Membership

Update on partnership initiatives

International mountain day

Past events

Future events

Past events

Publications

Mountains high on the agenda at the UN General Assembly

A debate dedicated to mountains during the recent 60 th session of the United Nations General Assembly – UNGA (2-9 November 2005) has underlined that despite growing commitment to mountain development in the international community, challenges remain in fostering real and lasting change in the world's mountain regions. The debate centred around the UN Secretary-General's report on sustainable mountain development, prepared by FAO, which describes the status of sustainable mountain development at the national, regional and international levels and includes an overall analysis of the constraints that lie ahead. It also provided suggestions and recommendations for consideration by the General Assembly as to how to continue to promote and effectively sustain development in mountain regions around the world within the existing policy context, including chapter 13 of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals. Read the UNGA report here: PDF Version.

South Asian earthquake disastrous toll on mountain people

O ver the last century, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters have killed more than 1.5 million people in mountainous countries. Due to their nature, mountain ecosystems and the people who live in or near them face greater risk from natural hazards. And this high level of risk contributes to the vulnerability of mountain people -- already among the world's poorest and hungriest. The recent devastating earthquake that hit a vast area between Pakistan , India and Afghanistan , with its epicentre in the Kashmir region, has painfully demonstrated the precariousness of life in the mountain regions of the world. Further to its recent message to the members of the Mountain Partnership and interested stakeholders in its e-distribution lists, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat would like to extend its heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by these recent events and to voice its support for our partners from around the world -- governments, UN organizations, NGOs, the private sector and the general public -- who are assisting in the relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Coupled with these essential activities, there is a clear need to enhance awareness of hazards and risks in mountain areas and to build capacities in mitigating hazards through planning and engineering and in managing disasters to reduce their effects. You are invited to visit a special section on the Mountain Partnership Web site to learn how Mountain Partnership members are responding to the recent disaster, to access Web-based information resources on hazard prevention, protection and recovery and to follow links to articles and opinion about the recent events in South Asia : Click here.

Promoting sustainable hunting in Russia

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), which joined the Mountain Partnership earlier this year, has initiated action to halt the decline in game species in Russia through unsustainable hunting. At a recent symposium in Irkutsk , Russia , representatives from the Government, research institutes, national park authorities and the Russian Union for Hunters and Fishers met to discuss the importance of hunting to rural economies and its future, on the shores of Lake Baikal -- an area renowned for its abundance of wildlife and biodiversity. In efforts to promote the use of sustainable hunting, the participants endorsed the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity, which were developed under the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and adopted by the Russian Federation . Another important outcome of the symposium was a Resolution which outlines a number of priorities as a basis for an extensive working programme and appeals to the Government to finalize the implementation of a modern and efficient hunting law. Visit the CIC Web site:www.cic-wildlife.org and read the Resolution at: www.cic-wildlife.org.

Strengthening access to microfinance in developing countries

Mountain Partnership member PlaNet Finance aims to help the world's poorest fulfil their potential through microfinance. In efforts to strengthen the microfinance sector, PlaNet Finance has a revolving credit fund, ‘PlaNet MicroFund', designed for young microfinance institutions in need of financing to develop their activity and create a credit history. Indeed, among the thousands of microfinance institutions and programmes across the world, only the most important ones have access to funding sources other than subsidies. Now PlaNet Finance has joined in partnership with the French student association, Ecole des Mines de Paris ( SolMine) to strengthen the activities of microfinance institutions (MFI) in developing countries. In an agreement signed in October, SolMine has pledged to provide a yearly financial support of € 5,000 to ‘PlaNet MicroFund'. The direct beneficiaries of the partnership between PlaNet Finance and SolMine will be the microfinance institutions sponsored by the association, which will in turn finance the micro-entrepreneurs who operate in the region covered by these institutions. To learn more, visit the P laNet Finance Web site at: click here. This is the UN International Year of Microcredit -- learn more by visiting the official Web site: click her.

