UNEP Activities

In response to many requests for assistance, UNEP has set-up a Mountain Programme coordinated by UNEP's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

UNEP Mountain Programme in Europe and Central Asia

• In response to requests from governments in Europe and Central Asia, UNEP has launched the European Mountain Initiative. The initiative, which builds on the experience of the Alpine Convention, covers the Carpathians and the Caucasus mountain ranges as well as mountains in Central Asia.

Bishkek Global Mountain Summit

In celebration of the IYM 2002, the Government of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan will host the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit from October 29th to November 1st, 2002. The Summit, the main global concluding event of IYM, will draw together the ideas and recommendations generated from all levels and sectors of society at previous events and agree concrete actions for the sustainable development and management of mountain areas in the 21st century. The UNEP Mountain Programme is facilitating the preparation and implementation of the Summit meeting. See http://www.globalmountainsummit.org

Global Programme of Action for Mountains

The UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities is implementing innovative approaches to promote sustainable development. UNEP, in partnership with the UN Focus Group on Mountains, FAO and others, is now exploring the possibility of setting up an International Partnership or a Global Programme of Action for Sustainable Mountain Development. One of the important initiatives leading to such partnership is Mountain Commons Partnership, developed jointly with the Government of Germany.

Mountain Commons Partnerships

"Mountain Commons" are one of the key interfaces between economic sustainability and environmental stewardship. Economic development and sustainability depend in many respects on appropriate resource management "at the source" in mountainous areas. Mountains provide environmental and economic benefits particularly through the supply and regulation of frenshwater. An estimated two thirds of the world's renewable freshwater comes from mountain watersheds. Improvements in watershed management and other aspects of environmental stewardship in mountain areas will require long term local and regional cooperative programs between communities, upstream and downstream private and public stakeholder associations, policy makers and development financiers. In February 2002, UNEP and the World Economic Forum, held the first round table on Mountain Commons Stewardship in New York.

Mountain Watch / Mountain Atlas / UNEP.Net Mountain Portal

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is working with partners to provide the best possible information on mountain ecosystems. The Centre has made a World Map of Mountains and their Forests, which will provide basic materials for a proposed World Atlas of Mountains. It is now working to develop Mountain Watch, a map-based global overview of mountain biodiversity and the priorities for management. All materials arising from the Mountain Watch and Mountain Atlas processes will be integrated into a Mountain Portal on the UNEP.Net Internet site.

Building Capacity for Monitoring and Assessment

The largest protected area in Nepal, the Annapurna Conservation Area, will be the pilot site for development of tools and training for assessment of ecological and cultural values of mountain commons, and monitoring of impacts on mountain ecosystems. The UNEP-WCMC will work alongside the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation in an area that has pioneered the involvement of local communities in protected area management. Lessons learned from the project will be transferable to other mountain parks.

Additional resources

The World Ecotourism Summit held in May 2002 in Quebec, Canada provided opportunities for representatives from mountainous areas to raise issues related to mountains in their presentations. Download a presentation of Mr. Alton Byers, "Contemporary Ecosystem Changes in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, Khumbu, Nepal" (PDF - 28 KB).