International Year of Mountains 2002 Japan

This is the ninth newsletter about events and activities taking place during the International Year of Mountains. It was prepared by the International Year of Mountains Coordination Unit at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN lead agency for coordinating the Year.

IYM launched at FAO headquarters

In the wake of the official launch of the International Year of Mountains at the UN headquarters in New York on December 11, FAO held its own launch on 15 February at its headquarters in Rome. Sponsored by the Italian National Committee for the International Year of Mountains, the launch featured remarks by:

* David Harcharik, Deputy Director-General of FAO
* Hosny El-Lakany, Assistant Director-General, Forestry Department
* Giovanni Alemanno, Minister of Agriculture and Forests, Italy
* Enrico La Loggia, Minister of Regional Affairs, Italy
* Agostino Da Polenza, Executive Director of the Italian National Committee for the International Year of Mountains
* Enrico Borghi, President of the National Union of Mountain Municipalities, Communities and Organizations
* Fulco Pratesi, President of World Wildlife Fund, Italy

The event was attended by about 500 people and attracted more than 20 journalists. For more information about the FAO launch, visit the IYM Web site: www.mountains2002.org

The FAO event and the global launch at UN headquarters in New York last December were part of a worldwide series of events that have ushered in the International Year of Mountains.

Countries that have held ceremonies to inaugurate the IYM include:

* Bolivia
* China (Hong Kong)
* France
* Germany
* India
* Italy
* Japan
* Kyrgyzstan
* Mexico
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Peru
* Philippines
* Poland
* United Kingdom (Scotland)
* United Republic of Tanzania

Special delivery

Issuing commemorative IYM stamps is one way countries are raising awareness about the International Year of Mountains. In 2001, Kyrgyzstan issued the first stamps honouring the UN resolution proclaiming 2002 the International Year of Mountains. Kyrgyzstan has plans to release another series of International Year of Mountains stamps this year. To see the first series of Kyrgyzstan stamps, visit the Kyrgyzstan country page in the Action section of the International Year of Mountains Web site:
www.mountains2002.org/action/kyrgyzstan/kyrgyzstanstamps.htm

Italy and Germany have also printed stamps commemorating the Year. Slovenia is also planning to issue a special stamp and the UN will release its own stamp in honour of the Year in May 2002.

Country information on the Internet

One of the best ways to find out about International Year of Mountains activities around the world is to visit the national Web sites. For information about national activities visit the following Web sites:

* Australia www.australianalps.ea.gov.au/iym.html
* Bolivia www.aim2002bolivia.org/
* Canada www.yearofmountains.ca/
* France www.montanea.org/
* Germany www.berge2002.de
* Italy www.montagna.org/
* Japan www.iym-japan.org/index.htm
* Liechtenstein www.berge2002.li/intro_flashless.html
* Mexico www.conafor.gob.mx/aim.htm
* Peru www.condesan.org/peruAIM2002/
* United Kingdom (Scotland) www.iym.uhi.ac.uk/
* Switzerland www.berge2002.ch (German), www.montagnes2002.ch,
(French) www.montagna2002.ch (Italian)

Many other countries are in the process of establishing International Year of Mountains Web sites.

For contact information and news from national International Year of Mountains committees and country focal points, visit the 'Action' section of the International Year of Mountains Web site: www.mountains2002.org/action

United Nations University Symposium

On 31 January and 1 February, the United Nations University (UNU) hosted a public forum, 'Mountains: Environment and Human Activities', and an international symposium on the conservation of mountain ecosystems. The symposium provided an opportunity for world experts to share their expertise and knowledge on UNU's research activities in mountain studies; the social and livelihood aspects of mountain communities; the sustainability of mountain biodiversity and natural resources; and the development of Japanese mountain studies. It concluded with the 2002 Tokyo Declaration for the International Year of Mountains. For more information about the events and the Declaration, visit the UNU's Web site:
www.unu.edu/mountains2002/index.htm

Contact Us

If you are organizing events and activities, please let us know. For more information, visit the International Year of Mountains Web site at www.mountains2002.org or contact the International Year of Mountains Coordination Unit at FAO at info@mountains2002.org.