Issue 11
June 2005
The Mountain Partnership Newsletter
Mongolia
Photo: A. Mihich
‘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. An expanded, illustrated version can be read on-line. Help us share news, information and features on your activities with members by sending a message.
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat wishes to thank the following contributors to this issue: Alejandro Brown (AMA, ProYungas), Amy Krause (The Banff Centre), Wolfger Mayrhofer (Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention), Smita Patel (Mountain Children’s Forum), and the Global Mountain Forum Secretariat.
New Members
The Mountain Partnership Secretariat thanks members for responding to our recent message (5 May), asking for their review of requests for membership. This review process continues. However, at this stage we are pleased to confirm that six major group organizations have recently joined the Mountain Partnership. This brings our membership to 45 countries, 14 intergovernmental organizations and 64 major groups.
African Conservation Foundation (ACF), based in Tanzania, works to preserve Africa ’s wild heritage by conducting field projects as well as supporting and linking conservation initiatives throughout the continent (contact Arend de Haas). The UK-based Centre for Mountain Studies (CMS) focusses on promoting sustainable development in mountain regions through research, consulting, teaching and outreach (contact Martin Price). The NGO, Environment and Tourism Support (EATS) (no Web site), based in Nigeria, aims to showcase, promote and provide support services to protect the environment from degradation (contact Meg Chukwu). Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) is a global network on mountain biodiversity research which was initiated by the Swiss Academy of Sciences (contact Eva Spehn). The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) is an independent, non-profit advisory body on nature and wildlife conservation issues with a strong interest in sustainable mountain development (contact Zsuzsanna Holtsuk). Romanian Mountain Forum (no Web site) has been set up by a group of organizations who are dedicated to sustainable mountain development and wish to address key challenges facing mountain peoples and environments in Romania (contact Radu Rey).
Readers are reminded that details on the criteria for membership of the Mountain Partnership are included in ‘Organization, Membership and Governance’ (2004), which can be read on-line.
Update on Partnership Initiatives
Conserving some of the most important mountain ecosystems in Europe is the topic of a side event that will take place during the forthcoming “Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Protected Areas” (Montecatini, Italy, 16 June 2005). The side event, entitled “A Vision for Biodiversity in the Alps and Carpathians: the implementation of the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas in the conservation of two globally important mountain ecoregions”, is being organized within the framework of the Mountain Partnership, and in particular the Europe Initiative, and aims to generate a valuable exchange of ideas, experiences and lessons learnt in the management of two critical mountain regions of the world. The event is being sponsored by WWF and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in cooperation with the European Academy of Bolzano (EURAC), the International Scientific Committee for Alpine Research (ISCAR), the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA International) — all Mountain Partnership members — and other key partners. For further information about the side event, contact Harald Egerer, Interim Secretariat for the Carpathian Initiative (UNEP). Read official documentation on the CBD Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on Protected Areas.
EURAC, together with the Valle d’Aosta Autonomous Region (Italy), organized a meeting at FAO Headquarters on 1 June to present the result of a study in which the legal instruments to promote transboundary cooperation were analyzed and discussed. The study was conducted within the area known as the ‘Espace Mont-Blanc’ which is shared by three countries — Italy, France and Switzerland, all members of the Mountain Partnership. The event at FAO was convened in the context of the Policy and Law Initiative of the Mountain Partnership and served to highlight that often regional and sub-national cooperation is limited or hampered by national laws. The need for innovative legal arrangements was identified as a prerequisite for an effective management of areas shared among two or more countries. The report of this meeting will shortly be be made available on the Mountain Partnership Web site. Find out more about Espace Mont-Blanc, by visiting the Web site (in French and Italian).
Leading members of the Policy and Law Initiative met at FAO Headquarters (Rome, Italy) on 11 May to further define the process of collecting and analyzing information on existing policies and laws that are mountain-specific, and to understand their impact on sustainable mountain development. The representatives from EURAC, Unione Nazionale Comuni Comunità Enti Montani (UNCEM) and World Mountain People Association (WMPA) agreed that this process should include the following phases between May 2005 and March 2006: a survey, a survey analysis, a seminar, and project proposal development. The survey would aim to gather information on existing mountain policies and laws (e.g. on mountain areas, decentralization, environment and social issues) at all levels – international, regional, national, local — which aim to promote the well-being of mountain communities and the protection of mountain areas. The survey form will be developed and shared with leading members of other Initiatives for their information. The targets of the survey will be identified in collaboration with WMPA, UNCEM, the European Association of Elected Representatives from Mountain Areas (AEM) and EUROMONTANA. A dedicated web-space will be developed and hosted by EURAC to post documents and share ideas. The results of the survey will be analyzed and synthesized under the guidance of the leading members of the Policy and Law Initiative. A seminar will be organized with particular attention devoted to the dissemination of the findings. It was suggested that this could take place during the international intergovernmental Conference on Mountains which WMPA is willing to organize in Paris, in collaboration with the governments of France and Italy. The last phase of this work programme would be dedicated to the formulation of project proposals for the Policy and Law Initiative based on the results of the survey, analysis and seminar.
