International Mountain Day has been celebrated annually for the past 15 years. the date was designated by the United Nations Assembly in a bid to raise awareness of sustainable mountain development and the importance of mountain communities. But what does this really mean?
What is International Mountain Day and when is it?
International Mountain Day falls on December 11 every year.
The day was created in 2003 and has taken place every year since.
Started by the United Nations and coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the day is marked with a number of events around the world to highlight the importance of the globe’s magnificent mountains.
The date also serves to raise concern for their preservation.
Mountains cover around 22 per cent of the earth’s land surface and host a quarter of terrestrial biodiversity, and around 70 per cent of all freshwater resources for our planet.
In addition, almost 1 billion people (12 per cent of the world’s population) of various backgrounds live in mountain areas.
This year, the theme for International Mountain Day is Mountains Matter.
The FAO said: ”Through a global campaign, a social media strategy and events around the world, FAO plans to tell the world that the current neglect of mountains and mountain peoples must stop.
“We therefore ask everyone to use the hashtag #MountainsMatter in all their communications specifying why mountains matter for them.”
Mountains help tp play a crucial role in the workings of the world, including preserving fresh water sources and supplying between 60 to 80 percent of the world’s freshwater.
Mountains also help to reduce disaster events like landslides and avalanches, preserve biodiversity as well as agricultural diversity and safeguard indigenous mountain cultures.
The FAO said: ”Almost one billion people live in mountain areas, and over half the human population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy.
“Yet mountains are under threat from climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural disasters, with potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences, both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.”