Monitoring glaciers in Nepal

In the past few decades global warming has had a significant impact on the high mountain environment -- snow, glaciers, and permafrost are especially sensitive to changes in atmospheric conditions because of their proximity to melting conditions. According to a recent report from World Wildlife International (WWF-International), glaciers in the Himalayan region are now receding at an average rate of 10-15 metres per year. WWF-International has now donated a weather station to Nepal 's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) to monitor climatic changes affecting glaciers in the Himalayas . The US$ 12,000 automatic weather station (AWS) is to be installed in November on the Ngozumpa glacier, the longest glacier in Nepal , in Sagarmatha National Park . The AWS will record data, including solar radiation, relative humidity, air temperature, soil temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, radiant heat, and precipitation. It will also collect data on glacier retreat. “ Nepal is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change and we must be proactive about dealing with this global phenomenon that will affect everything from biodiversity to livelihoods in our country,” said Dr Chandra Gurung, WWF Nepal's Country Representative. WWF has been working actively in Nepal on climate change issues, taking the lead in forming important nation-level networks, raising awareness, campaigning among various stakeholders, lobbying for policy change, and outlining adaptation strategies for vulnerable communities like in Sagarmatha. For further information, contact:  Trishna Gurung, 
Communications Officer, WWF Nepal: trishna.gurung.

Improving lives in the altiplano of Peru and Bolivia

Thousands of families that live in the altiplano of Peru and Bolivia will see their living conditions improved in the coming years, through an important project implemented by Mountain Partnership member, the International Potato Center (CIP). The five-year project entitled ‘Andean Agriculture in the Altiplano: Achieving Sustainable Rural Development in the Peru-Bolivia Altiplano through the Improvement of Andean Agriculture' is being funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). It is estimated that the project will benefit 42,000 families that live in 700 native rural communities and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. "This work will help to reach the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, and -- among other things -- it will improve human health through food security and better nutrition," commented CIP Director-General Dr. Pamela Anderson. “The Peru-Bolivia Altiplano is home to 6 million people, three quarters of whom live in poverty. Around 55 % live in extreme poverty, facing problems like low agricultural productivity, natural resource degradation and marginalization. These conditions are forcing the people to migrate to cities and the Amazon area, causing severe environmental and social disruption,” she added. CIP's partners in the project will include national organizations, universities, nongovernmental and farmer organizations, among others. Visit the CIP Web site at: www.cipotato.org.

 

Issue 15
November 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. An expanded, illustrated version can be read on-line at www.mountainpartnership.org . Help us share news, information and features on your activities with members by sending a message to: info@mountainpartnership.org .

Membership

As of November 2005, there are 126 members of the Mountain Partnership: 44 countries, 14 intergovernmental organizations and 68 major group organizations (e.g. civil society, NGOs and the private sector). This membership now includes the Andean Mountain Association (AMA), Association Européenne CAP EUROPE and Resources Himalaya Foundation. For information on their activities and contact details, visit the members section of the Mountain Partnership Web site at: http://www.mountainpartnership.org/members/members_EN.asp .

Update on Partnership Initiatives

E-consultation on the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountains (SARD-M) Initiative
(17-21 October 2005)

The two-week e-consultation on the priorities, organization and future direction of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountains (SARD-M) Initiative has concluded. Organized by the Global Secretariat of the Mountain Forum and moderated by Dr. Peter Trutmann, Coordinator of the Global Mountain Program at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru, the two-week e-consultation generated a stimulating exchange of ideas, views and experiences from participants in Africa , Latin America , the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Asia, South East Asia , Europe and ex-Soviet states such as the Russian Federation , and marked a definitive step in moving this Initiative forward. The follow-up to this electronic dialogue will include consolidating the priorities and organization of future activities under this Initiative. To read the contributions and synthesis report, visit the SARD-M E-Consultation Web site at: www.mtnforum.org/. Importantly, the e-consultation not only sparked lively debate about SARD-M in particular but also generated your views about the Mountain Partnership as a whole. At the Mountain Partnership Secretariat we are very keen to hear your comments and suggestions about all aspects of this unique alliance and its activities. We stand ready to help members facilitate the process of building and shaping Initiatives and ensuring that the Mountain Partnership remains an open, dynamic and participatory framework in which to undertake joint efforts.

