Sustainable Summits Conference 2016 New Zealand

In the lead up to the Sustainable Summits conference at Aoraki Mount Cook New Zealand in August 2016, I would like to explore as to who is doing what in terms of mountain sustainability on a global level. FAO, the UN agency for mountain sustainability, has a clear mandate and this exctract below from their website, describes their work.

Climate change, increasing natural disasters, food and energy crises, population growth, water scarcity and desertification, loss of biodiversity, degradation of ecosystems, migration, and growth of cities – the planet is currently facing a multitude of challenges. Mountain regions and their inhabitants are disproportionally affected, but also offer significant opportunities for solutions. By providing key environmental services such as freshwater, biodiversity conservation and hydropower to more than half of humanity, mountain ecosystems play a critical role in world development. Mountain systems are essential building blocks for long-term sustainable global development, poverty alleviation and the transition to a green economy. In a world heading towards water, food and energy crisis, sustainable mountain development is a global priority.

Mountain people, who are among the world’s poorest and hungriest, are key to maintaining mountain ecosystems and their role in providing environmental services to downstream communities. Mountain communities need to be empowered and their livelihoods improved, to enable them to take responsibility for the preservation of natural resources and to fulfil their role as mountain stewards. In spite of the obvious importance of mountain areas, sustainable mountain development does not receive the attention and priority it deserves. Investing in sustainable mountain development is a global priority for addressing the current challenges. It reaches far beyond monetary terms to embrace increased attention to and support in all aspects of mountain ecology and society

FAO’s work on mountains contributes to the achievement of all five of its strategic objectives:
(1) contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and
malnutrition, 
(2) increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in a sustainable manner,
(3) reduce rural poverty,
(4) enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems at local, national, and international levels,and
(5) increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises
Want to participate in the next Gobal Sustainable Summits conference. Aoraki Mount Cook 7 August 2016? Register now:
http://sustainable-summits.com/register/

Do you want to learn more about FAOs role?

They have produced an excellent presentation called:

WHY INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT ?

THE ISSUES

• WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS?
• WHAT SERVICES DO MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS PROVIDE?
• WHAT ARE THE RISKS AND THREATS IN MOUNTAIN AREAS?
• HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING MOUNTAIN AREAS?

THE MANAGEMENT

• APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
• NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
• MOUNTAIN POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE WAY FORWARD

• SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
• THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT
•  RECOMMENDATIONS
• CONTACTS   
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•                                                        The Western Tienshan mountains.