The International Mountain Day | Restoring Mountain Ecosystems

“Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir (John Muir, commonly known as the ‘John of the Mountains & father of the National Parks’).

The theme for this year’s International Mountain Day is “Restoring mountain ecosystems,” and the theme aligns with the observation of the current decade as a decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, declared by the United Nations. This decade aims to generate, invite and garner wide political support, relevant scientific research, and much needed financial resources to scale up restoration efforts and prevent further degradation of mountain ecosystems. This programme is co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and the UN Environment Programme.

History & Background of International Mountain Day:

The history of International Mountain Day is traced back when United Nations held a Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), commonly known as the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. At this landmark conference, Chapter 13 of Agenda 21, titled “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development,” recognized the critical role of mountains in sustainable development and called for their conservation and management.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in response to this call, proclaimed December the 11th as International Mountain Day in 2002, and the formal celebrations starting in 2003. This decision is aimed to raise global awareness about the importance of mountains and the need to promote sustainable mountain development.

Since its inception, International Mountain Day besides other achievements, has served as a platform to highlight the diverse contributions of mountains to the planet and its inhabitants. It has also provided a forum for discussing and implementing sustainable mountain development strategies.

I myself being a mountain lover have the honour & privilege to introduce the celebration of this ‘auspicious day’ as early as in 2005 at Al’Sarwat Convent Sr. Sec Institute, Anantnag much before its celebration took place in other places of the valley. I am happy to see people from different walks of life getting involved in various activities related to mountain acquaintances.

Significance of International Mountain Day:

Brian Andreas, an American writer, artist, publisher and speaker once said, “I like geography best because your mountains & rivers know the secret. Pay no attention to boundaries”.

The main objective of celebrating December the 11th as International Mountain Day lies in the fact that this should serve as a crucial reminder of the immense value of mountains and in view of their degradation; the urgent need to protect these vital ecosystems. It should highlight the interconnectedness of mountain health and human well-being besides underscoring the responsibility we as the human beings have to future generations in the preservation of this essential and invaluable asset.

Celebrating International Mountain Day should necessarily provide us a chance to see our nearby natural resources and clean them by involving volunteers so that a clean environment is ensured. This should provide us an opportunity to educate our friends about the importance of mountains and spread our love for the outdoors with our friends. Disseminate the message that Mountains give people the ability to get closer to the sky without ever leaving the ground. “You never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory. Memory rebuilds the mountain, changes the weather, retells the jokes, remakes all the moves.” Lito Tejada-Flores.

Awareness events should be conducted in Schools, Colleges and in other public places to educate students and public at large on how mountains contribute to the ecosystem balance besides being a rich source of pure water. This should be a wonderful occasion to foster unflinching love for mountains particularly among our youngsters by conducting small hiking trips to these mountains. Believe me it provides a unique but a most cherished opportunity when one climbs a mountain. “Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was” remarked Dag Hammarskjold.

Recent Developments:

As a matter of fact mountains are facing challenges from both from climate change and unsustainable development. This has posed the serious risks to both people and the planet with far reaching consequences. Climate change at one hand threatens the much needed water flow and on the other hand rising temperatures force adaptation or migration of mountain species and communities. Clearing forests for farming, settlements, or infrastructure development on steep slopes leads to soil erosion and habitat loss. Erosion and pollution harm downstream water quality. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that up to 84% of Endemic Mountain species are at the risk of extinction.

Challenges & Concerns:

The recently held United Nations Biodiversity Conference, 2022 saw an agreement on safeguarding the biodiversity, pledging to protect 30% of the Earth’s lands and waters by 2030. This has generated a positive hope and is sure to provide momentum to revive and protect mountain landscapes. The UN General Assembly has also proclaimed 2023–2027 as “Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions,” focusing on attracting required assistance and investments, redeveloping green economies, fostering unwavering cooperation among mountainous countries, and advancing science and education in achieving sustainable mountain development.

International Mountain Day 2023 calls for increased awareness of the relevance of mountain ecosystems and advocates for nature-based solutions, best practices, and investments to build resilience, reduce vulnerability, and enhance mountains’ ability to adapt to daily threats and erratic extreme climatic events.

Mountain ecosystem: A complex of living organisms present in mountainous areas

A large range of plants and animals can be found in scattered but diverse array of habitats of Mountain lands. At higher altitudes treeless alpine vegetation is found in generally harsh & hostile prevailing environmental conditions. However, mountain forests generally cover the lower slopes. Tropical or temperate forest, savanna, scrubland, desert, or tundra are some types of landform and
vegetation which cover the lower levels mountain lands.

