United Nations has proclaimed 2002 as the International Year of Mountains to increase awareness of the global importance of mountain ecosystems. Worldwide, mountain areas face increasing marginalisation, economic decline and environmental degradation. This was recognised at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero, where mountains were placed on an equal footing with climate change, tropical deforestation and desertification as a key issue in the global debate on the environment and development. 

Another initiative to mark this Year is a new website set up by the Panos Institute at www.mountainvoices.org which uses in-depth interviews to communicate the views and experiences of people living in mountain communities around the world.

Details of other events planned for the International Year of Mountains can be found on the Mountain Forum website at www.mtnforum.org.