Why we need an International Mountain Day?
Mountains are natural jewels we should treasure. They are home to 15% of the world?s population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity, helping to sustain agriculture and supply clean energy and medicines.
Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change, overexploitation and contamination, increasing the risk s for the people and the planet.
As the global climate continues to warm, mountain glaciers melt affecting freshwater supplies downstream, and mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive.
Steep slopes mean the clearing of forest for farming, settlements or infrastructure can cause soil erosion as well as the loss of habitat. Erosion and pollution harm the quality of water flowing downstream and the productivity of soil. In fact, over 311 million rural mountain people in developing countries live in areas exposed to progressive land degradation, 178 million of whom are considered vulnerable to food insecurity.
This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures.
International Mountain Day, celebrated since 2003 through FAO, creates awareness about the importance of mountains to life, highlights the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and builds alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.