Today is International Mountain Day! We love spending all 4 seasons frolicking in the many mountainous areas of Canada and beyond, but what can we do to ensure that these mountains, and the life that depends on them, are able to thrive?
The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.
The theme for the 2019 International Mountain Day is “Mountains matter for Youth”. What does this mean? This theme creates a great opportunity for youths all around the world to take charge and demand that we pay more attention to the mountains, the mountain communities and animals that depend on them, and provide more education surrounding the effects of climate change and overexploitation.
Take a look at this video from the United Nations about this years’ International Mountain Day:
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), mountains not only provide sustenance and well-being to 1.1 billion mountain people around the world but also indirectly benefit billions more living downstream. And they provide freshwater, energy and food – resources that will grow increasingly scarce over the coming decades.
This year, the spotlight shines on the importance of protecting ecosystems around the world’s summits, for future generations. It is an occasion to educate children about the role that mountains play in supporting billions up and downstream – providing freshwater, clean energy, food and recreation.
Making education, training, employment, and access to technology readily available, can ensure a brighter future for young communities on mountainsides everywhere.
Read up on mountains this Mountain Day!
RMB offers many titles that can further educate you on the state of our mountains, glaciers, and mountain people around the globe. Take a look at our Mountain Day recommendations:
