International Mountain Day took place under the theme, ‘Farming in mountains, farming for families.' The Day, which focused on the contributions of mountain farming families to livelihoods, was also one of the last events celebrating the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).
11 December 2014: International Mountain Day took place under the theme, ‘Farming in mountains, farming for families.’ The Day, which focused on the contributions of mountain farming families to livelihoods, was also one of the last events celebrating the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).
Mountain agriculture has been a sustainable development model for centuries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). FAO notes that mountain agricultural systems highlight transformations in family farming in mountain regions as a result of climate change, economic globalization, population growth, urbanization and urban migration. They also capture development opportunities, including the marketing of high quality products to boost local economies, that such changes present. The Day underscored these contributions as well as the role mountains play in providing energy, food and freshwater and ecosystem services.
International Mountain Day events convened around the world from Chile to Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan to Italy. At the Lima Climate Change Conference, the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) organized a session, ‘Africa water towers in a changing climate’ in partnership with the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Mountain Partnership and others. The session highlighted efforts to promote sustainable mountain development in Africa, including actions on climate resilience and sustainability in African mountains.
Forty percent of the world’s population relies indirectly on mountain resources for drinking water, irrigation and hydroelectricity, according to a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) policy brief that was also launched at the Lima Climate Change Conference. The brief, ‘Our global water towers: Ensuring ecosystem services from mountains under climate change,’ describes the contribution of mountain ecosystems to climate regulation, air quality, water flow and protection from natural hazards, and proposes adaptation strategies and policies for mountainous regions around the world, including ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).
Also to commemorate mountains, UN Member States, the FAO and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat hosted a panel discussion, ‘Perspectives on Mountains and Sustainable Development in a Post-2015 Agenda,’ to highlight the opportunities mountains provide local development. The event held 12 December at UN Headquarters, NY, US explored how to sustain mountain environments in a post-2015 world and how mountains can contribute to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [FAO Event Website] [Mountain Partnership Event Website] [Mountain Day Events] [Information on Panel Discussion] [UNESCO Press Release] [Publication: Our global water towers] [FAO Press Release] [CBD Press Release] [Mountain Partnership Press Release]