International Mountain Day-2011: Conserve, Construct and Celebrate

InternatIonal MountaIn Day-2011
Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate
TeST LaUnCh oF The WorLD MoUnTaIn ForUM (WMF) For SUSTaInabLe DeveLopMenT
First published by KaKhaRa in Kathmandu, Nepal with support from the Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) project of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in the framework of the World Mountain Forum (WMF) for Sustainable Development. WMF is jointly implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), ICIMOD and other global partners. Publication Coordinator Design and Layout Language Editor Printed at Photos : : : : :
Sambida Rajbhandari/KaKhaRa Mahesh Shrestha Claire Willy Worldwide Print Support, Lalitpur Mahesh Shrestha (Cover, pp 30), Ashok Kafle (Profile pictures of all students) Nabin Baral (pp 5, 31 and 32)
This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses
Contents Celebrating International Mountain Day 2011: Message from the Director General Foreword From The Regional Focal Persons Keynote Speech by Mr. Rajesh Hamal, Actor Childrens Painting Competition, Why We Love Our Mountains Top 10 Paintings from Age Group 5-7 Top 10 Paintings from Age Group 8-12 Glimpses of the Art Competition International Mountain Day Street Drama Prakriti Prem Celebrating International Mountain Day and Launch of the World Mountain Forum The Hindu Kush-Himalayan Approach to Conservation, Construction, and Celebration Acknowledgement 2 3 4 5 7 8 19 30 31 32 33 34
Celebrating International Mountain Day 2011: Message from the Director General
Mountain Forests: Binding Nature, Culture and Development
Kathmandu, Nepal, 11 December 2011
CIMODs celebration of International Mountain Day this year highlights mountain forests. The days theme of Mountains and Forests bridges with the International Year of Forests 2011, which seeks to revive global consciousness among forest-dependent communities, the public, and policy makers of the central role of forests in addressing a wide range of conservation, socioeconomic, and climate change challenges. Annual global forest loss of 13 million hectares and massive forest degradation worldwide contribute to about one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. The loss of more than 4 million hectares of primary forest each year decimates biodiversity and constrains the livelihoods of millions dependent on diverse forest ecosystems across the planet. One-fourth of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is covered by forests. In combination with other ecosystems (e.g., rangelands, agriculture, wetlands), the regions forests deliver a wide range of goods and services including water, food, household energy, timber, and fodder. They provide opportunities for recreation and spiritual inspiration. Thus, for the Himalayan people, forests are a source of livelihoods, culture, and development. Their use of many forest plant and animal species demonstrates the importance that mountain communities place on forest biodiversity. Furthermore, the role of forests in adapting to and mitigating the impact of climate change is increasingly recognised. Despite the immense environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural value of the regions forest ecosystems and the wide range of national policies, climaterelated initiatives, and development strategies created to conserve them, the regions forests have become degraded and depleted over the years. Nearly two-thirds of the forest cover in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is prone to forest fires, largely human-induced.
Only three of the eight countries of the region (Bhutan, China, and India) have reported forest cover increase in recent years, mainly through forest plantation. Swelling human needs and haphazard development initiatives have not been matched by sustainable forest management, indispensable to secure and sustain forest environmental services and goods. Loss of forest cover affects biodiversity, reduces agricultural productivity, and constrains ecosystem services in the region, threatening the sustainable livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD and its regional partners are making concerted efforts to meet the objectives of the International Year of Forests 2011. ICIMOD contributes to sustainable forest management by developing solutions in light of complex drivers of change and promoting these through knowledge sharing activities in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region. ICIMOD aims to raise global awareness through events such as World Environment Day and in preparatory work for Rio+20, by highlighting mountain forests role in promoting green economy and in mitigating and adapting to climate change. On this years International Mountain Day, ICIMOD would like to send a loud and clear message to regional and national policy makers and practitioners, as well as to grassroots communities: Improvements and innovations are needed in governance and adaptive management of forests and landscapes, to secure and sustain forest ecosystems. The continued supply of mountain ecosystem goods and services to millions in the region is essential for poverty reduction, economic growth, and the environment. Best wishes to all on this special day.
David Molden Director General, ICIMOD
Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:
Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development
Foreword
he International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) was established in 1983 as a regional intergovernmental knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. With support from its regional and international partners, it has made considerable progress in developing, testing, and demonstrating mountain specific knowledge, technologies, and organisations. Mountains cover around 24% of the Earths land surface and host about 13% of the world population. Mountains are the providers of essential ecosystem services and play the role of water towers to billions of people living in downstream slopes, valleys and plains directly and indirectly. In Asia, the HKH mountain system, also referred to as the third pole, contains the largest volume of snow and ice outside the polar region. The Hindu Kush-Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Pamir, and Atlas mountain systems all play a critical role. As a source of water flows and river systems, the worlds mountain watersheds support livelihoods and food security for almost half of the global population. Of them, the majority of people living in the mountain areas are poor, indigenous and marginalised groups who live in an increasingly fragile environment, thus making them physically and socioeconomically vulnerable. Mountains of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya have abundant natural resources and unique landscapes that provide valuable ecosystem goods and services for sustaining livelihoods. However, the harsh terrain and lack of enabling institutional frameworks and policies pose major challenges to sustainable mountain development. The region is home to more than 40% of the worlds poor and is also ranked as being at extreme risk from climate change. Progressive warming at higher altitudes has been three to five times the global average. The region has witnessed increased snow and glacial melt and frequency of extreme events that have exacerbated livelihood risks including poverty, food insecurity, hazards and social inequity, especially for poor and marginalised people. Climate-induced changes have not only made it difficult for mountain
countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but also threaten to slow down or even reverse the progress achieved so far. The HKH countries face frequent food and energy crises and growing social and political unrest while climate impacts have shrunk development space. Past global commitments to sustainable development remain largely unfulfilled. The Rio+20 conference is a unique opportunity for us to make new programmes for genuinely sustainable mountain development regionally, nationally and locally. The objectives of the Conference are to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, to assess the progress to date and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and to address new and emerging challenges. The conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. Hence, it is high time to assess constraints and opportunities of mountain development in three major areas viz. environmental quality, economic development, and social equity, as well as to examine community-level progress by studying people-centric, vertically integrated and participatory efforts made since Rio92. To appraise green economy at the community level, we should review policies, legal instruments, and programmes that aimed at benefitting mountain people. Both upstreamdownstream relations and benefit sharing mechanisms are needed for sustaining resource flows and maintaining ecosystem goods and services for driving the green economy. ICIMOD, together with regional and global partners is preparing for this conference to ensure that the critical role played by mountain systems is properly recognised and necessary mechanisms are developed to address priority issues. The youth are the ones who will become the leaders of this region. You are the future of your countries and stand in the frontline in confronting these challenges. We believe that sustainable development is laid on the core of youth and that this can be achieved by providing relevant training, dialogue and education. We encourage young people to discuss, discover and debate to learn what is happening globally and what is planned for the future. It gives young people the chance not only to learn about themselves but to see future potential and get involved with science as well as society. Such discussion is helpful to know the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems and the possible ramifications of impacts due to climate change and anthropogenic causes.
Dr Madhav Bahadur Karki Deputy Director General
From the Regional Focal Persons

