Membership

Partnership Initiatives Move Ahead

Forthcoming events

Past events

Publications

Promoting broadband technologies in mountain communities

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat is pleased to announce that a project proposal was recently submitted to the European Union (EU), in the context of a call for “Broadband for all”, by a consortium of Rome-based universities, research centres and FAO. The project, entitled ‘Competitive universal broadband access with low-cost integrated backbone in rural-mountain environments’, aims to improve the communication capacities of mountain populations, and support the development of communication networks in the European territories — and specifically in the mountain areas of less developed regions — which will permit broadband access to be widely available and affordable. It is expected that the EU will announce if the project has been approved for funding in October 2005.

Expanding microfinance to reduce vulnerability of the poor

The Aga Khan — hereditary spiritual leader (Imam) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) — has announced the expansion of a new generation of financial products and services to help some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), a new institution created specifically for this purpose, will deliver innovative services including micro-insurance, small housing loans, savings, education and health accounts, and support for small entrepreneurs seeking to develop businesses related to restored cultural assets. “Microcredit has helped millions of poor people in developing countries, but they remain at the mercy of a death or serious injury of a family member, the loss of a crop or livestock, or a natural disaster such as the recent tsunami,” said the Aga Khan. The programmes of the new Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance are therefore designed to ‘graduate’ the very poor beyond subsistence, while reducing their vulnerability to unforeseen events such as family crises or natural disasters. Programmes are already operating in both rural and urban settings and in a variety of cultures in several countries, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria and Tajikistan. The launch of the new Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance — and its extension of microcredit to include these broader services — coincides with this year’s UN International Year of Microcredit. For further information about the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, visit the Web site.

Communicating about global change research in the world’s mountains

Mountain Partnership member, the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI), is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization that promotes global change research in mountain environments around the world. The organization is developing a database as a central networking tool to connect people from research, government, NGOs and the private sector involved in the issue of global change in mountain regions. The database already comprises close to 3 000 entries featuring contact information and details on the participants’ areas of expertise. Mountain Partnership members are encouraged to browse, make (or revise) entries now. Find out more about MRI and subscribe to the newsletter by visiting the new MRI Web site.

Teaching environment and development through art

In arid regions and mountainous zones, populations are primarily confronted with issues of desertification and erosion resulting in environmental degradation that eventually threatens their livelihoods. Now, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is developing an “Environmental Education Kit using an Artistic Approach (EEKAA)”, which is designed for primary and secondary education teachers in countries situated in the world’s drylands and highlands. The kit aims to help teachers convey scientific knowledge and information to pupils in a playful, appropriate and inspiring manner using an artistic approach and to ultimately empower pupils and their communities to combat desertification, land degradation and support biodiversity conservation.

One dimension of the artistic approach is to raise environmental awareness among pupils by triggering their curiosity while keeping them stimulated with the use of teaching tools that are based on observation and that often only require pencil and paper. The other important dimension of the approach is to learn how the notion of sustainable development, through the application of artistic activities, will help pupils to visualize real situations and help them develop critical thinking, through creating inventories, gardening, planting, role playing and scenario-building.

UNESCO’s MAB Programme, through the Mountain Partnership, invites partners to join this activity. For further information, please contact Thomas Schaaf or Ms Helene Gille. To find out more about the UNESCO MAB Programme, visit the Web site.

Defining legal terminology in the European Alps

A recently launched project in Europe will harmonize the legal language used in environmental and regional planning in Alpine countries. The LexALP project — the first project of its kind — will compile a lexicon that covers all four official languages of the Alps (French, German, Italian and Slovene), so that agreement can be reached on the legal and administrative terminology to be used at the supranational level from the legal systems of six countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. Organizations involved in the development of the Alpine region, such as the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, have long been calling for a common, clearly defined legal usage.

With the LexAlp project, any confusion over terminology such as “environmental risk assessment”, which is used in three different ways in Italian protocol versions, should no longer occur. The LexALP project runs over a three-year period
(2005-2007) and is financed in the context of the Interreg IIIB Alpine Space Project. For further details about LexALP, visit the Web site of Mountain Partnership member, European Academy (EURAC).

