17 September 2013: At the Fourth Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, members of the Mountain Partnership approved a new strategy for 2014-2017, which focuses on improved natural resource management and livelihoods of mountain communities.

During the meeting, which took place in Erzurum, Turkey, from 17-20 September 2013, participants also addressed: mountains in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the Mountain Forum knowledge platform for sustainable mountain development; regional coordination mechanisms; and the selection of the Steering Committee. Thematic working groups considered how to put the Mountain Partnership into practice. Parallel regional meetings, partnership fairs and side events also took place.

In the concluding session, participants agreed on the Erzurum Conclusions in which Mountain Partnership members: invite all States, relevant UN bodies, regional organizations and others to ensure that mountains are included in pertinent international processes; urge the donor community to increase its support in favor of sustainable mountain development; express gratitude to the Government of Turkey for hosting the event; express appreciation for support provided by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, particularly on networking, knowledge management and communication, capacity building and advocacy; and express appreciation to the Governments of Italy and Switzerland, the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) for their continued support to the Mountain Partnership.

The meeting brought together approximately 100 participants representing, governments, academia, research institutions, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. [Mountain Partnership Four Year Strategy Press Release] [Mountain Partnership Meeting Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage] [FAO Press Release]