International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on 11 December 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. Mountains are home to 15% of the world’s population and host nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
In 2002, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) designated 11 December as International Mountain Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) coordinates the annual celebration of the Day to foster greater awareness of mountain issues.
Over centuries, mountain communities have developed solutions to adapt to their harsh environments, deal with climate change, reduce poverty and protect or restore biodiversity.
While dealing with climate change’s pressures on mountains, adaptation becomes imperative for building resilience and reducing vulnerability. Adaptation strategies include solutions such as ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk reduction and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems.
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 risk s for the people and the planet.
As the global climate continues to warm, mountain glaciers melt affecting freshwater supplies downstream, and mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive.
Steep slopes mean the clearing of forest for farming, settlements or infrastructure can cause soil erosion as well as the loss of habitat. Erosion and pollution harm the quality of water flowing downstream and the productivity of soil. In fact, over 311 million rural mountain people in developing countries live in areas exposed to progressive land degradation, 178 million of whom are considered vulnerable to food insecurity.
This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures.
International Mountain Day, celebrated since 2003 through FAO, creates awareness about the importance of mountains to life, highlights the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and builds alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.
Nepal is the country dominated by Himalayas, Mountains and Hills. The total geographical area of the is 147,516 sqKms. Mountain and hill regions cover nearly 81 percent of the total land mass.
The mountain region encompasses a mere 16% of Nepal’s total land area and is sparsely populated, primarily due to its challenging weather conditions and less fertile soil. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks that soar above 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest (8,848.86m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,463m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,163m), and Annapurna (8,091m). Similarly, the hills are the central part of country which plays an important role in Nepal’s geography. The hilly region covers a substantial 65% of Nepal’s total land area, making it the most urbanized area in the country
As mountains play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. They act as water towers and store water, which is essential for the survival of living organisms. Mountains also provide habitats for various plants and animals, including rare and endangered species.
The mountains of Nepal are a significant source of income for the country. They attract a large number of tourists every year who come to trek, climb, and explore the mountains. The tourism industry generates employment and revenue for the country and supports the livelihoods of many people.
The mountains of Nepal are an integral part of the country’s culture and heritage. They have religious and spiritual significance, and many festivals and rituals are celebrated in their honor. The mountains also provide a sense of identity and pride for the Nepali people.
Mountains are valuable resources for scientific research and exploration. They provide insights into geology, climate change, and biodiversity, among other things. Preserving the mountains of Nepal can help us better understand our planet and its natural processes.
Overall, preserving the mountains of Nepal is crucial for the well-being of the environment, economy, culture, and science.
Nepal has been facing some major threats due to the environmental change and disasters. Nepal is the country known for having the most mountains, eight of the of the 10 highest mountains on the planet, with heights exceeding 8,000 meters. Climate change, environmental degradation, as well as disasters, have been recognized as significant drivers of human mobility worldwide, and Nepal is no exception. While there is limited specific data available on migration solely attributed to climate change in Nepal, the country is vulnerable to several environmental factors that can lead to migration and displacement. Despite emitting only 0.1% of the world’s greenhouse gases, Nepal is significantly affected by the impacts of environmental change. Even if the global temperatures do not pass the 1.5-degree global warming threshold, the Himalayan region is expected to experience a temperature increase of 1.8 degrees due to a phenomenon known as the ‘altitude effect’ In mountainous regions like the Himalayas, this effect can amplify the warming experienced, causing temperatures to increase more than the global average. It is 10th most climate-affected country in the world according to the long-term Climate Risk Index covering the period 2000-2019.
Nepal should preserve its mountains for several reasons, the international community as well have to support Nepal to preserve the mountains of Nepal.
President Ram Chandra Paudel who was leading a high-level Nepali delegation to attend the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan expressed that Himalayas are very important for the entire Earth.
In the session ‘Addressing Climate Induced Loss and Damage in Mountainous Regions’, Nepal drew attention of the global community to the agenda.
In his address to the COP29 summit, President Paudel called for the global community to internalize the reality that the protection of the mountains is the protection of the earth.
“Let us all take care that the protection of the mountains is the protection of the earth. The world should not forget that the process of turning the white mountains into black mountains will not only lead to the crisis in the countries but also the low-lying coastal countries”, he had stressed.
