Mountains are Natural Jewels of the Planet

Dr N Munal Meitei
International Mountain Day is observed on 11 December to celebrate the beauty of mountains and their values. Mountains are one of the oldest nature’s pristine structures, stolid and regal they stand against the sky, of such a size that they can catch entire countryside’s in their shadow, and turn back the ravages of storms against their unflinching sides. They are the source of recreation and resource, with stones of green dressed slopes to enthusiasts, and to those brave enough to delve into their stony sides.
Mountains are the most beautiful and interesting geological features of nature. Mountains have served as playgrounds and places of worship for countless generations - a mainstay for so many people and cultures. Mountains are recognized as particularly sensitive physical environments where intense and rapid changes have taken in the past and may increasingly in the future. Manipur being with 90% hills have the relevance to celebrate this unique day.
“Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation and youth.” is the theme for 2024. Innovation is essential for addressing complex mountain-related issues. It encompasses technological advancements as well as creative problem-solving such as climate-smart agriculture.
Over centuries, mountain communities have developed solutions to adapt to their harsh environments, deal with climate change, reduce poverty and protect or restore biodiversity. While dealing with climate change’s pressures on mountains, adaptation becomes imperative for building resilience and reducing vulnerability. Adaptation strategies include solutions such as ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk reduction and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems.
Lastly, the active participation of youth is essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of mountain solutions. This day promotes decent work and quality employment for young persons, accessible training, and entrepreneurship opportunities that contribute to the sustainable use of mountain resources.
Mountains cover around 27% of the Earth's land surface and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. As the water towers of the planet, they supply freshwater to an estimated half of humanity. Mountains are home to an extraordinary range of plants and animals and to many culturally diverse communities with different languages and traditions.
Mountains are natural jewels, we should treasure. Mountains are hugely important ecosystem that the freshwater from mountains is fundamental for global food security, used for irrigation in many lowland regions helping to sustain clean energy and medicines.
Yet mountains are starker under threat from climate change, overexploitation and contamination, increasing the risks for the people and the planet. As the global climate continues to warm, mountain glaciers melt affecting freshwater supplies downstream, and mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive. Climate change threatens the flow of water and fast-rising temperatures are forcing mountain species and people that depend on these ecosystems to adapt or migrate.
According to IPCC, upto 84% of endemic mountain species are at risk of extinction, while populations of other montane plant and animal species are projected to decline and extinction. Almost half the human population depends on mountains for water, food and energy. Mountain farming has been a model for centuries as are inherently green and low-carbon footprint. Of the 20 plant species that supply 80% of the world's food, six are diversified and originated in mountains: maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes and apples.
Mountains are early indicator of climate change and as global climate continue to warm, mountain people - some of the world’s hungriest and poorest. Climate-i nduced disasters, combined with political, economic and social marginalization, increase the vulnerability of mountain peoples to food shortages and extreme poverty.
Mountain ranges are the primary depository for pollutants. For example, the impacts of plastic pollution are heavily felt in mountainous and hilly regions. Indeed, plastic is the most common type of waste found in mountains, a trend driven by tourism.
However, mountains are vulnerable to a host of natural and anthropogenic threats, including seismic hazards, fire, climate change, land cover change and agricultural intensification and armed conflict. These pressures degrade mountain environments and affect the ecosystem services and the livelihoods. Thus the fragility of mountain ecosystems represents a considerable challenge to the sustainable development.
Mountains are ubiquitous and 90% of the world’s mountain dwellers live in developing countries, where a vast majority lives below the poverty line and 1 out of 3 faces the threat of food insecurity. Mountains not only provide sustenance and well-being to 915 million global people but also indirectly benefit billions living downstream.
Mountains are places of tourism and cultural trails. Mountain tourism accounts for about 18% the global tourism industry. Mountain population has unique and valuable local knowledge, tradition and cultural practices that can contribute to effective land management stra- tegies and climate adaptation.
Mountains have a key role to play in providing renewable energy, especially through hydro power, solar power, wind power and biogas. Hydro power currently provides around a fifth of all electricity worldwide and some countries rely 100% of their requirements.
Traditional medicines and many forms of handicrafts that spring up from the minds of mountain people that were kept un-touched for centuries towered the edifices into their legacies. Mountains are necessary for the health and well-being of the flora and fauna that call them their home.
The world’s mountains encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes, a wide variety of ecosystems, a great diversity of species and distinctive human communities. Genetic diversity is higher in mountains regions. When mountain communities disintegrate, the entire cultures and languages disappear.
Mountains have acted as refuges from environmental changes or competing species and they often represent sites of in situ speciation. Due to global warming species that are endemic in these areas can become “trapped” and may disappear as their habitat is reduced.
Changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures result in reducing the water holding capacity of the mountain range. Habitat degradation caused by massive deforestation results in soil erosion, landslides, flooding and food insecurity. With this change in habitat, rare species of plants and animals can face extinction.
This day can be celebrated in the cavalcade ways to discover the hiding beauties, hiking along the trails and enjoying the mountain nature in all its glory and untouched wilderness. However, mountains are hugely vulnerable to the natural and anthropogenic threats which degrade the mountain ecosystem and the livelihoods of billions of peoples. Let’s join hand to save the mountains and hills for our survival.