On 1-3 October 2007, over 60 representatives from governments, civil society and international organizations from mountain countries across the globe participated in the Third Meeting of the Adelboden Group held at FAO headquarters in Rome.

The meeting discussed the findings of the SARD-M Project, its possible future as well as the future of the Adelboden Group. The participants strongly endorsed the key principles identified for improved policy packages and institutional processes for SARD-M, the need to continue with the work that has been started as well as major issues of importance to address in the future.

Special attention was paid to mountains as a significant source of positive externalities which have to be better recognised and valorised through policies and markets.

Members of the Adelboden Group Bureau were elected and Ms. Jeannette Gurung, Director of Woman Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), was appointed President.

The meeting culminated with the adoption of a Statement of the Adelboden Group on SARD-M, including commitments by the various stakeholders for the dissemination of SARD-M Project findings, networking and collaboration for the integration of the SARD-M approach.

This Statement, an information sheet including the list of the Bureau members as well as a link to the FAO press release of this meeting, are all available in the right-hand bar.