The Himalaya-Tibet region provides the largest and highest area of mountain lands. The longest nearly continuous mountain range is that along the west coast of the Americas from Alaska in the north to Chile in the south. Other particularly significant areas of mountain lands include those in Europe (Alps, Pyrenees), Asia (Caucasus, Urals), New Guinea, New Zealand, and East Africa.

When viewed against a geologic time frame, high mountain ranges are somewhat transient featured because of the fact that the processes of mountain uplift and erosion occur relatively quickly in those mountain ranges. Despite having similar environmental conditions, many mountains are isolated from other regions with their summit regions resembling recently formed islands of cool climate settled amid large areas of different, warmer climates. Owing to their isolation, mountaintops harbour a distinct biota of youthful assemblages of plants and animals adapted to cold temperatures. At lower elevations, however, some mountains are able to provide refuges for more ancient biota displaced by environmental changes. As a matter of research findings, mountainous vegetation usually has been affected less by human activities than the surrounding areas, therefore, owing to anthropogenic disturbances occurred elsewhere many harbour plants and animals may have been driven out.

However, very few, if any, mountain ecosystems remain unaffected of human impact. Human-induced land-use and land-cover changes are causing unimaginable adverse effects on the ecological services rendered by mountain ecosystems; and large number of case studies have revealed the impact of humans on soil erosion and sediment yield which has mounted rapidly.

Environment:

In contrast the surrounding lowlands have different existent climates from the mountain environments, resulting in different vegetation species which completely differs in these environments. As a scientific rule the differences in climate result from two principal causes: altitude and relief. Altitude affects climate because atmospheric temperature drops with increasing altitude by about 0.5 to 0.6 °C (0.9 to 1.1 °F) per 100 metres (328 feet). The climate is affected by the relief of mountains because they stand in the path of wind systems and force air to rise over them. As the air rises it obviously cools down, leading to higher precipitation on windward mountain slopes (Orographic precipitation). When it descends leeward slopes it becomes warmer resulting in relative fall in humidity, reducing the likelihood of precipitation. This phenomenal characteristic creates areas of drier climate (Rain shadows).

Such naturally occurring phenomenal changes surely affect the mountain ecosystems which are beyond the control of human interference.

Call to Action:

In the light of the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day celebrations there is a clarion call for a collective but meaningful action to protect and manage mountain resources sustainably for the general good of the mankind. This should and must encourage individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to adopt best possible practices that promote mountain health. Such practices and
efforts may include:

• Protecting our forests from onslaught deforestation and land degradation:

In this direction we can implement possible sustainable land management practices to prevent deforestation. Erosion is a direct result of deforestation which can be prevented by such adopted practices and soil degradation in mountain regions can be avoided.

• Conservation & Protection of available water resources:

Measures towards conservation and protection of mountain water sources are of tremendous importance. Given the water related problems being faced world over, the conservation of mountain water resources becomes paramount. Scientific approach should be adopted for attaining the goal of its conservation besides ensuring equitable access to clean water for all.

• Sustainable agriculture practices & their promotion:

Conservation of mountain biodiversity should be a priority while adopting different sustainable agricultural practices in mountain regions. Such practices should be aimed to minimize environmental impact so that conservation of biodiversity remain unaffected.

• Cultural heritage of mountain communities & their preservation:

Indigenous Cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of mountain communities is something which is indispensable by all means. They carry the inherent knowledge of sustainable mountain management. They continue this legacy to their progeny and this help in the proper management of the mountains.

• Research & education of mountains and its development :

Research & development in any field of life is a must, so is the research & education of mountains. The educational institutes & research centres across the globe should focus on mountain studies and enhance the investment so that better understanding in the mountain ecosystems and other related issues is achieved. This can also help to develop and implement the best sustainable practices so that the
mountains are safeguarded.

On this day let us take a pledge to work together for the protection of mountain ecosystems and ensure their vital services, and safeguard the livelihoods of mountain communities and their posterities in particular and generations to come at large. Let us put in our concerted & assiduous efforts & strive to create a world where mountains are not exploited but valued, respected, and managed sustainably for the benefit of generations to come. Let us involve our friends, families and specially the children in this noble cause.

BY Dr Zulfikar Siddiqui

(Dr Zulfikar Siddiqui is a mountaineer & a regular trekker from Anantnag, Kashmir)