As reported in the April issue of ‘Peak to Peak’, members of the Watershed Management Initiative are in the process of creating a web-based discussion platform to allow watershed management practitioners to discuss key watershed management issues in the mountains with a focus on innovative solutions, share information on successful approaches that could be adapted in different mountains of the world and develop common methods and indicators that can be used to compare results from around the world. The discussion forum, led by the University of British Columbia (Canada), is not intended to function as an e-consultation or as a means to discuss theoretical issues. The aim is to share experiences on community-based initiatives that are practical and that address pertinent watershed issues facing mountain communities. To date, an interface has been developed and a list of discussion topics has been selected by the participants who currently number thirteen. Should you be aware of watershed management field projects, research initiatives or networks that have on-the-ground experience to share with others and might be interested in participating, please contact Peter DeBrine (Mountain Partnership Secretariat).
Survey on Initiatives
Members’ active participation in Initiatives enhances the effectiveness and impact of our unique Partnership. We invite you to join the Initiatives that you feel are most relevant to your work, needs and priorities and in which you consider your experience could most benefit Partnership members. You may also wish to propose new themes or topics where you see potential for collaborative action by members. The Mountain Partnership Secretariat will shortly send each member of the Partnership a survey which aims to discover members’ main areas of interest and gives you the opportunity to tell us what you would like to share and bring to the Initiatives in terms of relevant expertise, knowledge, skills and activities. At the Partnership Secretariat, we will use this information to help you build your particular Initiatives and ensure that we provide you with ready assistance when and how you need it. Read all about the 13 Initiatives.
Feature of the Month
The Alpine Convention and its mountain partnerships
Transboundary collaboration between mountain regions in Europe is defined by the Alpine Convention — the first international convention to encompass such an extensive land mass area. With its integrative approach, embracing ecological, economic and social aspects, the Alpine Convention has acted as a precursor for other mountain areas and conventions. The following article has been sent to us by Wolfger Mayrhofer from the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, which has recently expressed an interest in joining the Mountain Partnership
Switzerland
Photo: T. Hofer
The Alpine Convention is a treaty under international law between Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Italy, the Principality of Monaco, Slovenia and the European Community. It covers the entire Alpine region, with some 190 000 square kilometres and 13,2 million people living in that region. The Convention strives for an integrated, sustainable development of the Alps, a fundamental concept that runs through the framework convention and the thematic protocols such as spatial planning, mountain farming, conservation of nature and landscape, mountain forests, tourism, soil protection, energy and transport. In addition, the Convention promotes constructive new approaches in order to guarantee attractive living conditions and development opportunities which preserve what is worth preserving in a changing environment.
The framework convention was signed by the Contracting Parties between 1991 and 1994, and became effective in 1995. By 2002, the various protocols had been subsequently signed by the member states and became effective on the 18th December 2002. However, not all protocols have yet been ratified by all the Contracting Parties. The decision-making body of the Alpine Convention is the Alpine Conference, which generally convenes every two years at ministerial level. The executive body is the Permanent Committee, which meets from two to three times a year. At the Alpine Conference in Merano 2002 it was decided to set up a Permanent Secretariat in Innsbruck (with an office in Bolzano, Italy) and the Secretariat took up its duties in 2003. At the same time the Alpine Conference and the Contracting Parties launched a number of implementation activities. Another important contribution towards implementing is made by the three networks which specifically refer to the Alpine Convention, namely the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, the Alliance in the Alps network of local authorities and the International Scientific Committee for Alpine Research (ISCAR).
