Mountains Matter – Georgia to Celebrate Int'l Mountain Day

On 11 December at 13:30, at the Expo Georgia 3rd Pavilion, the Government of Georgia will present a number of directions from the draft Strategy on the Development of High Mountain Regions of Georgia 2019-2023 which addresses the challenges faced by the highland population and promotes local economic development in the mountainous regions.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia with assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the governments of Switzerland and Austria.

Maia Tskitishvili, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia; H.E. Arad Benkö, Ambassador of Austria to Georgia; and Munkhtuya Altangerel, Acting Head of UNDP in Georgia, will address the participants with opening remarks. 

The event will also see symbolic awards given, honoring people who live and work in the high mountainous areas. There will also be a fair of goods produced in the highlands.

International Mountain Day has been celebrated since 2003, although Georgia marks it for the first time this year. The Day acknowledges the crucial role of mountains in providing key ecosystem goods and services to the planet and highlights their vulnerability in the face of climate change and economic challenges. The theme of 2018 – #MountainsMatter – stresses that over half the human population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy.

Image source: UN