International Mountain Day 2010

02 Jun 2010

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as “International Mountain Day”. It is observed every year with a different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development. FAO is the U.N. Organization mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.

The theme for International Mountain Day 2010 is Mountain minorities and indigenous peoples. It aims to raise awareness about indigenous peoples and minorities who live in mountain environments and the relevance of their cultural heritage, traditions and customs.

This year’s International Mountain Day provides an apt occasion to reflect on how important it is to promote and preserve traditional knowledge, including sciences, agricultural practices, responses to global change, medicines and health practices, fauna and flora, oral traditions, crafts and arts. Although Mountain minorities and indigenous peoples is the suggested theme for 2010, countries or communities are welcome to celebrate International Mountain Day through the choice of a different theme that might be more relevant to them.

Every year FAO develops a series of multi-lingual information and communication materials to help partners celebrate International Mountain Day, including a poster, information note and a website page. If you have any information relevant to this year’s theme that could help with the production of these communication materials please send them by 30 June to the IMD Coordinator, Sara Manuelli at sara.manuelli@fao.org

Please note that all past products are available for downloading at the special International Mountain Day Web site: http://www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp . The 2010 materials will be available on-line on 30/09/10.

Best Regards,

José Antonio Prado

Director,

Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division