In recognition that the Alpine Convention provides a comprehensive strategy of sustainable development for the Alpine region as a whole, the Alpine Conference (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 2004) agreed on a Multi-Annual Work Programme, based on the following key issues for the next six years: mobility, accessibility, transit traffic; society, culture, identity; tourism, leisure, sports; nature, agriculture and forestry, cultural landscape.With its integrative approach, embracing ecological, economic and social aspects, the Alpine Convention has acted as a precursor for other mountain areas and conventions. Close cooperation activities are running currently with the mountain regions of the Carpathians, the Caucasus and Central Asia (Tienshan/Pamir). The cooperation with other mountain areas and conventions plays also an important role in the Multi-Annual Work Programme of the Alpine Conference. The exchange of experiences including partnerships with other mountain areas is considered to be not only an implementation priority but also a cross-sectional task. In this sense the support provided by the Alpine Conference and the single Contracting Parties is to be continued and intensified. Following a decision of the last Alpine Conference, the Alpine Convention envisages becoming a member of the Mountain Partnership, but the official steps are yet to be taken. For further information, visit the Alpine Convention Web site, or contact: Wolfger Mayrhofer, Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention.
Forthcoming Events
World Day to Combat Desertification (17 June)
Mauritania
Photo: I. Balderi
/FAO/18851
“Desertification stands at the root of persistent poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America. For millions of people around the globe, losing productive land means entering the vicious poverty cycle …desertification poses a threat to the entire global community, as farmers in the South are forced to seek a way of living in the North. Socio- and environmental equilibria are at stake.” So says Hama Arba Diallo, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD the only internationally recognized, legally binding instrument that addresses the problem of land degradation in dryland. The Convention, a Mountain Partnership member, marks the World Day to Combat Desertification on 17 June with the theme “Women and Desertification”, as a way to recognize and support the unique role played by women in regions affected by desertification and drought, particularly in rural areas of developing countries. This year’s World Day to Combat Desertification is also an opportunity to raise greater awareness as the international community prepares for the forthcoming celebration of the “International Year of Deserts and Desertification” in 2006. To read more, visit the UNCCD site.
Benefits from Space for Sectorial Policy for High Mountain Security (Geneva, Switzerland, 8 – 9 September 2005)
High mountain regions are particularly fragile environments, vulnerable to an increasing number of disasters as a result of climate change. This forthcoming conference, coorganized by various partners (including Swiss government agencies, the European Space Agency – ESA , the EURISY Association, I-Space and Mountain Partnership members, Italian National Institute for Mountains (IMONT) and UNESCO, will inform decision-makers at European and UN level about the challenges of civil protection for disaster mitigation, management and rehabilitation as well as infrastructure protection, and highlight the role and benefits of space technology and applications for these situations. Organizers hope that the conference will conclude with the establishment of a concrete catalogue of measures and actions by space applications for high mountain regions. Participation at the event is free of charge, but registration is obligatory before 31 July 2005. For further information, visit the EURISY Web site.
For more information on future mountain-related events around the world, view the Mountain Calendar 2005, managed by the Mountain Forum.
Past Events
V International Symposium for Sustainable Development in the Andes (San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, 25 April-1 May 2005)
The recent International Symposium for Sustainable Development in the Andes, organized by the Andean Mountain Association (La Asociación de Montañas Andinas – AMA), attracted a broad spectrum of research and development practitioners and produced some notable outcomes. An International Working Group for the Puna (el Grupo Internacional de Trabajo en Puna) was formed, which will spearhead future activities to conserve and protect the Puna upland ecosystem in the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. The new group currently comprises the Flamingos Conservation Group, the University of Mayor San Simon (in collaboration with the association FaunAgua from Bolivia), the University of Chile, and receives support from the Consortium for Sustainable Development (CONDESAN) in Peru, but participation will be open to all organizations and individuals working in these environments. At the close of the Symposium, participants issued the Jujuy Declaration on Sustainable Mountain Development (La Declaracíon de Jujuy sobre Desarrollo Sustenable de Montañas). This comprehensive document considers the specific opportunities and constraints in the Andean region and lays out recommendations for its sustainable development, ranging from creating closer linkages between research and the needs of local populations to the promotion of community-based conservation, the creation of national and transboundary protected areas and the placing of conservation and development issues higher on national and international agendas.
For further information about the International Working Group on the Puna, please contact Milka Castro Lucic. To request a copy of the Jujuy Declaration, contact Alejandro D. Brown, AMA President.
