the opening remarks. He stated in his presentation that mountains, which cover 27% of the earth's land surface, are the original homes of 6 out of 20 species that make up the 80% of global food supply, including corn, potato, barley, tomato, and apple.

“The international community should support national and regional policies and actions that will help mountain communities survive and lead the sustainable development of mountain ecosystems.”

The event continued with the panel titled “Why do mountains matter for youth?” Deputy Director of the Nature Conservation Centre (DKM) Yıldıray Lise moderated the panel. The attendees included: UNDP GEF/SGP National Coordinator Gökmen Argun; MONTIS Trips and Expeditions Founding Partner Ercan Selim Kolbakır; Environment and Urbanization expert and high-altitude climber Ece Saraoğlu; US Embassy Foreign Service Officer Amy Lillis; and Head of Department of Geography of Ankara University Prof. Mehmet Somuncu.

It was pointed out in the panel that there is a continuous rural-urban migration. It was stated that young people have to leave their homes to meet their basic needs, instead of staying and doing something for their area. It was underlined that rural employment is maintained and sustainable rural development is supported in developed countries thanks to economic measures taken by local governments. It was stated that similar practices should be introduced in Turkey as well.

It was indicated that the urban population started to take an interest in mountains recently, despite ever-increasing rural-urban migration. It was stated that the urban individual should not consider this interest a temporary trend; instead, they should contribute to the development of the rural by bringing their knowledge.

Having been celebrated since 2003, International Mountain Day attracts great attention around the world every year. It also provides a chance to focus on developing production value chains, which are the livelihood sources of mountain people.