TakingITGlobal - Panorama - The Promotion of...

Published on: Jan 25, 2002

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=214

In November 1998,the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA)in its 53rd session proclaimed the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains(IYM).The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO),Rome,Italy(URL:http://www.fao.org) is the lead agency for the overall execution,coordination and monitoring of the programmes and activities for the IYM2002. In this process,four UN agencies will especially help the FAO along with other UN agencies,namely,UNESCO,UNDP,UNEP and UNU.The mission of the IYM2002 is to promote "the conservation and sustainable development of mountain regions thereby ensuring there will be mountains and lowland communities".

The imporatnce of the mountains as "an important source of water,energy,and biological diversity" is well documented in the Agenda 21(Chapter 13) entitled "Managing fragile ecosystem-Sustainable mountain development".

In the IYM2002,apart from the UN agencies,there will be the Inter-agency Group on Mountains-a mix of UN agencies,bilateral donors,NGOs and research institutions,and the Mountain Forum.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD),Nepal(URL:http://www.icimod.org)has been instrumental in carrying out the IYM2002 programmes in the HKH Region. ICIMOD has made the mountain women as a special focus of the IYM2002.
Information on the IYM2002 has been made available through internet:

1.Official IYM2002 website:http://www.mountains2002.org

2.IYM Informal

Newsletter:http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/iyma00a.htm
This is a regular monthly series of information newsletter on prparations for the IYM2002,prepared by the IYM Coordination Unit at the FAO.

3.IYM Events:http://www.mountains2002.org/events/
This section provide you information on the past and upcoming events woldwide.

4.Membership of Mountain Forum:
http://www.mtnforum.org/members/welcome.htm

This section gives you the opportunity of participating virtually in the ongoing process of IYM2002.

5.ICIMOD's IYM section:http://www.icimod.org/iym2002/iym_menu.htm

6.International Conference of Mountains
Children:http://www.mymountains.org/icmc
This conference of mountains children will eventually bring together children from more than 50 countries.

7.2002 International Year of Ecotourism:http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm
As 2002 is also the International Year of Ecotourism,several programme links have been set up.
The IYM2002 seeks your active participation.

Official launch of the International Year of Mountains at
the UN headquarters in New York on December 11, FAO held its own launch on
15 February at its headquarters in Rome. Sponsored by the Italian National
Committee for the International Year of Mountains, the launch featured
remarks by:
* David Harcharik, Deputy Director-General of FAO
* Hosny El-Lakany, Assistant Director-General, Forestry Department
* Giovanni Alemanno, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Italy
* Enrico La Loggia, Minister of Regional Affairs, Italy
* Agostino Da Polenza, Executive Director of the Italian National
Committee for the International Year of Mountains
* Enrico Borghi, President of the National Union of Mountain
Municipalities, Communities and Organizations
* Fulco Pratesi, President of World Wildlife Fund, Italy

Countries that have held ceremonies to inaugurate the IYM include:
* Bolivia
* China (Hong Kong)
* France
* Germany
* India
* Italy
* Japan
* Kyrgyzstan
* Mexico
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Peru
* Philippines
* Poland
* United Kingdom (Scotland)
* United Republic of Tanzania

commemorative IYM stamps is one way countries are raising awareness
about the International Year of Mountains. In 2001, Kyrgyzstan issued the
first stamps honouring the UN resolution proclaiming 2002 the International
Year of Mountains. Kyrgyzstan has plans to release another series of
International Year of Mountains stamps this year. To see the first series of
Kyrgyzstan stamps, visit the Kyrgyzstan country page in the Action section
of the International Year of Mountains Web site:
www.mountains2002.org/action/kyrgyzstan/kyrgyzstanstamps.htm

information about national activities visit the following Web sites:

* Australia www.australianalps.ea.gov.au/iym.html
* Bolivia www.aim2002bolivia.org/
* Canada www.yearofmountains.ca/
* France www.montanea.org/
* Germany www.berge2002.de
* Italy www.montagna.org/
* Japan www.iym-japan.org/index.htm
* Liechtenstein www.berge2002.li/intro_flashless.html
* Mexico www.conafor.gob.mx/aim.htm
* Peru www.condesan.org/peruAIM2002/
* United Kingdom (Scotland) www.iym.uhi.ac.uk/
* Switzerland www.berge2002.ch (German), www.montagnes2002.ch,
(French) www.montagna2002.ch (Italian)

the 2002 Tokyo Declaration for the
International Year of Mountains. For more information about the events and
the Declaration, visit the UNU's Web site:

Something for the kids

'Junior Focus', a magazine published in the United Kingdom for teachers of
students ages 7 to 11, dedicated its January issue to mountains and helped
spread the word about the International Year of Mountains. An extremely
valuable teaching resource, the 'Junior Focus' mountain issue is filled with
photos, illustrations and posters. It provides teachers with many of the
tools they need to help students learn about the concept of sustainability
in mountain regions, the importance of mountains as sources of fresh water
and a wide range of other topics.

