International Mountain Day

Held on 11th December every year

According to U.N. - There is increasing awareness that mountains are fragile ecosystems and are of global importance as the source of most of the Earth’s freshwater, repositories of rich biological diversity, popular destinations for recreation and tourism and areas of important cultural diversity, knowledge and heritage. Covering about one quarter of the world’s land surface, mountains provide a direct life-support base for about 12 per cent of the world population, as well as essential goods and services to more than half of humankind. Yet many of the world’s most impoverished and food-insecure people live in mountain regions. Consequently, there is a need to ensure the ecological health and the economic and social improvement of mountain areas for the sake of both mountain inhabitants and people living in lowland areas. The year 2002 was the International Year of Mountains. As this year drew to a close, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed December 11 to be International Mountain Day. This observance, which is celebrated annually, aims to draw attention to the important roles that mountainous regions play in water and food supply.

History - The International Year of Mountains was held in 2002 and with the aim of raising awareness and triggering action on issues relating to sustainable mountain development. The leading agency was the Food and Agriculture Organization. The International Year of Mountains was launched at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on December 11, 2001. On December 20, 2002, as the International Year of Mountains drew to a close, the UN designated December 11 as International Mountain Day and encouraged the international community to organize events to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development on this date. International Mountain Day was first observed on December 11, 2003. Each year International Mountain Day has a particular theme.

Events - Various activities are organized on and around International Mountain Day. These aim to increase awareness of and knowledge around the role of mountains and mountainous regions amongst the general population and professionals. Particular examples of events are: book fairs; symposia; themed lectures for students; workshops and press events. Mountaineering and explorations societies may hold lectures and social events on or around December 11.

Themes - Previous themes have focused on freshwater, peace, biodiversity or climate change.

Previous Themes:

2009 - Disaster Risk Management in Mountains.
2008 - Food Security in Mountains.
2007 - Facing Change: Climate Change in Mountain Areas.
2006 - Managing Mountain Biodiversity for Better Lives.
2005 - Sustainable Tourism for Poverty Alleviation in Mountain Areas.
2004 - Peace: key to sustainable mountain development.

Symbols - The symbol of International Mountain Day consists of three equilateral triangles, each orientated with two points on a single imaginary horizontal line and one point directed upwards. The triangles are mainly black and represent mountains. The triangle on the left has a blue "diamond" shape at the top, representing ice or snow at the top of a mountain. The middle triangle has an orange circle at its centre, representing resources that are mined from inside mountains. The triangle on the right has a small green triangle at its lower right-hand point. This represents the crops that grow on mountains. Under the three triangles is a black stripe containing the words "11 December" and the words "International Mountain Day" in two shades of United Nations' use of the colour blue. The symbol of International Mountain Day is based on the symbol for the International Year of Mountains (2002).

Holiday Status - It is not a public holiday.