Did you know that the United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains? Then starting in 2003, the UN General Assembly designated December 11 as International Mountain Day.
International Mountain Day is a day to focus on sustainable mountain development. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, the goal of IMD is to “create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world” (FAO.org).
What it comes down to is that mountains matter. According to the UN.org, “Almost one billion people live in mountain areas, and over half the human population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy. Yet mountains are under threat from climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural disasters, with potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences, both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.” It’s everyone’s responsibility to take care of our mountains.
Here are a few quick mountain facts relating to International Mountain Day:
- “Mountains cover around 22 percent of the earth’s land surface and are home to 13 percent of the world’s population. “(UN.org)
- “They provide sustenance and well-being for 915 million people, but also indirectly benefit billions more living downstream.” (UN.org)
- “Mountains have a key role to play in providing renewable energy, especially through hydropower, solar power, wind power and biogas.” (UN.org)
- “Ninety percent of the world’s mountain dwellers live in developing countries, where a vast majority live below the poverty line and 1 out of 3 faces the threat of food insecurity.” (UN.org)
- “Mountains provide 60-80 percent of the world’s freshwater – without which sustainable development that aims to eliminate poverty and hunger would not be possible.” (UN.org)
- “Mountains are home to 13 percent of the world’s population.” (FAO.org)
- “Indigenous and local populations in mountains have unique, local knowledge, traditions and cultural practices.” (FAO.org)
- “Mountain Tourism attracts about 15-20 percent of global tourism. (FAO.org)
- “Mountains house 56 percent of all Biosphere Reserves.” (FAO.org)
Here’s a quick video about International Mountain Day From FAOVideo:
As the video says, Mountains Matter to everyone.