Policy and Law

The European Academy (EURAC), in its capacity as one of the leading members of the Policy and Law Initiative of the Mountain Partnership, is building an electronic discussion space on its Web site to promote a broad discussion among members on legal instruments that focus on mountain areas. Other members of the Mountain Partnership, Unione Nazionale Comuni Comunità Enti Montani (UNCEM) and World Mountain People Association (WMPA) have also been involved in this activity from the very beginning and will continue to play an active role. This new discussion space on legal instruments will provide a structured framework in which members can share and compare their experiences on the impact of the existing policies and laws on sustainable mountain development at all levels -- international, regional, national and local -- and discuss legislation that can (or cannot) make a difference. For further information, contact: Pier Carlo Sandei (EURAC) at: PierCarlo.Sandei@eurac.edu.

Europe

Significant steps towards closer cooperation in the Balkan region are being made within the context of the Mountain Partnership. The process began at the Second Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership, or Cusco Conference (29-29 October 2004) when representatives from MAKMONTANA, UNEP - Interim Secretariat for the Carpathian Convention and the European Academy (EURAC) met to discuss the opportunities to develop a collaborative mechanism for countries in the Balkan region that would be similar to those already existing for the Alpine and Carpathian regions. These same Partnership members met together, with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and other concerned stakeholders, to further discuss and explore the concept at a parallel session dedicated to the Balkans at the recent conference, ‘ Integrated Rural Development in the Mountain Areas of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans' ( Peak to Peak, October issue).

This so-called ‘Balkan process' is to be further explored at a forthcoming meeting of representatives of the governments and civil society groups from the Balkan countries (Bolzano, Italy, 14-15 December 2005), with a view towards launching a formal process leading to closer cooperation in mountain development in the Balkans. For further information, contact Harold Egerer, Head, UNEP-Interim Secretariat of the the Carpathian Convention at: harald.egerer@unvienna.org.

Mountain Partnership feasibility study into broadband for mountains

Modern communication technologies, when systematically applied and adapted to local conditions in mountain areas, can be catalysts for lasting development and social change . Members of the Mountain Partnership have recently joined together to start assessing the potential of one such communication technology -- broadband -- to provide rapid, cost-effective and efficient connectivity for the world's mountains. Broadband is the common term for a high bandwidth Internet connection -- one that can transmit or download information up to 40 times as fast as a standard telephone and modem -- and can be applied to a variety of communications including broadcast and cable television, wireless phones, Web access, instant messaging for real-time communication and e-mail. In the context of the Mountain Partnership, EasyLan -- an Italian private sector satellite telecommunication company -- has teamed up with Italian academic institutions (University LUISS Guido Carli, the University of Tor Vergata), the Interim Secretariat for the Carpathian Convention (UNEP) and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat to prepare a feasibility study that will explore the potential of using broadband technologies for sustainable mountain development. The study aims to understand the (economic and technical) prerequisites and the conditions for broadband application in mountains, to assess to what extent broadband technologies could support the development of mountain communities, and to assess the priorities and main needs of mountain communities, in terms of information and communications. The study is also assessing the constraints and opportunities of applying broadband communication technology in one of Europe 's largest mountain regions, the Carpathians.

Are you aware of any examples of good practices in broadband technology in mountain areas which you would you like to share with the project team in particular and the Partnership as a whole? If so, please contact Rosalaura Romeo, Programme Officer, Mountain Partnership Secretariat at: rosalaura.romeo@fao.org .

