During the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) meeting, the Swiss government organised a side event on 8 May 2008 on « Key policy issues facing agriculture and rural development in mountain regions”

This side event had been prepared by the SARD-M project team in Rome. The meeting was chaired by Mr François Pythoud, head of the "international sustainable agriculture" Units in Bern and was addressed by Mrs Jeannette Gurung, Chair of the Adelboden Group, Mr Carlos Cattaneo, Argentine member of the Group’s bureau, Mr. Piercarlo Sandei of the UNEP Vienna Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, and Mr Jean Gault, SARD-M project coordinator.

A large number of people attended the event, and in particular Austria, Japan, Algeria, Jordan, Montenegro, Lesotho, Bolivia, Peru, Finland, etc. and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. Several countries expressed interest and addressed the meeting, and some (Jordan) expressed the hope that SARD-M could conduct a survey in their country.

The next CSD cycle has mountains placed among its priorities: this side event is therefore contributing to fuelling the debate, and sensitising the Member States.