With their rich biodiversity and vital ecosystems, mountains play a key role for the well-being of people worldwide and for the protection of biodiversity on a global scale. However, these precious environments are strongly exposed to climate change, pollution and land use changes that threaten their flora and fauna as well as local mountain communities. Effective tools and mechanisms are needed to protect mountain biodiversity. Mountain regions can offer multiple approaches for adaptation and sustainable responses to climate change that strengthen the resilience of wildlife and people. The Alpine and Carpathian Convention, as the two mountain conventions, can provide valuable insights into interregional coordination and can give incentives to join forces in protecting precious mountain environments.
MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY DAY
One voice to protect Mountains, Wildlife and People in times of global change
13 January 2021
INTERACTIVE ONLINE EVENT
9 AM – 5:30 PM (CET)
The one-day event offers a platform for discussions between experts and representatives from mountain regions all over the world, working in the field of biodiversity, with a strong focus on mountains. The main goal is to share experiences, identify shared challenges and showcase best-practice examples and solutions from various regional perspectives. As an outcome of the event, a Joint message on the importance of protecting global mountain biodiversity will be developed to be then taken forward to major global events such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The different perspectives will be covered during three successive segments:
1.Global mountains (thematic sessions on key biodiversity areas in mountain regions, global drivers for loss of mountain biodiversity and tools for conservation)
2. High level segment on mountains in the Post-2020 process (with CBD focal points and representatives of the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions)
3. Alps (thematic sessions on current threats to biodiversity in the Alps and strategies to protect biodiversity for future generations
Discover the programme here.
The full programme (speakers included) is available here
This event will be in English and translated into German, Italian, French and Slovenian.
The Mountain Biodiversity Day is hosted by the outgoing French Presidency of the Alpine Convention in cooperation with the French Presidency of the EU-Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP). The event is jointly coordinated by the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
