On December 11, the Geoparks celebrate the International Mountain Day.

The Global Geoparks Network encourages all UNESCO Global Geoparks to join the celebration and promote their mountains, some of the most interesting geological features of UNESCO Global Geoparks, which create the conditions for a wide spectrum of life forms.

The 2021 theme for International Mountain Day is “Sustainable mountain tourism”. Geoparks as sustainable tourism destiantions are exellent examples for the development of mountain tourism.

Sustainable tourism in mountains can contribute to creating additional and alternative livelihood options and promoting poverty alleviation, social inclusion, as well as landscape and biodiversity conservation. It is a way to preserve the natural, cultural and spiritual heritage, to promote local crafts and high value products, and celebrate many traditional practices such as local festivals.

Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and they provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity. About half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in mountains and mountains support approximately one-quarter of terrestrial biological diversity.

Mountains are today under threat from climate change and overexploitation as we tend to forget that the mountains are important territories of biodiversity and life.

The Global Geoparks Network in collaboration with UNESCO encourage all Geopark management bodies, partners and stakeholders to join the campaign for “Sustainable mountain tourism in UNESCO Global Geoparks”.

Please send your activities and good practice examples, photos, videos at ggnassociation@hotmail.com and ggnsecretariat@hotmail.com

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtags:

#GlobalGeoparksNetwork #MountainsMatter
#UNESCOGlobalGeoparks #SustainableMountainTourism