The annual day has its roots in 1992, when the adoption of Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development put a milestone in the history of mountain development.

The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN General Assembly to declare 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains.

On this occasion, the UN General Assembly designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as International Mountain Day, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO).

The aim of this annual initiative is to raise public awareness surrounding the sustainable development of mountain regions and educate people on the importance of mountains for the ecosystem, for our planet and for us.

Mountains cover around 22 per cent of the earth’s land surface and host a quarter of terrestrial biodiversity, and around 70 per cent of all freshwater resources for our planet.

In addition, almost 1 billion people (12 per cent of the world’s population) of various backgrounds live in mountain areas.

Six out of the 20 most important food crops originate in mountains: potatoes, maize, barley, sorghum, apples and tomatoes.

Meanwhile, mountains attract 15 to 20 per cent of global tourism.

These statistics are just a handful which will hopefully reach the masses on this year’s International Mountain Day, which has the theme: #MountainsMatter.

When it comes to our own backyard, Australia is among the flattest countries in the world.

However, it is still home to several important mountain systems and summits, beginning with the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales.

Professor of Forest and Ecosystem Science at the University of Melbourne, Rodney Keenan, offered some insight into the role of these giants of nature in Australia.

“The topography that mountains provide is a driver of a lot of climate that we get in Australia, so if mountains didn’t exist where they do in Australia, the whole continent would probably be quite dry,” Prof. Keenan explained.

“Mountains provide the topographic features which allow the climate to express itself in Australia, bringing the rainfall and snowfall that provides a lot of the water resources both for the natural systems and also a large part of Australian agriculture.

“Across the world, mountains are generally the source of major river systems, like the Yellow River in China or the Ganges in India, and they all originate in mountain areas.”

Forests which are home to many different animals, predominantly mammals and bird species, are dependent on mountain conditions to exist.

However, these conditions are extremely vulnerable.

“Mountain systems are going to be most affected by climate change; because there are steep temperature gradients and a range of different climatic conditions within a fairly narrow geographic range, changes in temperature will express themselves more than in flatter areas,” Prof. Keenan said.

“Whether species will adapt or are going to be lost in that system is something we need to keep monitoring.”

It’s not only wildlife that will be affected, and humans are at risk as well.

“In the Himalayan regions, it’s the changing pattern of rainfall causing the most concern; many people in the region are dependent on the ocean monsoon to bring the rainfall they need to grow their crops and survive from year to year,” Prof. Keenan explained.

“The monsoon has become weaker and more variable as a result of climate change and it’s causing people considerable hardship and concern.”

On a positive note, Prof. Keenan believes Australians are increasingly aware that the climatic conditions we’re experiencing are starting to get well outside of the range of historical experience.

So what can we do?

“People can start reducing their carbon footprint in their own lives,” Prof. Keenan said.

This could be riding a bike to work instead of driving your car, or installing solar panels on your house.

When it comes to the future of our planet, every bit counts.

To celebrate today, we’d like to share with you some Victorian mountains which you can easily explore:

 

  • Just 70 kilometres north-east of Melbourne sits Hanging Rock (718 metres); you can follow a path to reach the peak in around an hour.
  • The Grampians National Park lies 260 kilometres from Melbourne, but is well worth the drive. The park is full of hiking tracks for all fitness levels, with the most difficult leading you to 1168 kilometres above sea level.
  • More mountains to be climbed include Mount Buller, Mount Dandenong and the Cathedral Range.