Every year on December 11, the world commemorates International Mountain Day to raise awareness of the value of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and challenges of mountain development, and to forge partnerships that will benefit mountain communities and environments all over the world.
The Commission on Sustainable Development was established by the UN in 1992. The UN endorsed a document titled “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” as part of the CSD. The UN designated 2002 as the UN International Year of Mountains in recognition of the significance of mountains. International Mountain Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2003. Leading the commemoration of this day is the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).