Mountain Partnership

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National Committee

A sector within the National Mountain Council (CNM) with responsibility for the International Year of Mountains was set up early in 2001, with the aim of making the Year an opportunity to focus on long-term policies for mountain protection. Early in the process the town of Chambéry — the host of the First World Mountain Forum in 2000 — was officially given the role of 'focal point' for International Year of Mountains activities in France. The Muncipality of Chambéry then set up the Montanea Association to coordinate activities, and thus to serve as a National Committee. The Association was created within the framework of the International Year of Mountains, but its mandate takes a long-term view which ensures action and implementation of activities well beyond 2002. Its rationale is rooted in a national initiative but it strives for strong international collaboration. The immediate aim was to raise public awareness over mountain issues, and to emphasize what is already being done to manage natural resources, particularly by local populations.

The following bodies were the founding members of the Association Montanea:

Government:

Mairie d'Aurillac, Préfecture de Savoie

UN:

FAO

NGOs:

Syndicat National des Accompagnateurs de Moyenne Montagne Secours Aériens Français

Research institutions:

Observatoire Européen des Forets de Montagne, Université de la Savoie

Civil Society:

Aménagement et Montagne
Le Dauphin Libéré
La Fédération des Maîtres Chiens d'Avalanche
Festival International des Métiers de la Montagne
Scène Nationale André Malraux
Télévision 8 Mont-Blanc

Designating Chambéry as focal point also meant that the committee benefited from the presence of the University of the Savoie which hosts the Mountain Institute and provides links with:

Preparatory Activities for International Year of Mountains

France has been a pioneer in advancing the mountain agenda along with Switzerland and Italy. The First Mountain Forum held in June 2000 was hosted from Chambéry, and France also took a lead role in preparing for the Second World Mountain Meeting in Quito (September), participating in the launch of an international programme of cooperation based upon agreements reached during the Forum (ie. bringing together mountain collectivities, ngo's, research institutes and universities, with the support of the national or international administrations) and leading preparatory 'regional' meetings to focus debates prior to Quito.

A national conference; 'The observance of nature sports: what methods, what tools, what results?' organised by the Network of Researchers and Experts in Mountain and Nature Sports, was held in Valence (29-30 November 2001). The conference aimed to bring together scientific experts in order to clarify theory, methodology and practice for those involved in the management and commercialisation of nature sports.

Activities and Achievements during the International Year of Mountains

The International Year of Mountains launch took place in Chambéry, 1 February 2002, in the presence of the Minister of Environment and the Secretary of State for Tourism. Presentations emphasised the intended focus on sustainable development with particular attention to environmental, social and economic dimensions, and current issues such as the damaging environmental impact of certain large-scale projects. Links were also drawn between International Year of Mountains and the International Year of Ecotourism.

The International Year of Mountains generated in France more than 100 projects ranging in focus from conservation to development, education and research. Every two to three days throughout the year an event was scheduled to mark the International Year of Mountains and the commitment to sustainable development in mountain areas. These included: sports events and exhibitions, festivals, conferences and debates, and covered topics as broad-ranging as literature, history, plants, dogs, geography, the police, mountain safety, and access for the disabled.

International:

International pastoral encounter, held in Corsica (May).

International conference, 'Land, livestock and livelihood in the mountains of the world' held in Chambéry (26-27 November). The conference aimed to share the experience of those who have successfully developed a product, market or economy based on breeding in different geographical, economic and political contexts (eg. Savoie, Andes, Tibet or Africa), and to establish links and exchange between the participants.

International conference, 'Water in Mountains, Integrated Management of High Watersheds', Megève (5-6 September), intended to assist local mountain authorities in implementing their water management policies, by providing information on the function of the high watersheds, sharing experiences and policies implemented and setting up a lasting network of pilot sites and experiment support to improve integrated management tools and knowledge.

International Festival of Mountain Trades (28 November - 1 December), 8th edition, aimed at tackling problems of unemployment in mountain areas, and to provide a platform for those who live and work in the mountains to meet and share experiences.

On the occasion of the International Conference of Mountain Women, organised by the Mountain Forum, a conference was held in Chambéry in which the women of the north linked up with the women of the south in Katmandou (March).

Joint Franco-Canadian conference on the economy and mountain territories organised by the Centre J. Cartier and University of Savoie (March).
International Conference on the History of the Mountain (December).
First Meeting of the Network of Mountain Towns, aimed at reinforcing global solidarity and facilitating exchange of initiatives and experiences within the framework of the Tenth International Anniversary for the Prevention of Natural Disasters (June).

Conference on 'Conflict in Mountain Areas', to discuss systems of defence in mountain regions (March).

Conference and exhibition on Mountain Rescue (June, July, November), addressed the somewhat neglected question of mountain rescue with the intention of updating and improving existing structures according to European models.International Mountain Film Festival held in Ajaccio, (October).

Interregional:

EGS XXVII General Assembly, 'Hydrology and Earth System Sciences', Nice (22-26 April). Sponsored among other associations by IYM France and IYM Germany.
'International Conference on Protected Areas in European Mountains', including field visits, Chambéry (13-16 November), aiming to bring together representatives of protected areas throughout Europe to discuss the particularities of mountain conservation with an emphasis on highlighting current preoccupations and the fostering of panEuropean cooperation.

National:

Symposium: 'Geomorphology: From Expert Opinion to Modelling', Strasbourg (26-27 April)
Benefit evening to raise money for restoration of a school outside Kabul, Chambéry (25 September).
Exhibition on Mountain Dogs throughout the World (February/March)

Educational:

Trips and camps to encourage the discovery of mountain regions were organised for school children, especially for those from inner cities or with difficulties.
In Corsica an expedition of Corsican mountaineers organised a trip to South America, with the involvement of several schools in the preparation and expedition (February, March).

Promotional activities for the International Year of Mountains:

Many local events were organised (exhibitions, public debates, training courses, films, advertising campaigns) to familiarise people - who often tend to see the mountains as a place of leisure - with the realities of mountain life.

New legislation:

A new global political policy for the French Mountains was defined within the current national, European and international context (2000-2002). The policy formulation was based upon a national symposium that was also attended by other European countries of bordering mountain regions, and was intended to share ideas and goals and update expectations of mountain policies.

Research:

A national programme of research in mountain areas was established (2000-2002) on the basis of projects made by major French organisations, with the aim of encouraging the mountain to be recognised as a scientific element of research in its own right and not, as is already the case, a variation of multidisciplinary research. This reassessment was also developed at European level, within the framework of future European programmes.

Beyond the International Year of Mountains

France established a mountain law in 1998 but intends to further develop new institutional initiatives to support mountain areas.

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