Issue 9
April 2005

The Mountain Partnership Newsletter

‘Peak to Peak’ is an opportunity to keep you up-to-date with the latest news, activities and events related to the Mountain Partnership. This monthly newsletter, prepared by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, is sent by e-mail to all members and other interested partners and can be read on-line at www.mountainpartnership.org. Help us share news, information and features with members by sending a message to: info@mountainpartnership.org.

Membership

As of April 2005, there are 117 members of the Mountain Partnership: 45 countries, 14 IGOs and 58 major group organizations.

Partnership Initiatives Move Ahead

Building networks for gender equality

Women Organising for Change in Agriculture and NRM (WOCAN), a member of the Mountain Partnership and a leading member of the Gender Initiative, has recently launched a new global network for women professionals working in agriculture and natural resource management, in order to support a process of change for gender equality in programmes, organizations, and to advocate for the same in governments, national and international agencies. In particular, WOCAN aims to address the roles of professional women in implementing policies for rural women’s empowerment and gender equality within these sectors, and organizational barriers that obstruct women from realizing positions of leadership and influence to take on such roles. Since the launch of WOCAN and the call for members at the beginning of this year, over 227 women and men from 69 countries have applied for membership. These members have varying levels of gender awareness and skills and come from a wide variety of fields. They are already offering voluntary contributions to the network (e.g. training, fundraising, proposal writing and expertise on gender relations in specific countries), which illustrates the underlying aim of mentoring that WOCAN aims to promote. WOCAN Director, Jeannette D. Gurung, encourages interested Mountain Partnership members to visit the new WOCAN Web site and join this network of skilled and committed women and men.

Assessing national legislation on mountains

The importance of the world’s mountain regions has been internationally recognized since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Indeed, the Summit’s Agenda 21 contains Chapter 13, which is devoted specifically to mountains. But how much progress has been made during the past decade in addressing these areas at the local, national and regional level? Is the specificity of mountain areas even considered in legislation? Benedicto Sánchez, Program Coordinator of Broad Initiatives for Negros Development (BIND), a leading member of the Policy and Law Initiative, has recently prepared an article entitled ‘Applying Chapter 13, Agenda 21 in the Philippines’ for Mountain Partnership members. He calls on all members to provide him with written examples of how other countries have addressed Chapter 13 in their legislation — at both the local and national level. Although experiences are rooted in country-specific conditions, Benedicto Sánchez envisions that collecting those experiences can lead to the crafting of a template applicable not only locally but, with slight revisions, at the national levels.
Your observations, comments and suggestions should be sent to Benedicto
Sánchez and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat.

The article was sent by by e-mail in English, French and Spanish to Mountain Partnership members on 11 April and will shortly be posted on the Mountain Partnership Web site. If you did not receive this article and wish to do so, please request a copy by writing to: info@mountainpartnership.org.

Benedicto Sánchez’ article and members’ contributions will shortly be posted in an open space area currently being developed in the Policy and Law Initiative section of the Mountain Partnership Web site.

Conducting surveys on mountain research

The core aim of the Research Initiative is to enhance the contribution of scientific research to sustainable development of mountain regions. Leading members of the Initiative, who met prior to the Cusco Conference (Cusco, Peru 28-29 October, 2004), agreed on key objectives to address that challenge, namely the wider dissemination of knowledge about existing mountain research programmes, researchers, institutions and funding sources to researchers, donors and stakeholders, and the establishment of a consultative process linking donors, stakeholders and researchers around key mountain research issues to increase the likelihood of funding.

How do these words translate into action? Leading members are undertaking two surveys to achieve their goals. Work is underway to develop a simple ‘research community information grid’ that will include information on the topics noted above, and especially on ‘who is who’ in mountain research. A simple reference frame will be developed by the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) during April and May. The frame will then be circulated among the lead members of the Research Initiative for comments, and then sent out to all 40 members of the Research Initiative for completion between May and June. This survey is to be followed by an assessment among members of which mountain-related research issues should be addressed in the coming years. Again, a simple form will be developed by CDE and MRI, and circulated among the lead members of the Research Initiative for review and comment. The form will then be sent out to all members of the Mountain Partnership for completion. The data from these two surveys will be analysed and communicated to all members of the Mountain Partnership, through the Mountain Partnership, the Mountain Forum, and possibly other channels. It is envisioned that this exercise will be completed before the end of 2005.