he celebration of International Mountain Day (IMD) worldwide offers a good opportunity to highlight the richness and significance of mountain ecosystems in sustaining the earth system, their contribution in development processes, the number of goods and services provided including diverse fauna and flora, recreational activities, minerals, water, timber and much more. This event is particularly important in bringing forward mountain issues to be discussed at national and international levels with specific focus on certain areas that need urgent attention. Developed in line with global celebration of the International Year of Forests 2011, the theme of IMD 2011 was Mountains and Forests, which provided an opportunity to raise global awareness on this very important topic. As we are now preparing ourselves for the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, it is important to see how the institutional mechanisms for sustainable mountain development have changed over the last two decades, since the formal introduction of a separate chapter Managing fragile ecosystems: sustainable mountain development - SMD (Chapter 13, Agenda 21) in the outcomes document of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), or Rio 1992. There is a clear need to develop collective actions to promote the Mountain Agenda. With very strong supports from countries like Austria, Bhutan, Canada, Italy, Kirgizstan, Nepal, Peru, Switzerland, and the USA as well as institutions like Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ICIMOD, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the Mountain Agenda has made significant progress over the last two decades. This has resulted in the birth of Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (InfoAndina) in 1992, Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) in 1995, Euromontana in 1995, Mountain Forum in 1996, European Mountain Forum in 1998, and Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) in 2001 among others, through several regional and global consultations. This has also enhanced and made visible works of other existing organisations like ICIMOD, African Mountain Association (AMA), Andean Mountain Association (AMA), the International Commission
for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) and The Mountain Institute (TMI). Similarly, UNCED followup discussions provided fertile ground to celebrate the International Year of Mountains (2002) and Bishkek Global Mountain Summit (2002), as well as the preparation of the Bali Document (2002) that opened way to establish International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership) in 2002 as the Type 2, non-negotiated outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). These arrangements and processes as well as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report Ecosystems and Human Well-being and IPCC AR4 have taken mountains to the next level of the global debate, which will have to form a concrete frame at Rio 2012 to maintain its legacy and tap new opportunities. Rio+20 has reminded us to think again on progress made, explore new ways of doing things more effectively and efficiently, and, most importantly, to identify possible areas of intervention so that we can take advantage of the changed context, address emerging challenges and set mountains once again at the top of the global priorities. In this context we feel it is important to foster new mechanisms such as publicprivate partnership, to engage potential players like children and youth, media and civil society in SMD process, and to develop regional and global collaboration to contribute to better livelihoods of people living in mountain regions, eventually contributing to the process of developing more secure, peaceful, resource sufficient, ecologically sound, economically strong and socially just mountain communities. We are glad to be part of the SDC initiative, the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development (WMF), that aims to bridge this gap by adopting new approaches and engaging dynamic players. We sincerely look forward to the formal launch of the initiative at the Rio+20 Conference June this year, after which other activities can be implemented.
Daan Boom, Integrated Knowledge Management (IKM) Programme Manager (Photo-Left) Tek Jung Mahat, Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) Node Manager (Photo-Right)
Keynote speech by Mr. Rajesh Hamal, Actor

