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National Committee in Spain for the International Year of Mountains (2002)

The National Committee for the International Year of Mountains was established by government decree in March 2002.

The membership of the National Committee included representatives from government (the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister for the Conservation of Nature, and the Minister of Rural Development) and NGOs such as the Independent Organisation of National Parks and the Spanish Federation of Mountain Sport and Climbing. The Committee was also comprised of prominent academicians working in environmental issues and representatives of ten autonomous communities, namely: Andalucía, Aragón, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Cataluña, Extremadura, Madrid and C. Valenciana.

The Focal Point of the National Committee was D. Javier Ferrero Berlanga, head of the Technical Office of the Ministry of Environment.

Activities and achievements during International Year of Mountains

International:

A project was initiated to strengthen the classification of the forestry sector in Cuba.

National:

More than 100 events were organized throughout the country; including sports initiatives, mountaineering events, concerts, cinema festivals, conferences and seminars, exhibitions and photographic competitions.
A series of debates were organized to explore models for forest management and the repercussions of new technologies on mountain areas.
The 4th International Consultation on Mountain Forests: "Lessons Learned, Societal Changes and Vision Beyond 2002.", took place between 26 - 28 June in Pamplona
The International Year of Mountains created the impetus for the development of a National Forestry Programme.

Research activities:

A Spain-FAO programme on desertification and erosion was under review.

New legislation:

The close of the International Year of Mountains was marked by a seminar, 'Conservation and Sustainable Development in Mountain Areas' and the presentation to the Minister of the Environment of a document, 'The Spanish Charter for Mountains'. The Charter contains recommendations for the management, conservation and sustainable development of mountain areas.

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