“Our main priority at the job fair to promote the Mountain Protection Award and potential for a certification scheme that emphasizes sustainable mountain tourism,” said Gleeson.
Gleeson and Mammadov will also be conducting surveys from tourism and tour operators about interest in the proposed UIAA certification scheme during the travel fair which takes place 5 – 9 March.
The winner of the inaugural UIAA Mountain Protection Award will be announced on 15 March 2014 by a panel of experts chosen by the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission.
Nominations include projects in Pakistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Switzerland and Bolivia. The winner will receive a cash prize of US$5,000 through the generosity of award sponsor, Western University in Azerbaijan.
Among the objectives of the award which has a deadline of 1 Sept 2104 for submissions of projects:
- To protect the mountain areas of the world as one of the last natural, unspoilt and free spaces on earth.
- To prevent irreversible impacts in mountain ecosystems.
- To promote environmentally responsible behavior and education amongst mountaineers, climbers and other mountain visitors.
- To develop sustainable socio-cultural, economic and environmental initiatives that encourage mountain protection.
The priority areas are conservation of biodiversity, resource / energy consumption, waste management and disposal, mitigation of climate change effects and culture and education.
