International Mountain Day is celebrated every year on 11 December.
It was created to raise awareness about the importance of mountains for nature, climate, water, and human life.
🌏 How It Started
- 1992 – During the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders discussed how important mountains are for the environment. A special chapter called “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” was included in Agenda 21.
- 2002 – The United Nations declared this year as the International Year of Mountains. This helped the world understand the value of mountain communities, forests, water sources, and biodiversity.
- 2003 – Based on the success of 2002, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared 11 December as International Mountain Day.
Since then, it is celebrated every year with different themes focusing on conservation and sustainable development.
🌿 Why It’s Important
- Mountains provide fresh water to more than half of the world’s population.
- They are home to unique plants, animals, and traditional communities.
- They help in climate regulation and store huge amounts of biodiversity.
- Many people depend on mountains for tourism, farming, and forests.
🎯 Purpose of the Day
- To protect mountain ecosystems
- To support mountain communities
- To promote sustainable tourism & agriculture
- To spread awareness about climate change & disasters in mountain regions