Celebrating Majesty, Fragility of Mountains in Pakistan

News Desk

Islamabad: Joining Global Observance, Pakistan commemorates International Mountain Day, emphasizing the majesty and fragility of mountains in the Himalaya and Hindu Kush regions.

This year’s theme is ‘Restoring Mountain Ecosystems’.

Today marks International Mountain Day, a global observance highlighting the immense significance of mountains and the livelihoods of the people who inhabit them.

This day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002, goes beyond appreciating the scenic beauty of mountains to underscore their crucial role in our planet’s well-being, influencing global ecosystems, climate dynamics, and the lives of communities worldwide.

The theme aligns mountains with the UN decade on ecosystem restoration (2021–2030), co-led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN and the UN Environment Programme.

This decade presents an unprecedented opportunity to garner political support, advance scientific research, and allocate financial resources towards scaling up restoration efforts and preventing further degradation of mountain ecosystems.

Covering approximately 27 percent of the Earth’s land surface and housing nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, mountains are hubs of remarkable biodiversity. These regions boast an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, along with culturally diverse communities with distinct languages and traditions.

From regulating climate patterns and providing essential water resources to maintaining soil health and preserving ecosystems, mountains profoundly impact our lives and livelihoods.

Alarmingly, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that up to 84 percent of endemic mountain species face the threat of extinction, with many other species projected to decline and ultimately vanish.

However, the recent biodiversity agreement stemming from the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, aiming to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas, and inland waters by 2030, serves as a catalyst for the revival and protection of mountain landscapes.