Why do Mountains, in Particular the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), Matter?
hair of this session; Representatives from partner and supporting organisations; ICIMOD colleagues; Partnering organisations in Verbier and Cusco Ladies and Gentleman. Namaste from Kathmandu, Bonjour to Verbier, Good morning to Whistle and Buenos dias to Cusco. It is my pleasure to be here on the occasion of the Launch of World Mountain Forum coinciding with International Mountain Day. I am really excited to participate in this international event, and grateful to ICIMOD for providing me the opportunity to engage with likeminded mountain people from the Alps, Rockies and Andes to share some observations and to gain a better understanding on mountain ecosystems. For me, as a layman who has spent two decades in the entertainment (film) industry, mountains have always fascinated me as an immense source of energy. This event is very important for us who are residing in the lap of the mighty Himalayan region. The region extends 3,500 km from east to west over all or part of eight countries from China in the East, Afghanistan in the west, Tajikistan in the North and Myanmar in the south. It is the source of ten large Asian river systems and provides water, ecosystem services, and the basis for livelihoods to a population of around 210 million people in the region. It is also a lifeline for more than 1.3 billion people downstream, a fifth of the worlds population.
developed with due caution. In addition, the mountains support supplies of vital natural resources to people living in the mountains and the plains. Historically, mountains have been repositories of water, glaciers, minerals, timber, hydropower, and oxygen in addition to being the storehouse for wilderness, natural beauty and peace - all of which are in high demand and short supply among people from the plains. Flowing from mountain slopes, rivers and streams act as life-sustaining linkages connecting the communities living upstream with those living in the plains. As a consequence, the worlds people rely on mountain water to grow food, to produce electricity, to sustain industries and, most importantly, to satisfy water needs. Official statistics reveal that one billion Chinese, Indians and Bangladeshis, 250 million people in Africa and the entire population of California are among the 3 billion people who rely on continuous flow of water from the mountains. Relative inaccessibility of the mountains has also been one reason for better preservation of their natural forests. However, population pressure and unemployment, uncertain land tenure, inequitable land distribution, absence of non-farm livelihood opportunities, etc. are leading to uncontrolled natural resource use and consequent environmental degradation. In many countries, the expansion of agricultural and urban areas have occurred at the expense of forests. Also, in the current world scenario, mountain people and economies are marginalised and mountain natural resources are increasingly being exploited to the advantage of the plains. Despite this fact, in some areas like Nepal, where mountain forests at one time achieved worldwide notoriety over the alleged rate of deforestation, notable changes towards forest conservation are now taking place.
WHY ARE MOUNTAINS IMPORTANT?

Constituting an assemblage of diverse ecosystem types, mountains are important because they cover a large part of the terrestrial surface of the Earth. The mountains provide a range of linked resources and ecosystem services upon which millions of people in mountains and plains depend for the quality of the atmosphere and economic growth. The worlds mountains are the reservoirs of biological and cultural diversity, that need to be understood, protected from degradation and
WHY THE HINDU KUSH-HIMALAYAS MATTER

