|
Mountains are crucial to life. Whether we live at sea level or the highest elevations, we are connected to mountains and affected by them in more ways than we can imagine. Mountains provide most of the world's freshwater, harbour a rich variety of plants and animals, and are home to one in ten people. Yet, each day, environmental degradation, the consequences of climate change, exploitatative mining, armed conflict, poverty and hunger threaten the extraordinary web of life that the mountains support.
FAO is meeting the challenges of sustainable mountain development in many ways around the world. Its Sustainable Management of Mountains PAIA (PAIA-MTNS) -- an informal group of staff from across FAO's technical departments -- works to promote, improve and enhance FAO's action in mountain development in both a coordinated and interdisciplinary manner.
Importantly, PAIA-MTNS is also contributing towards FAO's efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specifically those focussing on reducing poverty and hunger and ensuring environmental sustainability.
|
|
|
