By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations General Assembly has designated December 11, from 2003 onwards, as the “International Mountain Day”.
According to a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here on Thursday, the day is observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development.
The theme for the International Mountain Day 2008 is “Food Security in Mountains”. FAO is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.
Since the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit (UNCED, 1992), the awareness on the global importance of mountain areas, the fragility of their resources and the often difficult living conditions of many mountain people has grown significantly.
Accordingly, mountain regions attracted a consistent enhanced attention and concern among researchers, technical experts, politicians, decision makers and other stakeholders.
Along with this increased attention, the need for a better understanding of the functioning of mountain ecosystems and of the impact of global change on these ecosystems has also increased significantly.
The ever expanding demographic pressure on the earth’s ecosystems has led to enormous demand on mountain resources (e.g. on water) which is going to continue exerting further pressure in the future with concomitant heightened potential for conflicts over their use. To avoid severe conflicts as well as to conserve and sustainably develop one of the most precious environments on earth, it is crucial to improve the management and protection of mountain ecosystems, to deepen observations as well as to foster knowledge networks. In addition, mountains are considered early warning systems and accordingly mountain research is crucial for the prediction of global change.
The problem of hunger in mountains is getting worse at the same time. Harsh climates and the difficult, often inaccessible, terrain combined with political and social marginality make mountain people vulnerable to food shortages. Indigenous knowledge about local foods and traditional agricultural practices in mountain areas is eroding and agricultural diversity as well as productivity is declining, further increasing the vulnerability of mountain people.
Now food prices are soaring worldwide and increased transportation costs to remote mountain areas mean that mountain communities are paying much more for their food. Recent studies indicate that mountain populations suffer from high rates of micronutrient deficiencies, which is one of the contributing factors to the significantly higher infant mortality rates in mountain regions.
Priorities for improving food security in mountains include promoting and expanding traditional mountain crops; safeguarding indigenous land use practices; improving breeding programmes of mountain-adapted livestock; better market access; and
mountain-specific public policy, developed with the participation of mountain people.
International Mountain Day 2008, with its theme of Food Security in Mountains, is an apt occasion to reflect on how hard it is for mountain people to consistently get adequate and nutritious food to lead healthy and active lives. It draws attention to the special food security needs of mountain communities that have to be taken into account in the development of mountain-specific strategies and policies in consultation with the local communities.