In Nepal, mountains are home to rich biodiversity both flora and fauna. Mountains are home to certain indigenous varieties of food crops. In the Himalayan region people cultivate approximately 2000 varieties of ric e.
Mountain ranges shelter some traditional/wild varieties of commercial crops widely cultivated in the plains today. Diverse groups of people reside in the mountains, distinguishable by ethnicity, language and religious practices. Mountains are sacred! A common cultural characteristic of mountains is that they are considered sacred and places of worship for people in Japan, China, Tibet, and India. Such beliefs can be traced back to 2000 BC. Whether it is Mount Kailash in Tibet, Mount Ararat in Turkey, Mount Sinai in Egypt, Mount Cook in New Zealand or Mount Fuji in Japan, humanity has traditionally accepted mountains as an object of great respect.
NGOs (non-governmental organisations), civil society organisations (CSOs), the private sector, universities, and other research institutions, it will not be possible to achieve resilient mountain social-ecological systems and to respond to the specific needs of communities dwelling in these fragile systems in this time of rapidly changing climatic and socioeconomic circumstances. Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in this context, since mountain areas usually do not cover entire countries. Given the importance of mountain goods and services, it is in the interest of both upstream and downstream communities to lessen the existing knowledge gaps and reduce the vulnerability of mountains. Extending on the same geographical stretch, most issues are transboundary in nature. Therefore, it will be essential to establish or reinforce international research partnerships and to develop international mechanisms for knowledge and data transfer. Effective mountain specific policies need to be designed not only at the local or country level but beyond. In many countries, policies currently favour lowland areas and largely ignore the disproportionate vulnerability of mountain social-ecological systems. Regional information networks are increasingly needed to serve as learning and awareness creation platforms between researchers, civil society, and government institutions and to support targeted education and training. International Mountain Day, on 11 December 2003, was an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the worlds mountains and highlands. Twinning International Mountain Day to the International Year of Forests 2011, this years theme is Mountains and Forests. It aims to raise awareness about the relevance of mountain forests and the role they play within a Green Economy as well as in climate change adaptation measures. I hope such limelight events will create a great deal of attention in the regional and global arena on the importance of mountains. Lastly, once again, I take this opportunity to thank ICIMOD for organizing this very important event. Thank you.
ACTIONS/ATTENTION NEEDED
Hills and mountains, particularly the Hindu KushHimalaya mountain system, have always constituted places where adaptation, mitigation, and resilience are hallmarks of the people and the landscape they inhabit. Since time immemorial, the people of the Himalayas have maintained a rich cultural identity, and have maintained food security and biogenetic diversity within the parameters of their own tradition. During recent years, population dynamics, new economic growth, and climate change have occurred so intensely and so rapidly in the region that traditional and balanced adaptation mechanisms are losing their efficacy. The vast ice reserve, sometimes known as the earths third pole, is in peril. Accelerated glacial melting and environmental degradation threaten the role that this mountain region has always played as a water reservoir for one-third of the earths population and as an ecological mediator between the countries of the region. The once self-sufficient people of this region now face dire economic poverty. There is an urgent need to investigate, to develop adaptation and coping mechanisms, and to prepare the communities and nations of the region to successfully manage the changes that are taking place so that they can derive maximum benefits from their environment and minimise the risk of disasters. Stability and prosperity in this region have implications for all of Asia and for the world. Mountains should be recognised as hotspots of climate and other global changes and policy makers should be motivated to take action, placing special emphasis on the conservation of mountain socio-ecological systems and funding research in order to reduce existing knowledge gaps. It is realised that without the support and awareness of civil society, including
Rajesh Hamal
*Mr. Rajesh Hamal delivered this keynote address at the special event organised by ICIMOD, in partnership with SDC, on the occasion of International Mountain Day.
Childrens Painting Competition,

Why We Love our Mountains
CIMOD, in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the arts organisation, KaKhaRa, organised a painting competition on the theme, Why We Love Our Mountains among school children aged 5-7 and 8-12 on 26 November 2011. About 85 children from 24 schools in Kathmandu participated in the event, which was held at the Valley View School. They were briefed on the importance of mountains by a resource person from ICIMOD, and fine artists and illustrators helped children work on their paintings. The painting competition was organised in the framework of the launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development (WMF) and was organised concurrently by partners in Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru in the Andes, and by ICIMOD/ APMN in Kathmandu, Nepal. The three best entries in each age category were awarded prizes at a ceremony at ICIMOD to mark International Mountain Day on 11 December 2011.
resuLts
Age group 5-7 Age group 8-12
Winner:
Sushan Rai Sagarmatha Educational Academy
Winner:
AchyutNakarmi Amenity English School
1st Runner Up:
Ishan Karkee Cambridge Public School
1st Runner Up:
Aman Gupta Steiner Academy
2nd Runner Up:
Neema Shrestha Global Public School
2nd Runner Up:
Kabiraj Rai Bagmati Boarding School
The winner in each age group received a desktop computer and a years worth of internet access for his or her school. While adding to the schools existing facilities, the computer and Internet access will also facilitate access to the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development (WMF) communication platform.
Select entries from the painting competition are available on ICIMODs website. http://www.icimod.org/?q=6239
top 10 Paintings from Age Group 5-7
Mountains are the source of forests, electricity, drinking water, flora and fauna. I have tried to show how mountains can play the vital role in peoples lives. Mountains also promote tourism in Nepal. When I heard about the painting contest on mountains I was excited to become a part of it. I started learning about the mountains from my art teacher and my parents. I was inspired to know and inquire more about mountains so that I could draw the most beautiful painting. However, learning about mountains was so interesting. I will always want to know more about them and preserve them.
Name School Class Age
: : : :
Sushan Rai Sagarmatha Educational Academy 4 7