Mountain Partnership Web site – ‘Discussion on-line’

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat is now finalizing the re-design of the Mountain Partnership Web site which will be launched at the end of November. As requested by members, an important new feature of the Web site will be ‘Discussion on-line' -- a discussion space in which members can exchange experiences, share information, identify common areas of collaboration and plan joint activities within Initiatives. ‘Discussion on-line' has been created around the existing thematic and geographic Initiatives and additional discussion themes will be added easily at the request of members. This on-line area aims to be an open and informal mechanism -- a type of mountain blog -- as well as becoming a platform for members to share views and network, in the spirit of cooperation of the Mountain Partnership. It will also be possible for visitors to post news, features, case studies and links for inclusion in ‘ Peak to Peak' . Although the principal working language of ‘Discussion on-line' is English, members are welcome to post messages in other languages as appropriate. Follow this link to view the layout of this dynamic new tool. Do you want to propose any topics to motivate lively discussion in your areas of interest? Send your ideas and suggestions to Jane Ross, Communications Officer, Mountain Partnership Secretariat at: jane.ross@fao.org.

International Mountain Day

Sustainable tourism in mountain areas earns income, increases opportunities, offers financial incentives to protect the natural environment and brings positive cultural exchanges for mountain people. But the challenges of promoting sustainable mountain tourism requires that all partners -- governments, tourism industry, tourists, development agencies, civil society and the private sector - work side-by- side with mountain people to steer tourism on a more sustainable path and to use it as a force to fight poverty in mountain areas. Many practical steps are already underway. But it is action at the country level that is vital for sustainable tourism in mountain regions. Only countries have the power to build capacities, implement national strategies, develop policies and pass laws that will create conditions in which tourism can work sustainably and benefit local communities. International Mountain Day in 2005 with its theme of 'Sustainable Tourism for Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas ' provides a unique opportunity to increase awareness, to enhance solidarity and to promote concerted action for sustainable tourism -- particularly at the country level. FAO, the agency mandated to lead observance of the Day has developed presentation (in English, French and Spanish) on how to celebrate International Mountain Day and advance the need for sustainable mountain tourism at the national level through advocacy, media, and networking. Visit the special International Mountain Day 2005 Web site for this presentation and other key communication tools: http://www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp .If you wish to share an interesting case study, article, news or features on mountain tourism for this Web site, write to: mountain.day@fao.org .

Past Events

The Impacts of Free Trade Agreements in the Andean Region -- The Women's Movement Answers (Ecuador, Quito, 5 October)

"Negotiations on free trade agreements are going on within the region with practically no participation from civil society. They are among the least transparent of economic and political processes." This is one of the conclusions reached at an international panel discussion on "The Impacts of Free Trade Agreements in the Andean Region -- The Women's Movement Answers,” organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The panel discussion was part of a seminar on "Gender and Commerce" organized by the International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN), the Network on Women in Development Europe (WIDE), the Latin American Social Sciences University (FLACSO) and UNIFEM's Andean Regional Office. Panellists pointed out that, on the surface, free trade negotiations seem to address market access issues only, but in reality they affect many different aspects of life and could seriously affect the ability of women in the region to enjoy certain basic human rights. The panel discussion concluded with concrete proposals to address the potentially negative effects of free trade agreements in the region, which included: the creation of alliances between governmental and non-governmental organizations; the establishment of civil society oversight mechanisms to monitor these processes; the recovery of human rights instruments and push for enforcement mechanisms; and communication campaigns to raise awareness among the general public. Visit the UNIFEM Web site at: http://www.unifem.org/ .

United Nations Day for Disaster Reduction (12 October, global)

There will be as many as 50 million environmental refugees in the world in five years' time. That is the conclusion of experts at the United Nations University (UNU), who say that a new definition of "environmental refugee" is urgently needed, as well as recognition and support for the problem. Issuing its statement to mark UN Day for Disaster Reduction on 12 October, UNU -- a member of the Mountain Partnership -- stressed that already environmental degradation forces as many people away from their homes as political and social unrest. The projected figure of 50 million is derived from a number of previous reports, including the 1999 World Disasters Report from the International Red Cross, which calculated that natural disasters in the previous year had created more refugees than wars or other armed conflicts. It said that falling soil fertility, drought, flooding and deforestation drove 25 million people from their homes, with many of these environmental refugees joining already fragile urban squatter communities.

