The United Nations (UN) International Mountain Day is annually observed across the globe on 11 December to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life.
The theme of International Mountain Day 2023 is “Restoring Mountain Ecosystems”.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is the coordinating agency for the preparation and animation of this celebration and it is mandated to lead observance globally.
- The Mountain Partnership Secretariat in the FAO Forestry Division oversees international coordination.
Significance of the 2023 Observance:
i.The day highlights the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and builds partnerships that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.
ii.It advocates for nature-based solutions, best practices, and investments that enhance resilience, reduce vulnerability, and enable mountains’ adaptability to daily threats and extreme climate events.
iii.The 2023 theme was selected to fully include mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, co-led by the FAO, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
- The Decade calls for unified political support, scientific research, and financial resources to significantly scale up restoration and prevent further degradation of mountain ecosystems.
Background:
i.International Mountain Day has its origins in the document titled “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development”, Chapter 13 adopted in 1992 as a part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UNCED is also known as Earth Summit.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains (IYM2002) to increase awareness about the global importance of mountain ecosystem.
iii.In 2003, UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/57/245 and declared 11 December of every year as International Mountain Day.
- The first-ever International Mountain Day was observed on 11 December 2003.
Mountain Partnership:
i.It is a voluntary alliance of governments and organizations committed to working together with the common goal of achieving sustainable mountain development around the world.
ii.It works together for mountain peoples and environments. The partnership was formed during the UN IYM2002 in 2002 and is an official UN partnership.
5 Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027:
On 14 December 2022, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/77/172, proclaimed a Global framework for the 5 Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions 2023–2027.
- It is to enhance the international community’s awareness of the problems of mountain countries and give new impetus to international efforts to address these challenges.
2023 Events:
i.FAO and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat orgainsed a high-level side event, on 11 December 2023 to celebrate International Mountain Day 2023.
- The event was held in the Food and Agriculture Pavilion at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
ii.Mountain Partnership Secretariat and the FAO-led UN Decade Task Force will host an online technical session titled “Sharing knowledge throughout the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Good practices for the restoration of mountain ecosystems” on 13 December 2023.
Reading Mountains Festival 2023:
Every year, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention pays tribute to the literary and cultural heritage in the Alps with the “Reading Mountains Festival.” In 2023, the festival enters its 9th edition.
- Taking place every year in the run-up to or on International Mountain Day on December 11, the festival offers an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the literary and cultural diversity of the Alps.