e Our Mou Lov n
Why W e
winner
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s tain
In this painting I have tried to show the river that flows between the mountains. The mountains are the sources of the water that flows in the form of river. The river is the habitat of snakes, fishes, frogs, crabs etc. I love the blue sky that is above the mountains. I love to see birds flying above the mountains and I think that the mountains really make the big sources of water. I was very much interested to take part in this contest. I talked to my art teacher about the contest and my art teacher taught me a lot about the importance of mountains to us. I was really amazed to know that the huge amount of the loadshedding that we are suffering is solved in the summer when the mountain snow melts due to the sunshine.
: : : :
Ishan Karki Cambridge Public High School UKG 6

Why W e
e Our Mou Lov n st
s tain
up runner
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10

Name School Class Age : : : : Nima Shrestha Global Public School 2 7
Why W e
Water comes from the mountains and it looks beautiful. Mountains are useful for us. Mountains are beautiful. Mountains attract us and fill our mind with pleasure. When I heard about the painting contest on the mountains, I asked to my elder sister how useful the mountains are for us. I was much interested in the mountains when she informed me that mountains are the main source of water, electricity and tourism. I have used my self-imagination to make the painting. I think that the river which flows from the mountains can be of great use to us. Mountains can really make our Earth, the place that we live in, a beautiful place.
e Our Mou Lov n s tain
2nd
runner
up
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11
I love to see the sunrise coming from the mountains early in the morning. My painting tries to capture the same sunrise between the mountains that I see every morning from the window of my room. It really fills my heart with great happiness. Sometimes I dream of going boating with my friends at the lake or river that is formed by the mountains. It is said that the mountain water makes up many beautiful lakes, rivers and wetlands. My dad is my greatest source of inspiration. He always tells that the mountains are very strong. He always encourages me to become as strong as the mountains. I think the mountains are stronger. They are never fading, ever-beautiful and powerful sources of nature. The mountains are gifts for humankind.
: : : :
Shaamipya Dangol Ideal English School 2 7
12

Name School Class Age : : : : Jessica Singh Cambridge Public High School 3 7
Mountains are white coloured and hills are green. I love the color white. When I see the color white I have peace in my mind. For me, white is the symbol of peace. I wish this world would also be a peaceful place just like the mountains. I dont like the riots and chaos happening in the world. People should learn from the mountains how they should live. My mother is the best source of inspiration to me. She is the best teacher in the world. She was the first one in the world to encourage me to play with the colors. And now, I am in love with colors, especially white.
13
Mountains are covered by snow and this makes them look beautiful. Every year lots of tourists visit our country just to view the beautiful snow on the mountains. I love to see the snow on the mountains, green trees and beautiful flowers. We should love our mountains!
: : : :
Mukesh Ray Indradhanush Higher Secondary School 2 7
14

Name School Class Age : : : : Prerana Nepal Cambridge Public High School 2 7
I have learned that Nepal is a hill-locked country which is surrounded by many big mountains. There are hills below the mountains and there are houses at the bottom of the hills. My sister told me that Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world and our country is known as the country which has the highest mountain in the world. In this painting I have tried to draw Mount Everest and the lives around it. I love my mountains.
15
I think that planting trees is necessary to save our environment. The water resources that the mountains give help in the watercycle process which I think brings the rain. Also, mountains cause lots of wind. The wind that mountains give helps me and my friends to fly kites. It is very fun to fly kites in the holidays of Dashain and to enjoy the fresh air that mountains give. I see the color of the mountains white so I have painted the mountains white. This is the first time I used water colours and I enjoyed it a lot. Mountains are beautiful, so we have to preserve our mountains.
: : : :
Pemba Lama Colombus School UKG 6
16

