1. Acknowledging with
gratitude the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/53/24
to declare the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains,
thus drawing the world's attention to the need to foster
sustainable mountain development;
2. Recognizing that
mountains are fragile ecosystems with unique natural and human
resources as stipulated in Agenda 21, Chapter 13;
3. Noting with
concern that human pressure on mountain resources from extraction
of mineral resources, soil erosion, touristic exploitation, etc.,
continues to affect the mountain environment adversely,
particularly with regard to endemic, rare and endangered species
of wild fauna and flora in mountains and also depletes mineral
resources;
4. Noting further
with concern, that climate change can seriously affect water
regimes in highlands as well as lowlands, which can pose problems
with the quality and quantity of available freshwater resources
for human consumption and agriculture and increase competition
between different interest groups in which mountain dwellers are
usually the disadvantaged members, leading to an increase in the
potential vulnerability of mountain people;
5. Noting also that
ca. 500 million people in mountains live below the poverty line
(80% of the world's mountain population);
6. Recognizing that
environmental management of mountains needs to take holistic
approaches in conserving the environment, while at the same time
providing sustainable incomes for mountain dwellers, including
appropriate compensation for their services;
7. Affirming that
scientific studies on mountain systems, management of natural
resources and monitoring of mountain environments are essential
for fostering sustainable development in line with conservation
and development objectives;
8. Conscious that
mountain dwellers, especially women, are the main stakeholders and
often the true managers who ensure the sustainable development of
mountain environments and participate in the utilization and
management of mountain resources;
9. Conscious also
that mountain dwellers safeguard important cultural diversity that
needs to be maintained and allowed to evolve further in a world
moving towards globalization;
10. Aware that there
is a considerable gap in knowledge and perception of mountains
between academia and the general public, for whom the mass media
serve as the main source of information regarding mountains;
11. Aware also that
mountains and areas under the influence of mountains accommodate
and provide a livelihood not only for poor communities, as often
perceived, but also for a significant proportion of the urban
population of the world, whose resource consumption has a heavy
impact on utilization and management of mountain resources; and
12. Realizing that
mountains, including the human inhabitants and the natural
environments in mountain areas, especially in developing
countries, are highly susceptible to serious and increasing
physical violence and destruction, for example from armed
conflicts, due to their particular geographical features;
Declare that:
13. UNU should
continue its work with mountain populations to appraise their
situations, to identify gaps in knowledge, needs and constraints,
and to help them work towards more sustainable development;
14. Every effort
should be made to support mountain research and monitoring in the
field of environmental conservation and sustainable mountain
resource use;
15. Capacity-building
and education targeted at all levels and segments of mountain
populations and minorities traditionally dependent on mountain
resources must be further strengthened so as to counteract the
looming marginalization of mountain dwellers;
16. Cultural
diversity in mountains needs to be maintained and developed, as it
can be a powerful means for counteracting social, economic and
environmental degradation in mountains;
17. Holistic and
trans-disciplinary management schemes for environmental
conservation and sustainable development be applied in mountain
regions (as is the case in biosphere reserves);
18. More efforts
should be made to disseminate proper and correct information to
the public by working with the mass media as well as by improving
the coordination of activities between researchers and
practitioners;
19. Greater attention
should be given to the urban aspect of mountains, through
additional research and monitoring of highland-lowland
interactions;
20. Empowerment of
poor local communities, especially of women, should be supported
in order to facilitate sustainable development of mountains in a
self-supporting manner;
21. The issue of
conflicts and resulting destruction of mountain ecosystems and
livelihoods should receive more serious consideration from
academia and policy-makers; and
22. The possibility
of new approaches to mountain issues should be explored, for
instance, by identifying hotspots and creating and discovering
successful approaches applicable to different problems and
contexts of sustainable mountain development.