Euromontana

On the basis of its experience in the field of sustainable mountain development, its role in development of mountain policies at European, national and regional level, and its specific economic, environmental and social contexts, EUROMONTANA recommends that the United Nations, in the discussion at UNCSD, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012:

• recognise the specific role of mountains and the corresponding need for integrated mountain development policies and targeted investment;

• recognise in particular the role provided by mountain ecosystems in providing services that support and enhance the Earth¡¦s sustainability, and the key role that mountain communities play in delivering these services, by developing concepts of payment and compensation for ecosystem services, and implementing such concepts, and considering the economic value of services provided in the general interest (green accounting),

• integrate the assets of mountain regions in processes leading to sustainable development and green Economies, recognising that a geographical differentiation is needed; to identify therefore the conditions required to fully unleash mountain development potential and invest to secure that these conditions exist;

• adopt a multi-sectoral, multi-level and multi-stakeholder approach enabling the UN to direct its Sustainable Development policy towards concrete areas of interest and to identify and strengthen entities for cooperation and the implementation of such policies at the appropriate levels, whether regional, local or mountain range,

• promote networks and partnerships of mountain stakeholders at all levels (governmental, civil society, private sector) and encourage the relevant national and international organisations to consider mountain-related concerns.

• to support mountain-specific observation, research, knowledge development and awareness on environmental, economic and social aspects of mountain areas.

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