The Role of Children in Natural Disaster Management and Preparedness (Uttaranchal, India, 20-25 May 2005)
Mountain Children’s Forum
The Mountain Children’s Forum (MCF) in India empowers children in rural mountain villages to make positive changes in their lives and communities by providing a forum from which they can speak and be heard, access resources and take action. As MCF spokesperson, Smita Patel, states: “We believe that lasting change and development in the mountain communities-which have long been isolated and beset by social malaise such as alcoholism, migration and unemployment-will be enhanced by tapping the energy and idealism of the children”. In this spirit, MCF recently held a six-day workshop for children aged between 13-17 in the remote district of Pithoragarh (Uttaranchal, India). The purpose of the workshop was to help prepare children, and through them their communities, to face the types of natural disasters that frequently occur in their mountain regions, including landslides, forest fires, floods and earthquakes. The workshop was inspired in part by the devastation of the Indian Ocean tsunami, where a little more knowledge about such events could have greatly reduced the loss of life. Children are effective messengers to deliver this type of information and awareness to remote communities. In addition, playing an active role in the face of a disaster can mitigate many of the psychological traumas such as shock, helplessness and guilt that children face in the aftermath of disaster. The workshop received support and expertise from the Uttaranchal Government’s Disaster Management Mitigation Centre (DMMC), a project sponsored by UNDP, and consisted of games, group discussions, demonstrations and site visits. At the close of the workshop the children completed a disaster plan that they could take back to their village and share with their communities. Read the report of the MCF workshop. For more information about MCF, the workshop and next steps, contact Smita Patel at: mcfglobal@mymountains.org or visit the MCF Web site.
‘Governance and Decision-Making in Mountain Areas’(GADMMA), Mountain Communities Conference (The Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada, June 4-8, 2005)
The Mountain Culture division at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta, Canada recently hosted the fifth conference in its Mountain Communities Conference Series, entitled ‘Governance and Decision Making in Mountain Areas’ (GADMMA). The conference explored the characteristics of effective governance in mountain areas, and how stakeholder and scientific knowledge could be better incorporated into the decision-making process. A few common themes emerged over the course of the event that elicited much debate and enthusiasm among conference participants.
Jay Ingram
Photo: Donald Lee
Canadian science communicator, Jay Ingram, opened the gathering with a public keynote presentation. Ingram hosts a popular daily science news programme on television and argued that even complex topics are accessible to people without science training, provided they are communicated effectively. Ingram encouraged communicators to use context-setting, metaphor, story narrative, and humour to popularize science for specific audiences without sacrificing accuracy in the process. Storytelling and “framing” were also key to the presentations of several other speakers including plenary speakers Timothy Duane and David Mattson. Separate field experiences have convinced them that decision-making around resource management in mountain areas requires information, but as importantly, an understanding of the values and cultural assumptions that shape the meaning of that information in the minds of key stakeholders. Both felt that honouring these perspectives was critical to crafting policies with which everyone can live. Louisa Willcox argued that cross-cultural understanding could lead to finding common ground among stakeholders normally polarized on opposite ends of a particular issue. She presented a case study on how foresters and conservationists of bears joined forces in Montana (USA) to safeguard a forest ecosystem in order to sustain small logging companies and grizzly bears in the region. According to Willcox, this collaboration was possible because the issue was re-framed from a “bear” issue into an “ecosystem health” issue.
Leslie Taylor, Associate Director of Environment Programming for Mountain Culture, believes GADMMA was a key conference in the five-year series. “The Mountain Communities conference series has explored human-use in mountain areas, environmental sciences, sustainable communities, and interdisciplinary research. But GADMMA was about putting knowledge into practice, and this has been described as critical in the results of every other conference in the series.” If you would like copies of the proceedings of the GADMMA conference or any other in the Mountain Communities conference series, contact Amy Krause.
Publications
Inka Porter Project Publishes Environmental Guidelines for Trekkers
To coincide with World Environment Day on 5 June 2005, the Inka Porter Project (IPP) has published a new set of environmental guidelines for trekkers on the Inca Trail in Peru and other Andean hiking circuits. IPP, a not-for-profit organization based in Cusco, campaigns for better working and living conditions for Andean porters and animal drivers, as well as improved environmental practice in the region. The World Environment Day slogan is “Plan for the Planet” and IPP’s new guidelines aim to reduce unnecessary and often thoughtless contamination in the region. They give advice on dealing with rubbish, washing with biodegradable soap, using refillable water bottles, toilet etiquette while trekking and how best to respect flora and fauna. The guidelines also include questions to ask a travel agency or tour operator about their environmental policy when booking a trek. Many of IPP’s guidelines are applicable to other key trekking destinations such as Nepal and Kilimanjaro. Find out more by visiting the Web site.