Every 11 December is marked as International Mountain Day, celebrated around the world. The day is an ode to the world’s fascinating landscapes. Each mountain is unique in its own way, from the snow-covered Himalayas to the lush green mountains, and is home to different animals and plants.
The International Mountain Day was held in 1992, at a time when the UN Conference on the Environment and Development adopted Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development.” The increased attention towards the importance of mountains led the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2002 as the United Nations International Year of Mountains.
From 2003 onwards, 11 December was declared as the ‘International Mountain Day’ by the UN General Assembly. FAO is a coordinating agency to prepare for and organize this celebration and is mandated to manage it on a global level. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the FAO Forestry Department’s Team for Water and Mountains is responsible for organizing this international process.
Theme of International Day of Mountain 2023
This year the theme of International Mountain Day 2023 is Restoring mountain ecosystems
The UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN collaboratively headed the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, and this theme was chosen to completely incorporate mountains. The Decade offers a chance to mobilize financial resources, scientific research, and political backing in order to dramatically increase restoration efforts and stop future deterioration of mountain ecosystems.
Lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, combined with rising temperatures, has prompted many men to leave their homes in search of better economic opportunities elsewhere. This has resulted in women taking on roles traditionally held by men, yet they continue to be marginalized in the mountains due to their lack of political agency and economic opportunity.
As we approach International Mountain Day 2022, it is important to bring attention to the need to increase the political and economic agency of mountain women. The Day can promote gender equality and help improve social justice, livelihoods, and resilience through the dissemination of mountain-related best practices, opportunities, and capacity building.
Despite the recommended theme of sustainable mountain tourism for 2021, countries, communities, and organizations are free to choose a theme that is more relevant to them.
Unfortunately, climate change and overexploitation risk mountains. With the global atmosphere continues to warm the mountains, in which some of the weakest in the world, are faced with much greater survival challenges. Mountain glaciers are now shrinking at an unparalleled rate, disrupting the supply of freshwater to millions of people downstream due to increasing temperatures.
Organize a community event or join the debate on social media with the hashtag #MountainsMatter to mark this International Day 2021. Share some of the most important information, or a picture of your favorite peak, with your friends and family.
Swikriti Dandotia
