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Ecuador

 

National Committee for the International Year of Mountains

Ecuador created awareness of key topics related to sustainable mountain development in preparing for and celebrating the International Year of Mountains.

Baseline information was prepared on its mountain areas, in particular on water and climate change, because most of the country’s water supply comes from the mountains and climatic changes can reduce or change the water supply. The food security situation was also assessed, since mountain areas are the main source of staple food for local consumption, while most of export products are cultivated in the lowlands.

The National Committee established for the International Year of Mountains in Ecuador also highlighted the health issues specific to mountain areas, particularly goitre and tuberculosis, and other diseases associated with malnutrition and poverty.
 
The National Committee was formed in 2000 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Environment Department in particular, and the Ecuadorian Mountain Society (EMS). The Focal Point of the Committee was Dr. Ramiro Dávila of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The National Committee was composed of the following:

Government

Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of the Exterior
Ministry of Social Welfare
Oficina de Planificación de la Presidencia (ODEPLAN)
Obras Públicas y Salud
Asociacion de Municipalidades del Ecuador y los Consejos Provinciales

Research and academic community

The University of Ecuador    

Civil society

The Ecuadorian Mountain Society

Activities and achievements during the International Year of Mountains

 

The Second World Meeting of Mountain Populations (Quito, 20-24 September), was a follow-up to the first World Mountain Forum (Chambéry 2000) and produced the Quito Declaration.

An international conference on ‘Land use change and geomorphic, soil and water processes in tropical mountain environments’ was held in Quito and Cuenca (16-21 December). The event aimed to bring together scientists from various disciplines dealing with soil and water issues in tropical mountain areas.

 

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