ITEREI MOUNTAINS BIOTA| Serra do Cafeza| Br116

22 May 2012

RIO LEAKS pgs. 58 e 59

Mountains (agreed ad ref)

Mountains 1. We recognize that the benefits derived from

mountain regions are essential for sustainable development.

Mountain ecosystems play a crucial role in providing water

resources to a large portion of the world’s population;

fragile mountain ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to

the adverse impacts of climate change, deforestation and

forest degradation, land use change, land degradation, and

natural disasters; and mountain glaciers around the world

22 May 2012

are retreating and getting thinner with increasing impacts

on the environment and human well-being.

Mountains 2. We further recognize that mountains are often

home to communities, including indigenous peoples, who have

developed sustainable uses of their resources and who are

often marginalized. We stress that continued effort will be

required to address poverty, food security and nutrition,

social exclusion and environmental degradation in these

areas, and invite States to strengthen cooperative action

with effective involvement of all relevant stakeholders, by

establishing new or strengthening existing regional

arrangements and centers of competence for sustainable

mountain development.

Mountains 3. We call for greater efforts toward the

conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their

biodiversity. We encourage States to adopt a long-term

vision and holistic approaches, including through

incorporating mountain-specific policies into national

sustainable development strategies which could include,

inter alia, poverty reduction plans and programmes in

mountain areas, particularly in developing countries.

Fonte  CUPULA DOS POVOS