Name School Class Age : : : : Shambhavi Khanal SOS Hermann Gmeiner School 3 7
There are hills around mountains and there are trees around the hills. They make nature look beautiful and complete. In fact these beautiful scenes of the mountains and the hills inspire me to make beautiful paintings. They simply fill my heart with joy and my mind with peace. They will forever be a source of inspiration to me and many other people. So, I think we should preserve them. Besides, mountains are also the habitats of various animals like the snow-leopard. My painting also has one in it. I loved the snow-leopard I saw on TV but I am really disappointed that they are becoming more rare these days. We should preserve our mountains to preserve the snow-leopards.
17
I have been very influenced by the great personalities like Sir Edmund Hillary and Pasang Lamhu Sherpa who climbed Mount Everest and recorded their names in world history as great people. I wish I could become a successful mountain-climber one day like the man who is climbing the mountain in my painting. I also love to get into the cable car that goes up. When I travel in a cable car I feel as if I have touched the sky and I am surfing on the mountains. I always want to be close to nature and the beautiful mountains. My aim is that the whole world should know me one day like everyone knows about the Mount Everest.
: : : :
Dhirendra Malla Kavya School 2 7
18
top 10 Paintings from Age Group 8-12
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We should love our mountains because mountains give us many advantages. Mountains give us rivers, nice environment, flora and fauna. Water is very important for us. It rains only because of mountains and trees. Mountains are also a source of rich biodiversity. Our country Nepal is beautiful because of the mountains. I was inspired by my art teacher. I made this painting by observing the environment around us. We have to save our mountains because our Nepal is known by our mountains and environment. Mountains are the main source of rivers and of nature.
: : : :
Achyut Nakarmi Amenity English School 5 11

e Our Mou Lov n
Why W e
winner
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s tain
20

Name School Class Age : : : : Aman Gupta Steiner Academy 7 12
Why W e
In our country Nepal there are very beautiful mountains and they provide free services to us. We dont need to pay mountains back for their services. Mountains provide ecosystem services, water and biodiversity. The beauty of our mountains attracts tourists. Because of these mountains we are well known in the world as the country of Mount Everest. Mountains are the identity of our country Nepal. So, we should preserve and conserve them.
e Our Mou Lov n st
runner
up
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s tain
21
The theme of the painting is Why we love our mountains. My painting portrays the things which we are getting from our mountains. We should preserve our mountains not only for us but for other people who want to come to our country to see and learn about mountains. Through this painting I have tried to show the natural and ritual value of our mountains. People in Nepal believe that the gods live in the Himalayas. They respect and value the mountains as holy places where gods reside. We should love and preserve our mountains; then only will we get all the things which we need for daily living.
: : : :
Kabiraj Rai Bagmati Boarding School 6 12

e Our Mou Lov n s tain
Why W e
2nd
runner
up
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Name School Class Age : : : : Sanchu Lama Galaxy Public School 7 12
When I first heard the theme of the painting competition Why we love mountains, I was really excited. We know that we are rich in mountains but we really do not care about it. When I was selected to take part in the competition, I started to find out more information about the mountains. Mountains are a very important feature for us because we get water from the mountains. From that water we are able to generate hydropower. Through hydropower we are able to produce electricity. Also, as we know Nepal is an agricultural country. Each and every agricultural activity depends on water. Every year many tourists from different countries come to Nepal to see the beauty of the mountains. Thus, we should love our mountains. Without mountains no no life is possible.
23
Through my painting I have tried to show the importance of the mountains. My painting speaks about the issue that we all are same in that we live under the shadow of the mountains. There are many conflicts and riots happening throughout the world on the issues like racial, caste and many kinds of discrimination. Through this painting I have tried to convey the message to the whole world that we all are equal and one. We share the same roof i.e. the mountains. Thus we need to hold hands and walk together to make the world a beautiful, peaceful place to live. Mountains are the great source of inspiration for unity. We should love our mountains and never let others misuse them.
: : : :
Anjina Katuwal Bagmati Boarding School 7 12
24

Name School Class Age : : : : Kamal Rai Sagarmatha Educational Academy 8 12
Mountains have preserved our eco-system very well. Thus through this painting I have tried to convey to all love and preserve our mountains. I am inspired to make this painting because now our mountains are not preserved carefully. Through this painting I have tried to give the message that our mountains are beautiful and we should love and conserve our mountains. Mountains are the source of wetlands, biodiversity and forests. The wetlands and forests are the habitats of animals, birds and insects. Tourists love hiking, cycling, and trekking in the Himalayas. Beautiful mountains have made our nation the most beautiful in the world.
25
My painting tries to show that mountains help to form rivers which help to grow plants. We can enjoy rafting in the rivers. Also, many aquatic animals live in rivers. I love aquatic animals such as dolphins. Every year lots of foreigners come to see the mountains in our country. They also love to do rafting and the money spent by them for all of these activities can really improve the economy of our country. Mountains are the identity of our country so we have to save our mountains.
: : : :
Pawan Pradhan SOS Hermann Gmeiner School 5 11
26

