International Mountain Day, celebrated on December 11, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the relevance of mountains for the world.

A different theme relevant to sustainable mountain development is chosen for International Mountain Day every year. The theme for the International Mountain Day 2010 is “Mountain Minorities and Indigenous Peoples”. It aims to raise awareness about indigenous peoples and minorities who live in mountain environments and the relevance of their cultural heritage, traditions and customs.

This year’s International Mountain Day provides an apt occasion to reflect on how important it is to empower indigenous communities and help them promote and preserve traditional knowledge, including sciences, agricultural practices, responses to global change, medicine and health practices, fauna and flora, oral traditions, crafts and arts.

Chinese Committee on ICIMOD (CNICIMOD) publicized and celebrated this special event with a display of posters and publications reflecting research works conducted on mountain hazard management and climate change by Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS and ICIMOD.