In collaboration with FAO, the MPS held the International Mountain Day photo contest to encourage people from all over the world to share images depicting why mountains matter to them and their communities.

More than 138 entries were received from 45 countries. Salar Arkan was the 2018 winner with the entry ‘Torches’ — depicting a ceremonial torch lighting in a mountainous region of Iran during Nowruz, or New Year, a festival that is held at the time of the northern hemisphere’s spring equinox.