For more information contact:
Scholastic LTD - Villiers House
Clarendon Avenue - Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV32 5PR, United Kingdom
Tel: + 01926 887799 / Fax: + 01926 883331
Web site: www.scholastic.co.uk

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by Atanu
Published on: Jan 25, 2002
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=214


In November 1998,the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA)in its 53rd session proclaimed the year 2002 as the International Year of Mountains(IYM).The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO),Rome,Italy(URL:http://www.fao.org) is the lead agency for the overall execution,coordination and monitoring of the programmes and activities for the IYM2002. In this process,four UN agencies will especially help the FAO along with other UN agencies,namely,UNESCO,UNDP,UNEP and UNU.The mission of the IYM2002 is to promote "the conservation and sustainable development of mountain regions thereby ensuring there will be mountains and lowland communities". The imporatnce of the mountains as "an important source of water,energy,and biological diversity" is well documented in the Agenda 21(Chapter 13) entitled "Managing fragile ecosystem-Sustainable mountain development". In the IYM2002,apart from the UN agencies,there will be the Inter-agency Group on Mountains-a mix of UN agencies,bilateral donors,NGOs and research institutions,and the Mountain Forum. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD),Nepal(URL:http://www.icimod.org)has been instrumental in carrying out the IYM2002 programmes in the HKH Region. ICIMOD has made the mountain women as a special focus of the IYM2002. Information on the IYM2002 has been made available through internet: 1.Official IYM2002 website:http://www.mountains2002.org 2.IYM Informal Newsletter:http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/iyma00a.htm This is a regular monthly series of information newsletter on prparations for the IYM2002,prepared by the IYM Coordination Unit at the FAO. 3.IYM Events:http://www.mountains2002.org/events/ This section provide you information on the past and upcoming events woldwide. 4.Membership of Mountain Forum: http://www.mtnforum.org/members/welcome.htm This section gives you the opportunity of participating virtually in the ongoing process of IYM2002. 5.ICIMOD's IYM section:http://www.icimod.org/iym2002/iym_menu.htm 6.International Conference of Mountains Children:http://www.mymountains.org/icmc This conference of mountains children will eventually bring together children from more than 50 countries. 7.2002 International Year of Ecotourism:http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE-Main-Menu.htm As 2002 is also the International Year of Ecotourism,several programme links have been set up. The IYM2002 seeks your active participation. Official launch of the International Year of Mountains at the UN headquarters in New York on December 11, FAO held its own launch on 15 February at its headquarters in Rome. Sponsored by the Italian National Committee for the International Year of Mountains, the launch featured remarks by: * David Harcharik, Deputy Director-General of FAO * Hosny El-Lakany, Assistant Director-General, Forestry Department * Giovanni Alemanno, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Italy * Enrico La Loggia, Minister of Regional Affairs, Italy * Agostino Da Polenza, Executive Director of the Italian National Committee for the International Year of Mountains * Enrico Borghi, President of the National Union of Mountain Municipalities, Communities and Organizations * Fulco Pratesi, President of World Wildlife Fund, Italy Countries that have held ceremonies to inaugurate the IYM include: * Bolivia * China (Hong Kong) * France * Germany * India * Italy * Japan * Kyrgyzstan * Mexico * Nepal * Pakistan * Peru * Philippines * Poland * United Kingdom (Scotland) * United Republic of Tanzania commemorative IYM stamps is one way countries are raising awareness about the International Year of Mountains. In 2001, Kyrgyzstan issued the first stamps honouring the UN resolution proclaiming 2002 the International Year of Mountains. Kyrgyzstan has plans to release another series of International Year of Mountains stamps this year. To see the first series of Kyrgyzstan stamps, visit the Kyrgyzstan country page in the Action section of the International Year of Mountains Web site: www.mountains2002.org/action/kyrgyzstan/kyrgyzstanstamps.htm information about national activities visit the following Web sites: * Australia www.australianalps.ea.gov.au/iym.html * Bolivia www.aim2002bolivia.org/ * Canada www.yearofmountains.ca/ * France www.montanea.org/ * Germany www.berge2002.de * Italy www.montagna.org/ * Japan www.iym-japan.org/index.htm * Liechtenstein www.berge2002.li/intro_flashless.html * Mexico www.conafor.gob.mx/aim.htm * Peru www.condesan.org/peruAIM2002/ * United Kingdom (Scotland) www.iym.uhi.ac.uk/ * Switzerland www.berge2002.ch (German), www.montagnes2002.ch, (French) www.montagna2002.ch (Italian) the 2002 Tokyo Declaration for the International Year of Mountains. For more information about the events and the Declaration, visit the UNU's Web site: Something for the kids 'Junior Focus', a magazine published in the United Kingdom for teachers of students ages 7 to 11, dedicated its January issue to mountains and helped spread the word about the International Year of Mountains. An extremely valuable teaching resource, the 'Junior Focus' mountain issue is filled with photos, illustrations and posters. It provides teachers with many of the tools they need to help students learn about the concept of sustainability in mountain regions, the importance of mountains as sources of fresh water and a wide range of other topics. For more information contact: Scholastic LTD - Villiers House Clarendon Avenue - Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 5PR, United Kingdom Tel: + 01926 887799 / Fax: + 01926 883331 Web site: www.scholastic.co.uk « return.