These two activities are involving only Mountain Partnership members at present but in future will be open to all institutions and people involved in mountain research and development. For further information about these Research Initiative activities, please contact Thomas Kohler.

Launching a new database on policies for sustainable agriculture and rural development in mountains

A new database of documentation concerning social, economic, environmental and institutional policies for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions (SARD-M) has been created and is now available for consultation on the SARD-M Project Web site. The database contains details on more than 100 documents (e.g. policy studies, partners’ experiences, case studies) from governments, international organizations, research institutions and civil society organizations from around the world, including members of the Mountain Partnership.

Creating a platform for debate on watershed management

A new way of sharing and discussing watershed management information in a global context is being developed within the framework of the Watershed Management Initiative. The University of British Columbia (Canada) and the FAO Forest Conservation Service are collaborating on a pilot project to create a web-based discussion platform to foster cooperation and contribute to the enhanced practical implementation of watershed management through the exchange of new ideas, experiences and lessons learned. More information on the discussion platform will be provided to members over the coming weeks.

Exploring biodiversity conservation in the Himalaya

Members of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Initiative will shortly hold an e-consultation on biodiversity conservation and also hope to organize a regional meeting to discuss how the Initiative can further contribute to other areas of interest and to develop a framework of action. More information on this e-consultation will be reported to members in due course.

Tell us what’s new

Collaborative action and joint activities are the pillars of the Mountain Partnership. More and more members are taking part in the thematic and geographic Initiatives that are relevant for them and taking advantage of the Mountain Partnership to undertake activities in consultation and cooperation with other members. Share experiences with other members in ‘Peak to Peak’ by sending your news and updates on activities to info@mountainpartnership.org. In coming months, members will have additional ways of exchanging information and networking, as the Mountain Partnership Secretariat builds ‘open spaces’ in each of the 13 Initiative sections of the Mountain Partnership Web site.

Raising the profile of the Mountain Partnership

The Mountain Partnership logo (English, French and Spanish) was developed in a collaborative process among members last year. It aims to give the alliance a strong visual identity, allows partners to communicate clearly and consistently about the Mountain Partnership and its Initiatives, and increases the scope and power of key messages and outreach. Members of the Mountain Partnership are encouraged to use the logo in their communication materials such as letterheads, Web sites, brochures and posters. Access the Mountain Partnership logo in various formats at the Mountain Partnership Web site.

Forthcoming events

13th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-13)
(11-22 April 2005, UN HQ, New York)

As reported in the February issue of ‘Peak to Peak’, part of the official programme of the 13th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-13) is the Partnerships Fair, a venue for partnerships for sustainable development to build and strengthen alliances, identify and create linkages between partners and learn from each other’s experiences and best practices. In particular, this year’s Partnerships Fair will focus on interactive discussions on practical issues and lessons learned from partnerships working in the thematic cluster of water, sanitation and human settlements, and will feature information desks. As the Mountain Partnership is a registered CSD Partnership, the Secretariat has been provided with an information desk which will highlight the progress and activities of the Mountain Partnership and distribute key communication materials and membership lists. Details of the outcome of this event will be made available to members in the next issue of this newsletter. Browse the CSD Partnerships Database to find out the status, composition and activities of over CSD Partnerships, including the Mountain Partnership.

Planeta on-line conference on rural tourism (April 25-May 6, 2005)

Planeta.com, a pioneer of on-line environmental and tourism reporting, provides a public space for the development of conscientious travel and ecotourism that benefits multiple stakeholders, from local communities to travellers. Its award-winning Web site will shortly play host to a global two-week online dialogue on rural tourism: an opportunity to review current work around the globe and build upon issues raised in the recent Planeta.com Urban Ecotourism Conference (September-October 2004). Rural tourism has been defined as an alternative to traditional mass tourism and allows travelers to visit areas outside urban areas for hiking and biking, visiting community museums and buying artesinal goods. The organizers of this forthcoming on-line conference encourage those with an interest in rural mountain tourism to participate. Register now, or browse the on-going dialogue from 25 April onwards.

