The UN General Assembly declared December 11 from 2003 onwards as ‘International Mountain Day’. This special UN Day serves to highlight the global importance of mountain ecosystems and the unique needs of mountain communities. This year’s theme for UN International Mountain Day is "Managing Mountain Biodiversity for Better Lives".

Nature has blessed Pakistan and Nepal with the world’s most unique mountain systems. The mountain regions of both these countries boast some of the world’s highest peaks, rich faunal and floral biodiversity, large glaciers, natural forests and high altitude lakes. Keeping in view this natural wealth, there is an express need to pay attention to protect, conserve and sustain this fragile mountain ecosystem and support the local communities that depend on them.

With more than half of humanity dependant on mountains to provide water they need to drink, grow food, generate electricity and sustain economic development, we would be disregarding our common future if we did not pay attention to mountains ecosystems. Mismanagement of mountain lands may lead to disruption of hydrological processes, resulting in floods, increased sedimentation and landslides. Mountain ecosystems also have tremendous tourism potential, much of which still remains untapped. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) being the global leader in environmental knowledge has already established a comprehensive mountain programme at the global level focusing on achieving the goal of Agenda 21 in promoting development that is integrated with the protection of environment. In Pakistan, IUCN has undertaken significant work on mountain ecosystems, especially in its capacity as the implementing agency for the Mountain Areas Conservancy Project. For its part, Nepal has set an increasing number of innovative examples of integrated approaches to mountain biodiversity conservation that combine both human development and natural resource conservation and give local populations a stake in sustainably managing biological diversity.

International mountain day celebrations provide an opportunity for all of us to emphasize the importance of mountains in our daily lives and pay more attention to issues and problems faced by the mountain ecosystem and people living in the mountains.

Keeping in view the shared mountain ranges and being in one cluster i.e. Cluster II of IUCN Asia, IUCN Pakistan and IUCN Nepal are organizing these celebrations jointly. All IMD related activities will be held simultaneously in both the countries to emphasize their shared natural heritage.

Partnership building: is the key to the success for IMD celebrations. In this regard, both the countries have joined hands with different partners to arrange the day’s celebration in a befitting manner. In Pakistan, IUCN is partnering with PTDC, which will be celebrating 2007 as the Visit Pakistan year. Other partners include the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), WWF, Alpine Club of Pakistan, UNDP and Adventure Foundation Pakistan. In Nepal, IUCN is joining hands with the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Mountaineering Association in organizing the Himalaya Tourism Conference 2006 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Manaslu and Lhotse mountain peaks. These partnerships add more value to the aims and objectives of the IMD celebrations.

Celebrations: To celebrate International Mountain Day 2006, a series of activities have been planned. These activities will bring various mountain-related issues into the limelight and provide an opportunity for decision makers to think through and refresh the zeal and zest to work for the betterment of mountain ecosystems and remote mountain communities throughout the country and across the region.

Photographic Exhibition: A photographic exhibition titled “Stairway to Heaven” is being organized concurrently in Islamabad and Katmandu. These two exhibitions will be the highlight of the celebrations and will be inaugurated by a high profile chief guest. A selected set of photographs from Pakistan and Nepal depicting various mountain themes will be put on display to highlight the tourism potential of mountain regions in the two countries. Leading nature photographers have been invited to put their work on display. The themes of the photographs will be:

• Floral diversity of Mountains
• Faunal diversity of Mountains
• Landscapes
• High Altitude Lakes
• Mountains and Mountains Degradation
• Livelihoods/Poverty
• Mountains Culture

A rigorous selection process has been put in place to select the photographs for this international exhibition.

A mountain music/cultural show is also being organized by IUCN Pakistan as part of the inaugural ceremony of the photo exhibition. IUCN Nepal is partnering with ICIMOD and organizing the Book and Technology Fair 2006 titled “Sharing Mountain Knowledge”

Panel Discussion on PTV: A panel discussion on Pakistan Television is being organized inviting prominent personalities to discuss mountain related issues. In Pakistan, the panel will comprise of the Minister of State for Environment, Managing Director PTDC and Country Representative IUCN. Some other mainstream television channels will also run special programs covering the day’s celebrations. IUCN Nepal is also planning media coverage on similar lines.

Advertisement/Outreach Material: To mark the IMD celebrations, a special IMD poster, advertising banners and other outreach material is also being developed. This advertisement campaign will further help disseminate the message of the day.

For more information, please contact:

Saquib Hanif, saquib.hanif@iucnp.org
Shahzad Ahmad, shahzad.ahmad@isb.iucnp.org
Deependra Joshi, djoshi@iucn.org.np