Read the statement in full : http://www.ehs.unu.edu.

Future Events

"Mountains, Witnesses Of Global Changes. Research in the Himalaya and Karakoram: SHARE-Asia Project" (Rome, Italy, 16-17 November 2005)

The Ev-K2-CNR Committee, a Mountain Partnership member, promotes interdisciplinary remote area research in environmental and earth sciences. Its recently launched project, SHARE – Asia (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment in Asia), aims to develop an integrated system of measurements which will contribute to increasing general scientific knowledge on climatic and pollution-related processes while helping build local capacity for monitoring the relevant phenomena. Some of the world's leading environmental scientists and experts will have the opportunity to explore this important work at the meeting, ‘Mountains, Witnesses Of Global Changes' later this month. Organized by the Ev-K2-CNR Committee and promoted by the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy , in collaboration with the Italian National Mountain Institute (IMONT), the meeting will stress the common thread underlying various environmental investigations and the need for in-depth understanding of the phenomena determining the health of our planet. To view the Conference programme and learn more about the SHARE-Asia project, visit the Ev-K2-CNR Committee Web site at: http://www.evk2cnr.org/en/node/462 .

The Role of Local Governance in Sustainable Development’ (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 14–18 November 2005)

This five-day event aims to foster long-term cooperation and exchange of experience among communities and institutions in the mountain regions of Central Asia, the Alps, the Caucasus, the Carpathians, and the Altai. The conference will bring together representatives from mountain villages, as well as relevant international initiatives and organizations from the respective countries. A resolution on future collaboration of the participants within the framework of the Mountain Partnership is expected to be one of the most important results of the conference. This is the second international conference on this theme organized by the Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities (AGOCA ) and the Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP) . AGORA supports bottom-up involvement of the population and a better representation of village matters at the national and regional levels. At present, 20 mountain communities from Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are members of the Alliance , and a number of new communities will be elected as members at the 2005 conference. CAMP, a programme financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), participates in policy dialogue on sustainable mountain development with the aim of contributing to a coherent regional policy for the Central Asian mountain regions at the local, national and regional levels. To find out more about the Conference and its organizers, visit the Web site of the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at : http://www.cde.unibe.ch/.

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

Publications

New Web site for the European Observatory of Mountain Forests

Mountain Partnership member, the European Observatory of Mountain Forests (EOMF) is an independent forum whose mission is to contribute towards the conservation of Europe mountain forest resources and promote sustainable development through activities linked to the multiple goods and services of these forests. EOMF's recently
re-launched Web site (in English and French) is a repository of knowledge on mountain forests in Europe and beyond and providers users with links to the Web sites of partners. Visit the EOMF Web site at: www.eomf.org/ .

People and Protected Areas in South Asia

The book, ‘People and Protected Areas in South Asia ', co-published by IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and Resources Himalaya Foundation -- both Mountain Partnership members -- shows that South Asian protected areas can contribute to biodiversity conservation whilst enhancing the livelihoods of resident communities. The book includes 23 papers, most of which are country-specific ( Bangladesh , Bhutan , India , Nepal , Pakistan and Sri Lanka ), and addresses a diverse set of issues to demonstrate that “sustainable use” of biological resources is a necessity not a “strategy.” For details on how to order this publication, visit: www.resourceshimalaya.org.

Learning to deal with natural hazards and risks

The Swiss Virtual Campus programme aims to promote the information society in Switzerland as well as enabling education -- in particular higher education -- to take advantage of the opportunities now available through new information and communication technology. It has now launched an a free e-learning course, 'Dealing with Natural Hazards and Risks' (NAHRIS), which is intended not only for researchers and students in Switzerland but also the worldwide research community working in the field of natural hazards and risk management. Access and use is free. Register on-line at: http://www.nahris.ch.

The Mountain Partnership Secretariat wishes to thank the following contributors to this issue: Gutiérrez Claudio Ricardo (Argentina), Antonia Okono (ICRAF) and the Mountain Forum.