Mountains cover around 27 percent of the Earth's land surface and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. As the water towers of the world, they supply freshwater to an estimated half of humanity. Mountains are home to an extraordinary range of plants and animals, and to many culturally diverse communities with different languages and traditions. From climate regulation and water provisioning services, to soil maintenance and conservation, mountains are key to our lives and livelihoods.

The theme of International Mountain Day 2023, “Restoring mountain ecosystems”, aimed to increase awareness about the crucial role of mountains for people and the planet, called for nature-based solutions, and sought to fully include mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

To celebrate the day, two events were organized:

Restoring mountain ecosystems - high-level event at the UNFCCC COP 28
Monday, 11 December 2023
14.00–15.00 GST (GMT +4)
Food and Agriculture Pavilion, UNFCCC COP 28, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The International Mountain Day high-level event featured high-level speakers, youth and Indigenous Peoples who will share their perspectives on addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation in mountain regions. 

Press release
Photo gallery
Webcast

Sharing knowledge throughout the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Good practices for the restoration of mountain ecosystems
Wednesday, 13 December 2023
14.30-16.00 CET
Online via Zoom

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat and the FAO-led UN Decade Task Force on Best Practices hosted a technical session to showcase and share good practices for restoration of mountain ecosystems applied by four countries.

Webcast

“Women move mountains” was the theme of International Mountain Day 2022. Women play a key role in environmental protection and social and economic sustainable development in mountain areas. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture and experts in traditional medicine.

Governments, organizations and individuals in 46 countries organized over 93 events to mark International Mountain Day.

Two high-level events were organized to celebrate the day:

Women move mountains – high-level event with a fashion show by Stella Jean
Friday, 9 December 2022
12.30–13.55 CET
FAO Headquarters

Fashion can play a significant role in empowering rural and marginalized women in mountain communities and promoting their economic independence, seeing women as agents of change while also reducing climate emissions from their operations. The event considered these components and showcased proven examples of how the Mountain Partnership Products Initiative is empowering women-led businesses to scale-up and strengthen value chains. 

Press release
Photo gallery
Webcast

The message of the mountains
Monday, 12 December 2022
9.30–18.00 CET
Vatican City

This day-long conference on mountains was anchored in the words of the Laudato Sì. It was hosted by the Department of Culture and Education of the Holy See together with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, in collaboration with Giovane Montagna, the Italian Alpine Club and Guide Don Bosco 6000 - Peru, as a contribution to the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022 and International Mountain Day. The conference featured a variety of mountain actors, including Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassadors, mountaineers, scientists, sustainable development experts, tourism operators, volunteers, and sports enthusiasts.

Photo gallery
Event recording

Sustainable Mountain Tourism
10 December 2021, 14:30 –16:15 CET
Event recording

The high-level International Mountain Day event was opened by the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Other participants included Maria Ubach, Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs , Christine Bulliard-Marbach, Swiss Parliamentarian, Member of the National Council and President of the Swiss Association for Mountain Regions, Roberto Natali, Plenipotentiary Minister and Directorate General for Development Cooperation for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, Chief Operating Officer of the Philippines Tourism Promotions Board and mountaineer Reinhold Messner. FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo gave the concluding remarks.

Stella Jean – an Italian-Haitian fashion designer was appointed Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of her work with mountain women artisans from Kyrgyzstan. Dilshodbegim Khusravova, a Tajik young activist, was named Youth Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador for her work in early warning disaster prevention systems in the mountains of Tajikistan.

The event highlighted the need to promote dialogue and cooperation to tap mountain tourism’s full potential to contribute to sustainable development. It highlighted the work that many Mountain Partnership members and UNWTO member states are doing to ensure that mountain communities are not left behind in the spirit of the UN 2030 Agenda.

International Mountain Day (IMD) 2020 saw virtual and physically distanced events taking place across the world, with activities aiming at increasing attention to the rich biodiversity in mountains, its importance to highland and lowland peoples alike, and the threats it faces.

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat hosted a virtual celebration on 11 December on Zoom. Highlighting the work that many Mountain Partnership members are doing around the world, the event featured a high-level segment, a session on collaborative actions and programmes, and a round table featuring the Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassadors. A new MP Ambassador was also announced.

Mountain Biodiversity Matters
11 December 2020, 14:30 –16:15 CET
Event recording
FAO DG QU Dongyu's video message for the International Mountain Day 2020

International Mountain Day 2019's hub of celebrations took place in Milan, Italy, with events that increased attention to mountain environments and communities, and the significant effects of climate change on mountain areas.

Composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi was appointed a Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador after a full day of International Mountain Day celebrations at the Teatro dal Verme in Milan, Italy on 11 December 2019. He dedicated his concert to mountains.

The appointment of Einaudi as Mountain Partnership Goodwill Ambassador on International Mountain Day will help increase awareness of the vital importance of mountains. The Mountain Partnership nominates well-known personalities to champion the cause of sustainable mountain development.