Today, December 11, is International Mountain Day, a day to celebrate the beauty and diversity of mountains and to raise awareness about the importance of mountains and the need to restore their ecosystems. Mountains are home to 15% of the world’s population and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity, helping to sustain agriculture and supply clean energy and medicines. Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change, overexploitation and contamination, increasing the risks for the people and the planet.
The theme for this year’s International Mountain Day is “Restoring Mountain Ecosystems”. It aims to increase awareness about the relevance of mountain ecosystems and call for nature-based solutions, best practices and investments that build resilience, reduce vulnerability and increase the ability of mountains to adapt to daily threats and extreme climatic events. Restoring mountain ecosystems means reversing the degradation of natural resources, such as soil, water, vegetation and wildlife, and enhancing the benefits they provide for human well-being and sustainable development.
Some of the actions that can help restore mountain ecosystems include:
– Promoting sustainable land management practices that prevent soil erosion, conserve water and enhance soil fertility.
– Supporting agroforestry and agroecology systems that diversify crops, improve yields and incomes, and protect biodiversity.
– Enhancing community-based conservation and management of natural resources, such as forests, pastures, wetlands and wildlife.
– Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of degraded lands.
– Promoting eco-friendly tourism that minimizes environmental impacts, respects local cultures and generates benefits for local communities.
– Strengthening cooperation and coordination among stakeholders at local, national, regional and global levels to address common challenges and opportunities.
As we celebrate International Mountain Day, let us remember that mountains are natural jewels we should treasure. They are essential for our survival and well-being, but they are also fragile and vulnerable. We have a responsibility to protect them and restore them for ourselves and for future generations.