International Mountain Day 2014: Mountain Farming

The United Nations General Assembly designated 11 December “International Mountain Day”. As of 2003, it has been observed every year 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.

Mountain Farming is the theme chosen for this year’s celebration of International Mountain Day. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness about mountain agriculture, which is predominantly a family farming activity. Mountain farming  has been adapted through the centuries and continues to be a positive model of sustainability, integrating innovation, traditional practices and environmental protection.  

The theme links to the International Year of Family Farming 2014 proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as to the FAO/MP publication ‘Mountain Farming is Family Farming’.

On our International Mountain Day tri-lingual website you will find all the communication tools including a poster, a fact sheet, the IMD logo in all the official UN languages, a certificate of participation as well as information on the events taking place around the world. Should you require hard copies of the fact sheets and posters please contact sara. manuelli @ fao. org.  

While Mountain Farming is the suggested theme for 2014, countries, communities and organizations are welcome to celebrate International Mountain Day through the choice of a different theme that might be more relevant to them.

Don’t forget to write to Sara Manuelli with news of the celebrations you are planning, so we can post them on our interactive map.

Please also feel free to use the hastag #welovemountains for sharing news and photos relative to IMD on social media.