2015 International Mountains Day event held in Tehran

The FAO Representation in Iran, through collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, has observed the International Mountain Day 2015 on Monday (14 December) at a commemoration ceremony in Tehran.

Addressing a well-attended audience of stakeholders and acknowledging the support of the members of the Mountain Partnership, Alessandro Amadio, the Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to the Islamic Republic of Iran, observed the International Mountain Day on behalf of Serge Nakouzi, the Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to the country.

Amadio focused on sustainable employment and income generation in mountains in his speech, as he stated that this year's theme 'Promoting Mountain Products for Better Livelihoods' prosperously emphasizes the high-value mountain products and services.

"There is a hope that the worldwide demand for high-quality and high-value products made by mountain farmers and micro-enterprises will increase, leading them to tap into niche markets such as organic food, fair trade and nature holiday services to fetch premium prices for their produces", he said.

As reported by FAO, more than 470 million people in Asia were living in the mountainous regions, accounting for 52 percent of the total mountain population. Access to markets, extension services, credit and information is crucial for supporting mountain producers, Amadio noted.

In the case of Iran, over half of the country is covered by mountainous regions and deserts. Amadio stressed that, due to the geographical isolation, mountain communities are often marginalized in political, social and economic decisions. Therefore, there is a need for "concrete support, and mountain specific policies, strategies, investments and tools to create an enabling environment that can unlock their potential is a sustainable manner," he foregrounded.

Furthermore, the augmentation ceremony honoured current and veteran mountaineers and the supporters of the mountain environments and ecosystems.

An official video produced by FAO was aired to the audiences, recognizing all the themes of the International Mountain Day since its launch by the UN General Assembly in 2003. Moreover, a diverse range of FAO Publications were on display at the entrance hall for the active mountain supporters to grab and familiarize themselves with.

Both the Government of Iran and Mountain Environment Protection Society (MEPS) are longstanding members of the Mountain Partnership. The Mountain Environment Protection Society in particular is a member of the Mountain Partnership Steering Committee and the focal point for the annual observation of International Mountain Day in Iran.