The
head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
announced today at the UN that the organization
will be taking a leading role in the effort to
raise public awareness and ensure concrete action
for sustainable mountain development in the year
to come. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the
FAO, made the announcement at today's global launch
of the International Year of Mountains (IYM) at
the UN..
"There
is nothing not to like about this program," said
Dr. Mary Armed conflict and hunger must be eradicated
to protect the world's fragile mountain ecosystems
and alleviate the desperate poverty that exists in
many mountain communities," said Diouf.
Mountains are crucial
to all life on earth.
They are the source
of nearly half of the
world's fresh water
resources. In addition,
they are home to much
of the world's biodiversity
and one-fourth of the
world's forests. As
the lead agency for
the IYM, the FAO will
play a major role in
educating the world
on the global importance
of mountains.
The priority of the
FAO in the upcoming
year will be to support
the creation and ongoing
efforts of national
committees dedicated
to the International
Year of Mountains.
Such efforts include
global and regional
summits, workshops
and outreach programs.
Through its efforts
the FAO hopes to bring
the considerations
of mountain people's
needs to the world's
attention. According
to Diouf, the needs
of mountain people
are often overlooked
and they remain among
the poorest and hungriest
citizens of the world.
"They [mountain
people] face massive
barriers to development," said
Diouf. "rugged
terrain, poor communications
and transportation
systems, political
marginalization and
limited access to education
and capital."
Diouf identified conflict
as the greatest obstacle
to protecting the world's
mountain ecosystems
and alleviating poverty
in mountain communities.
Of the 27 major world
conflicts currently
taking place, 23 of
those are being fought
in mountainous areas,
said Diouf.
"Mountain areas
are home to most of
the armed conflicts
in the world as well
as many of the world's
poorest and least food-secure
populations," said
Diouf.
At the global launch
Diouf called upon the
world community to
develop laws and policies
to ensure the sustainable
development of mountain
areas and the needs
of mountain people.
This he believes will
lead to peace and stability
in such areas.
In November 1998,
the UN General Assembly
declared 2002 the International
Year of Mountains.
The decision came as
a follow up to chapter
13 of Agenda 21 on
sustainable development
which was adopted at
the UN conference on
Environment and Development
in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in 1992. Chapter
13 deals specifically
with the need for sustainable
mountain development.
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