International Year of Mountains 2002 Japan
This is the third monthly newsletter on preparations for the International Year of Mountains 2002 (IYM). It was prepared by the IYM Coordination Unit at FAO, the UN lead agency responsible for coordinating the IYM.
Country-level preparationsCountries continue to show strong interest in preparing for the IYM. Thirty-four national committees have been established or are planned in mountainous countries around the world. For example, Nepal recently established an inter-ministerial committee for the IYM and France has indicated its intention to do so by mid-July. This is likely to continue to inspire other countries to move quickly to establish their IYM committees so that the important work of planning and organizing IYM activities within countries is not delayed.
A word of thanks to those countries which have replied to FAO's request for information on IYM preparations by filling out the country questionnaire sent in late 2000. This information allows the IYM Coordination Unit and our many partners to more effectively assist countries as they prepare for 2002. Countries are therefore encouraged to return the questionnaire even at this stage.
Meeting of European national committees
An important meeting was recently convened at the European Parliament in Brussels on 19 June by the president of the Italian Committee for the IYM, Luciano Caveri, who is also a Member of the European Parliament. This meeting brought together representatives of the European IYM national committees from Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as representatives from Kyrgyzstan and several European and international organizations working on IYM preparations. The purpose was to enhance co-ordination and collaboration and to promote the exchange of information and ideas regarding national and regional initiatives for IYM in Europe. Several members of the recently constituted "Friends of the Mountains" Group within the European Parliament also participated in the meeting. This group intends to continue to pay close attention to mountain themes up to, throughout and beyond the IYM.
Similar regional gatherings of IYM national committee representatives are highly encouraged and will hopefully take place in the coming months.
Meeting of the IYM Focus Group
On June 11, the IYM Focus Group held an important meeting at the Swiss Mission in New York. Eight countries, FAO, UN/DESA and TMI were represented. During the meeting, Mr. Tim Aldington, recently appointed by FAO as the IYM Launch Coordinator working out of the FAO Liaison Office to the UN in New York, was introduced to the group. The main discussion focused on the structure and organizational aspects of both the formal IYM launch event, scheduled for 11 December 2001, and the related informal activities that will take place throughout the week.
Research for mountain area development
From 6-10 June, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences convened an international workshop in Abisko, in northern Sweden. The 15 participants from research institutions worldwide and the IYM Coordination Unit drafted a mountain research agenda for the years to come. This draft was based on a review of the implementation of Chapter 13 over the nine years since the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and of ongoing major research initiatives related to mountain areas. The group defined 13 thematic clusters as priority themes for future mountain research. In close collaboration with the workshop participants and other resource persons, the organizers of the meeting intend to finalize the results of the deliberations in a policy document and to present it as a contribution from the scientific community to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and its preparatory meetings as well as to other important global IYM events.
Women in mountains
Women from around the world recently gathered in Kathmandu from 8-11 May to plan and prepare a major IYM 2002 event, the Global Meeting of Mountain Women, scheduled to take place in Kathmandu in May 2002. This event, organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Mountain Forum, will bring together 300 participants including mountain women, journalists, policymakers and planners from about 70 countries. It should be one of the major IYM events of 2002 and is expected to provide a platform for mountain women to articulate their concerns, share ideas and experiences and build networks. It will demonstrate the strength and commitment of mountain women in making a positive contribution to local and national economies. The meeting will also prepare a message from mountain women to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. A curtain raiser is being planned for March 8, International Women's Day.
Contact Us
If you are organizing IYM-related events and activities, please let us know.
For more information go to the IYM website at
http://www.mountains2002.orgor contact the IYM Coordination Unit at FAO:info@mountains2002.org.