V International Symposium for Sustainable Development in the Andes
(San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, 25 April-1 May 2005)

Progress on research and development in the Andes is the focus of the forthcoming International Symposium for Sustainable Development in the Andes, held later this month in Argentina. Organized by the Andean Mountain Association (or La Asociación de Montañas Andinas – AMA), the event will feature a variety of roundtables, workshops and conferences focussing on themes ranging from migratory processes and urban expansion in the region to traditional crops and germplasm conservation, land property and river basin management. This event is a continuation of an Andean initiative which began in Santiago, Chile (1992), and has been followed every three years since in La Paz, Bolivia (1995), Quito, Ecuador (1998) and Mérida, Venezuela (2001). For further information about the V International Symposium for Sustainable Development in the Andes, contact Mountain Partnership member, ProYungas.

For more information on future mountain-related events around the world, view the Mountain Calendar 2005, managed by the Mountain Forum.

Past events

Assistance to poor mountain countries

As reported in the December issue of ‘Peak to Peak’, a UN General Committee meeting on 1 December recommended that the provision of development assistance to poor mountain countries should be included in the UN General Assembly’s current agenda. It was also suggested that debt relief should be considered as an important means of fighting poverty in these regions. In February this year, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/59/238) that it will consider the agenda item, ‘Rendering assistance to poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas’, at its 60th Session (13 September – December 2005). Read the UNGA resolution and find out more about UN General Assembly Resolutions and Decisions.

Launch of International Decade for Action “Water for Life”

Mountains are the source of most of the world’s water — the water to grow food, to produce electricity, to sustain industries and, most importantly, to drink. But as populations increase and demand for clean water intensifies, the careful management of mountain ecosystems and the water resources they support has never been more important to our long-term security and survival. On World Water Day on 22 March, the UN and governments launched the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life 2005-2015’, which aims to galvanise efforts to meet the internationally agreed targets of halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. “This is an urgent matter of human development, and human dignity,” stated UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his message to launch the Decade. “Together, we can provide safe, clean water to all the world’s people. The world’s water resources are our lifeline for survival, and for sustainable development in the 21st century.” Meeting the targets on water and sanitation would also contribute significantly to the realization of other UN Millennium Development Goals, including reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, reducing child and maternal mortality and providing universal primary education. Visit the ‘Water for Life’ Decade Web site.

Read more about mountains and water at the Web site of the first ever International Mountain Day, whose theme was ‘Mountains – Source of Freshwater’.

Publications

‘State of the World’s Children 2005: Childhood Under Threat’ (UNICEF)

Children experience poverty differently from adults, and traditional income or consumption measurements do not capture how poverty actually impacts them. This is the underlying message of the latest edition of ‘State of the World’s Children’, the report published annually by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The 2005 report offers an analysis of the basic ‘deprivations’ that children do feel and which affect their futures. UNICEF, working in collaboration with researchers at the London School of Economics and Bristol University (both in the UK), concluded that more than half the children in the developing world are severely deprived of one or more of the goods and services essential to childhood, namely: adequate food and shelter, as well as access to sanitation, safe water, information (TV, radio or newspapers), health care services and school. Read the on-line report and accompanying statistics, features and news stories.

‘One Sun, Two Worlds: an ecological journey’ (UNESCO MAB)

The great divide that still exists between two knowledge systems – the experiential ‘Traditional Knowledge’ of the villager and the ‘Formal Knowledge’ of a scientist with text-book formulations in natural resource management is explored in a new publication, ‘One Sun, Two Worlds: an ecological journey’. Using a variety of research sources and drawing on case studies from over 100 mountain communities in India, the publication aims to demonstrate the variety of ways in which linking the two knowledge-system based technologies can ensure conservation with development. ‘One Sun, Two Worlds: an ecological journey’ was written by a team headed by Professor P. S. Ramakrishnan (Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Dehli), in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and within the framework of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. It marks an important contribution to promoting ecological awareness amongst a diverse audience — policy makers, development agencies, environmental activists and the public at large. To find out how to obtain copies, contact Professor Ramakrishnan at: psr@mail.jnu.ac.in or psrama2001@yahoo.com.