International Mountain Day is observed on 11 December annually to spread awareness about the importance of mountains in our lives and to our planet.
Context
International Mountain Day is observed on 11 December annually to spread awareness about the importance of mountains in our lives and to our planet.
Background
- The formation of International Mountain Day dates back to 1992 when Agenda 21 "Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development" was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
- Seeing the increasing attention towards the importance of mountains, the UN General Assembly declared in 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains and designated 11 December as International Mountain Day from 2003.
- The first time International Mountain Day was celebrated was on 11 December 2003.
- Every year it is celebrated with a particular theme.
Theme 2021
- The theme of International Mountain Day 2021 is "Sustainable mountain tourism."
- The theme focuses on developing additional and alternative livelihood options and promoting poverty alleviation, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation, etc.
- In this way, we can preserve our natural, cultural, and spiritual heritage.
- It will help in promoting local crafts and high-value products, and also celebrate severaltraditional practices like local festivals.
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Importance of Mountains
- Food species: Out of the 20 plant species that supply 80% of the world's food, six are diversified in the mountains.
- They are potatoes, barley, tomatoes, barley, sorghum and apples.
- More than half of humanity relies on mountain fresh water for everyday life.
- Key-biodiversity areas: More than 30% of the key biodiversity areas in the world are located in the mountains.
- Essential for water element: Mountains play an important role in the water cycle.
- The precipitation of snow in the mountains remains and is stored in the mountains until it melts in the spring and summer season and provides essential water for settlements, agriculture, and industries downstream.
- In fact, in the semi-arid and arid regions, around 90% of the river comes from the mountains.
- In temperate Europe, the Alps that occupy around 11% of the area of the Rhine river basin supply 31% of the annual flow and in summer more than 50%.
- Water coming from the mountains is also the source of hydroelectric power.
- Wood: The fuel of wood in developing countries is the predominant source of energy in mountain settlements and is also essential whether as wood or charcoal to many people living in urban lowlands and on the plains.
- Mountain wood is also used in several ways.
- Biological diversity: The ecosystems of the mountain play an important role in biological diversity etc.
Important mountain ranges in India
- Himalayas: The world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, spans five countries including India.
- Aravalli Range: The oldest mountain range of India, the Aravalli Range is also the oldest mountain range in the world.
- Satpura and Vindhaya Range: The Satpura and Vindhaya Range lies in central India and both these ranges run parallel to each other. Both Satpura and Vindhaya are mainly situated in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with some extension to Gujarat, Chattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Western Ghats: Western Ghats is 1600m long mountain range that runs from Gujrat to Kanyakumari in south India.
- o This mountain range is also called "Sahyadri Mountains".
- o It comprises the mountain range of Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Cardomom.
- Eastern Ghats: Eastern Ghats is mountain range running in eastern part of Indian Peninsula parallel to Bay of Bengal. This range is not continuous and is lower in elevation when compared to Western Ghats.
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