The International Mountain Day 2020 was organised on 11 December with the theme of ‘Mountain biodiversity’.
- The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare to 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains.
- The first international day was celebrated for the first time the following year, 2003.
- Its roots date back to 1992, when the document “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” (called Chapter 13), was adopted as part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the Conference on Environment and Development.
- Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
- Of the 20 plant species that supply 80% of the world’s food, six originated and have been diversified in mountains: maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes, and apples.
(Source: UN)
