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International Mountain Day
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International Mountain Day 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.
It was the UN General Assembly who designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day'. This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002). FAO was the designated lead coordinating agency for International Year of Mountains and is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.
News
Celebrating International Mountain Day in Italy.
The Italian Department of Regional Affairs is organizing a series of celebrations to observe International Mountain Day 2005. More...
Ecotourism Emerging Industry Forum.(1-18 November, 2005). The on-line forum is organized by Planeta and is designed to provide professionally moderated, up-to-date results on small and medium enterprise (SME) priorities for funding and investment decisions for sustainable tourism in developing countries. More than 100 people have registered for this innovative on-line forum. More...
International Mountain Day 2005
Every year, International Mountain Day is observed with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. The theme chosen for International Mountain Day in 2005 is: 'Sustainable Tourism for Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas'. Tourism, the world’s largest industry, has become a primary source of revenue for many mountain areas, including in the developing world. It brings in cash in the short term -- an attractive prospect given that mountain dwellers are among the world's poorest and hungriest. Yet, in the longer term tourism can cause irreparable damage to the environment, and the revenues it generates often do not benefit mountain communities. Sustainable tourism strives to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income and employment for local communities. This theme for International Mountain Day in 2005 is highly relevant to the past and on-going work of FAO and its UN partners in mountain development, and is related to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of eradicating extreme hunger and poverty (#1), as well as the necessity of working together to protect our common environment (#7).
International Mountain Day is an occasion to heighten awareness about the perils and potentials of tourism in mountain areas and to appeal for sustainable tourism amongst a wide audience (governments, NGOs, UN agencies, private-sector organizations, members of the Mountain Partnership, the public and the media). International Mountain Day also presents an excellent opportunity to showcase FAO’s multi-disciplinary work in sustainable mountain development around the world and the work of the PAIA-MTNS, and will report on progress being made by FAO and its partners in promoting sustainable livelihoods in mountain regions.
PAIA-MTNS is coordinating the planning and preparation for the observance of International Mountain Day in 2005. A small task force of PAIA-MTNS members has been set up to prepare a communication strategy (in full collaboration with GI) for the production and distribution of information materials, to explore relevant partners and possible sponsors, and to ensure liaison with FAO and external authorities for related events.
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What are UN International Days?
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Since the early days of the United Nations system, the UN has established a set of days (as well as weeks, years and decades) to help focus the world on the issues in which the UN has an interest and commitment. The UN calls on member states and other organizations to mark these days in ways which reflect their priorities. Read more...
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What is sustainable tourism?
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'Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of the present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems'. World Tourism Organization (WTO).
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If you wish to share an interesting case study, article, news or features on mountain tourism, write to: mountain-day@fao.org
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