Name School Class Age : : : : Samip Dangol Ideal English School 4 9
Mountains are the major source of income in Nepal. If preserved in the right way mountains can uplift and help for the economic growth of our country Nepal. Tourism can be the best source of economic development which can be enhanced by the preservation of the mountains. Also, mountains have helped to bring a variety of faces of people in our country. The people living in the mountainous region have their own kinds of food habits, customs religious values and living style, whereas in the same country we have people living in hilly and Terai regions who have their own identity and values. This shows that Nepal consists of varieties of people living together though their customs, values, and ways of living are different. Thus, Nepal can be the best example of diversity in unity and unity in diversity.
27
My painting speaks about various religions in Nepal. Nepal is popular because of the mountains, rivers and culture that we have. Since we are at the end of the Tourism Year 2011, I have tried to show the newspaper covering highlighted news in the tourism sector as well as how Nepal is recording its name in the Guiness World Record on mountains. We have to save our mountains because we are popular and rich because of them.
: : : :
Karuna Sunuwar Midland Boarding English School 6 11
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Name School Class Age : : : : Sahrana Sharma Shuvatara School 7 12
We have many rivers like Trishuli, Gandaki, Veri etc. Mountains are the source of rivers and rivers are the source of electricity. Mountains attract tourists which helps us to earn foreign currency like dollars, pounds, etc. The tourists take pictures and make our country famous in the world. Let the mountains live as they have a lot to give.
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Glimpses of the Painting Competition
At Valley View School, Kathmandu, Nepal 26 November 2011
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International Mountain Day street Drama

prakriti preM
s a soft opening to the International Mountain Day 2011 celebration, a street drama entitled Prakriti Prem by the Mandapika Art Group was held at ICIMOD Headquarters. The street drama enacted the conflict between humankind and nature by putting Hindu mythological symbols in a twentyfirst century setting. Lord Shiva, the ocean, mountains, ozone, clouds, and greenhouse gases were characters dwelling on problems such as temperature rise and loss of snow cover in the mountains, eventually realising that anthropogenic activities are behind the problems. The drama stressed the need to conserve forests and mountains and was attended by school children and invited guests including Mr. Rajesh Hamal, the wellknown film artist from Nepal.
Mandapika Art Group restaged the street dramaPrakriti Prem at Ratna Park in Kathmandu, Nepal for the public on January 11, 2012. The street drama was well appreciated by the crowd of over 500 people and even received coverage on a national daily the following day. A video documentation of the drama will be will be made available with subtitles in English and German. The video of the street drama is now available on ICIMODs official YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddj4S-aDSys
Street drama Prakriti Prem being showcased at ICIMOD premises and Ratnapark on the occasion of International Mountain Day-2011.
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Celebrating International Mountain Day and the Launch of the World Mountain Forum
CIMOD celebrated International Mountain Day (IMD) by holding a joint programme with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The event saw the launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development (WMF). This is a joint public-private partnership that aims to connect communities with the private sector and which is keen on launching a strong public relations campaign on mountain issues in civil society. With the theme conserve, construct and celebrate a video conference was linked to IMD Day celebrations in Verbier, Switzerland. Gregory Greenwood, Director, the Mountain Research Initiative, introduced the programme in Switzerland. This was followed by an opening address by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman, Nestl Group in Switzerland. At ICIMOD, Mr. Daan Boom, Programme Manager for Integrated Knowledge Management, introduced the keynote speaker, Mr. Rajesh Hamal, a noted film artist from the Nepalese film industry. The joint discussion panel included Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa, noted mountaineer and environmental activist and Dr. Rajan Kotru, Watershed Management Specialist, ICIMOD. In his keynote address, Mr. Hamal stated that mountain people are essentially poor and marginalised and that mountain people are the right people to bring to the worlds attention the importance and relevance of the mountains. In the context of globalisation and the changing climate, he stated that ICIMOD as a regional institution can play an important role in the conservation of mountain ecosystems and the general well-being of mountain people. Mr. Sherpa said that mountain people are perceptive about the problems they face and are aware of the solutions to such problems, but lack the requisite resources and the technical know-how. They need to be heard and empowered to help themselves. Dr. Rajan Kotru noted that development paradigms in the last few decades have been economically driven and have not been able to address the needs of the mountain people
Dr. Rajan Kotru (Right), Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa (Middle) and Mr Rajesh Hamal (Left) at the panel discussion.
adequately. There is a need for proper institutional mechanisms for the effective and equitable sharing of resources in the Himalayas. Dr. David Molden, who moderated the panel discussion, summarised the significant role that actors and public figures could play in bringing the message of the mountains to the general public. Dr. Madhav Karki, Deputy Director General and Chair, Mountain Partnership Consortium, thanked the speakers for their participation and highlighted the public-private partnership of WMF. He indicated that plans are underway to involve schools in the initiative in the near future. Due to a technical issue ICIMOD was forced to disconnect with Verbier, Switzerland but continued with its own programme. A video presentation prepared by ICIMOD for the event, entitled The Hindu Kush-Himalayan Approach to Conservation, Construction, and Celebration was also shared with the audience in Verbier and Kathmandu.
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the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Approach to Conservation, Construction, and Celebration

