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Happy International Mountain Day!

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The United Nations marks 11 December as International Mountain Day every year which is an important and significant day for us at the UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – home of the UIAA Mountain Protection Award.

Covering around 27 percent of the earth’s land surface, mountains play a critical role in moving the world towards sustainable economic growth. They not only provide sustenance and well-being to 720 million mountain people around the world, but indirectly benefit billions more living downstream.

The challenge is to identify new and sustainable opportunities that can bring benefits to both highland and lowland communities and help to eradicate poverty without contributing to the degradation of fragile mountain ecosystems.

UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation Member activities on International Mountain Day
Belgium: UIAA members in Belgium found a fun way to celebrate International Mountain Day by clothing the most famous statute in Brussels “Manneken Pis” or the Little Man Peeing with mountaineering gear. The clubs involved included KBF and CAB Bruxelles.

The Manneken Pis clothed in mountaineering gear

Portugal: Luísa Pinto Ferreira of the Centro Associativo do Calhau – Sítio do Calhau sent us this article written by José Maria Saraiva, a Portuguese expert on the need for the protection of the mountain environment.
Iran: Iranian climbers have taken the principal of re-use an d recycling by organizing a festival to exchange used mountaineering gear. Amin Moen, organiser of the festival says  it is important for climbers who accumulate gear at home, share it rather than letting it become garbage that is drawn one day.

Reuse Festival in Iran (Photo: Amin Moein)

Spain: Juan Jesús Ibáñez Martín of FEDME sent us this link to their work around mountain huts and the need to repair and maintain them in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The Mountain Partnership is a voluntary alliance of partners including the UIAA dedicated to improving the lives of mountain people and protecting mountain environments around the world. Watch their video recorded in Turkey, with messages from members from around the world.

Dear Mountain Partnership members and friends,

Today is the day we celebrate mountains all over the world. The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as “International Mountain Day”. It is observed every year and FAO is the UN coordinating agency for the preparation of this annual celebration.

This year’s International Mountain Day theme is about mountain family farmers, who contribute substantially to reducing poverty, feeding families and communities, and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources

Watch our ‘Celebrating Mountains on 11 December’ video,  a compilation of interviews with Mountain Partnership members recorded in Erzurum, Turkey. The video is available in English and in Spanish.

On our International Mountain day tri-lingual website you will find all information tools including a poster, a fact sheet, the IMD logo in all the official UN languages, the certificate of participation as well as information on the events taking place around the world.

Don’t forget to send us reports about the celebrations of the day in your country or institution – please contact sara.manuelli@fao.org.

Happy celebrations!
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat

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