The Foundation for Environment and Development, FEDEV, has celebrated International Mountain Day in Akum, Santa subdivision, Mezam Division of the Northwest region of Cameroon. The celebration was done under the Theme: “Women move mountains”. FEDEV celebrates World Mountain Day with the Diamarah Pastoralist Mountain women in Akum, Santa subdivision of Cameroon.
The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to proclaim 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. The first international mountain day was celebrated for the first time in 2003. But its roots date back to 1992 when the document “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” was adopted as part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the Conference on Environment and Development.
“Mountains play an important role in human life. They act as reservoirs for freshwater resources around the world. At least half of the world’s population depends on mountain ecosystem services to survive. Mountains do not serve only as a source of water but also food and clean energy. Thus it becomes imperative for a day to be set aside to raise awareness of the importance of mountains and the need to protect them. Women play a key role with respect to environmental protection, social and economic development in mountain areas”.
“Women in particular are the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, and the main actors in terms of agriculture and other small-scale economic activities. In addition, the main occupation of people living in the mountain area is farming. This is principally done by women. Therefore the need to draw the attention of women to the impact their activities have on the mountain ecosystem”.