video presentation prepared by ICIMOD, entitled The Hindu Kush-Himalayan Approach to Conversation, Construction, and Celebration was shared with the audience in Verbier and Kathmandu at the International Mountain Day event at ICIMOD. Prepared in the context of the Rio+20 conference in 2012, this video is an attempt to present the different aspects of mountains. It showcases some of the ways people are enjoying mountain goods and services. The video highlights some of the interventions made at the regional level; different social, economic and environmental activities and how people benefit from such interventions, and future challenges and priorities. The video is now available on ICIMODs official YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuQX-zQPso8
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), of the United Nations the task manager for Chapter 13, Agenda 21 has presented mountain systems as 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. In this context the critical role of mountain ecosystems in promoting green economy and sustainable development needs to be significantly highlighted and placed on the top of the development agenda in the context of Rio+20. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ mountainday/docs/WhyInvest_SustMountainDev_ web__2_.pdf
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acknoWLedgeMent
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) David Molden Madhav Karki Daan Boom Tek Jung Mahat Utsav Maden Sanam Aksha Basudev Upadhyay Sudas Sharma Nabin Baral Shiva Hari Khatri Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Daniel Maselli Clara Ariza Valley View School KaKhaRa Tanka Chaulagain Saurav Rajbhandari Ashok Kafle Dhurba Prajapati Keshab B. Malla Lisha Dangol Rambabu Regmi Sanu Pandey
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or SDC and its partners, investment in education and youth is central for the sustainable development of mountain regions. The World Mountain Forum (WMF) for Sustainable Development, is a public-private program that aims at stimulating business relations and generate funding for enhancing communication and implementing practical sustainable solutions in some of the worlds poorest mountain regions. In this context and among other activities, an international painting competition was organized to celebrate the WMF global launching event and the 2011 International Mountain Day. Under the theme Why we love our mountains the competition motivated school children in mountain regions of two continents to express and communicate with the world their understanding of their environments. SDC and its partners are proud to present herewith, the results of the competition which provides an inspiring view into the great potential of mountains, their people and future. Daniel Maselli and Clara Ariza Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

International Mountain Day-2011: Conserve, Construct and Celebrate

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International Mountain Day-2011: Conserve, Construct and Celebrate

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InternatIonal MountaIn Day-2011

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate

David Molden Director General, ICIMOD

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Dr Madhav Bahadur Karki Deputy Director General

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

From the Regional Focal Persons

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Keynote speech by Mr. Rajesh Hamal, Actor

WHY ARE MOUNTAINS IMPORTANT?

WHY THE HINDU KUSH-HIMALAYAS MATTER

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Childrens Painting Competition,

Sushan Rai Sagarmatha Educational Academy

AchyutNakarmi Amenity English School

1st Runner Up:

Ishan Karkee Cambridge Public School

1st Runner Up:

Aman Gupta Steiner Academy

2nd Runner Up:

Neema Shrestha Global Public School

2nd Runner Up:

Kabiraj Rai Bagmati Boarding School

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

top 10 Paintings from Age Group 5-7

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Name School Class Age

Sushan Rai Sagarmatha Educational Academy 4 7

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Name School Class Age

Ishan Karki Cambridge Public High School UKG 6

e Our Mou Lov n st

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

e Our Mou Lov n s tain

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Name School Class Age

Shaamipya Dangol Ideal English School 2 7

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Name School Class Age

Mukesh Ray Indradhanush Higher Secondary School 2 7

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Name School Class Age

Pemba Lama Colombus School UKG 6

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate:

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Test Launch of the World Mountain Forum for Sustainable Development

Conserve, ConstruCt and Celebrate: