On 14 March, during the 18th FAO Committee of Forestry (COFO), the FAO Country Focus Group on Mountains organized a side-event on “A Higher Priority for Mountain Activities”. The aims were to share updated information on mountain development both inside and outside FAO and to highlight the need for continued political and financial commitment from member countries for mountain development.

The meeting notably stressed the central role played by countries in sustainable mountain development in implementing national mountain strategies, enacting enabling policies and laws and developing compensation mechanisms for environmental services and public goods provided by mountain areas.