International Year of Mountains 2002 Japan

This is the first of a regular series of informal monthly newsletters on preparations for the International Year of Mountains 2002 (IYM). It has been prepared by the IYM Coordination Unit at FAO, the UN lead agency responsible for coordinating the IYM.

As one of the most important objectives of the IYM will be to raise awareness on mountain issues, the IYM Coordination Unit is currently preparing a communications strategy. The strategy will define the overall approach to raising awareness and promoting and mobilizing action on the IYM, as well as the key audiences, main messages, means and opportunities to get the word out through a comprehensive public awareness campaign. A major part of implementing the strategy will be the development and dissemination of various support materials to facilitate IYM observance at different levels. Consistent with the collaborative approach that has been a hallmark of the Mountain Agenda and IYM preparations to date, partnership will be a key aspect of implementing the communications strategy. Particularly close collaboration is foreseen with the Mountain Forum to take full advantage of existing mountain networks and MF's well developed communications capacity. The strategy will be made available once finalized.

Current information on IYM preparations is available through the official website being developed and maintained by FAO, in collaboration with key partners. The website, recently revised with a new look, is available in English, French and Spanish at www.mountains2002.org. It provides useful information on the IYM, including documents such as the IYM Concept Paper, which can be easily downloaded. Interested groups and individuals can find out about sponsorship opportunities and gain access to the IYM logo from the homepage. The site includes sections on the world's mountain ranges and mountainous countries, key mountain themes and the work being done by IYM national committees. A Newsroom has been added that will highlight issues, events and projects relating to sustainable mountain development and chart the progress being made in IYM preparations. The Newsroom includes pages on coming events and links to stories and information on different Web sites.

The main thrust of IYM observance is expected to take place within countries. At this time approximately 30 countries have already established IYM national committees to organize efforts for 2002, or are in the process of doing so. Promotional and support materials are currently being developed to facilitate this work. This IYM "toolkit" will contain several modules that aim to assist countries in setting up a national committee, developing locally adapted promotional and awareness raising materials, and planning and implementing activities. The toolkit will be made available electronically (on the IYM website and in CD format) and in hardcopy.

At the global level, several events are already on the map for 2002. The official launch of the Year will take place in New York in December 2001 during the UN General Assembly's 56th session. This high-profile event will involve several world leaders from governments, UN and other organizations.

It addition, plans are underway to organize an IYM closing conference toward the end of 2002. This culminating event would build on the major events, both global and regional, that precede it. An important part of the IYM coordination will be to link the wide variety of events that are held to ensure that their conclusions and recommendations are fully recognized and feed into an "IYM Platform" that would be presented at the final event, thereby contributing to follow-up action in countries on sustainable mountain development.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in Johannesburg in 2002 could provides another important opportunity to focus attention on mountains and mountain people. Discussions are underway to determine what type of IYM observance activity would be possible at that event. The upcoming sessions of the CSD will serve as a prep comm for Rio+10 and as such will consider mountain issues in the context of the implementation of Agenda 21, Chapter 13.

2002 has also been declared the International Year of Ecotourism. These coinciding International Years provide an important opportunity to create synergies in the observance of both events. Close collaboration is being pursued with the World Tourism Organization and UNEP, the co-lead agencies for the IYE, to maximize possibilities for joint observance activities.

The great variety of events and activities being planned at all levels for the IYM observance will be made available through the official website.

The success of the International Year of Mountains will depend on the degree to which each one of us becomes involved. Please do whatever you can to contribute to this success.

If you are organizing IYM-related events and activities, please let us know. The IYM Coordination Unit will be contacting directly a number of organizations and country focal points to ensure that the latest information on IYM preparations is widely shared.

For more information go to the IYM website at www.mountains2002.org or contact the IYM Coordination Unit at FAO: info@mountains2002.org.