Christy Urban, Executive Director, Mountain Studies and Research Initiatives INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2016

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2 Christy Urban, Executive Director, Mountain Studies and Research Initiatives INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2016

3 What is International Mountain Day? December 11 th UN sanctioned event as of 2003: The General Assembly "encouraged the international community to organize events at all levels on that day to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development." Priorities Create awareness about the importance of mountains Highlight opportunities and constraints in mountain development Build alliances to bring positive change

4 Global IMD Activities Where is Canada?

5 IMD Examples

6 IMD Examples

7 IMD Examples

8 2016 Theme Mountain Cultures: celebrating diversity & strengthening identity The concept of traditional heritage, culture and spirituality is intrinsically linked with peoples livelihoods in the mountains, where it is often traditional lifestyles that determine the way people make a living and subsist. Many mountain areas host ancient indigenous communities that possess and maintain precious knowledge, traditions and languages. Mountain peoples have developed remarkable land use systems, which are rich in globally significant biodiversity and have evolved over centuries thanks to the harmonious coexistence of communities with the environment.

9 2016 Theme For mountain peoples, land, water, and forests are not simply natural resources. Their traditional knowledge and techniques are key to managing and enhancing the resilience of fragile mountain ecosystems. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, new generations understand that their well-being, their sense of identity and their children s future depend on careful stewardship of the environment. Mountains are also places of tourism and cultural trails. If sustainably managed, mountain tourism can have a role in promoting and protecting traditional cultures as well as creating incentives for the protection of mountain ecosystems, their goods and services.

10 Why are we participating? Increase collaborations and share knowledge Providing networking opportunities Making research more transparent to the public Opportunities for students Solution building

11 IMD Schedule 2016 International Mountain Day Festival at the University of Alberta Sunday (International Mountain Day), December 11 th Live streaming from 3 mountains in Canada and three town venues. National climbing competition Monday, December 12 th Bison reintroduction media event Festival Welcome and Bison Belong talk (CCIS Theatre evening) Tuesday, December 13 th Evening mountain folk music performance (poetry reading prior) Wednesday, December 14 th Indigenous language and the land lecture Evening screening of water-related film Thursday, December 15 th Climbing workshop at the Wilson Climbing Centre CMN Mountain Symposium with mountain art show in lobby Mountain Expo event Keynote speaker on mountain climbing Friday, December 16 th CMN governance meetings Saturday, December 17 th A variety of planned events in mountain towns across the country

12 How can others get involved? Participate in U of A s Mountain Festival activities Contact CMN to book an event at U of A for our Mountain Festival Book your own IMD events in your area and let CMN so we can add your events to our IMD website and schedule

13 THANK YOU Proudly supported by Photos by Zoltan Kenwell. Icons made by Freepik from