Dear Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, We are writing to you from several members of the Mountain Partnership in the Rocky Mountains of the United States, including Aspen International Mountain Foundation, Gruppmann International Violin Institute, Utah Russia-Institute, Utah Valley University, and Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of students clubs from Utah Valley University (further refer as MP-Rockies). We are submitting our comments for the Zero Draft Document, chapter V, paragraph 94, prepared initially by students of Utah International Mountain Forum, corrected by the members of the MP-Rockies and based on a variant of the 9 Major Groups of Agenda 21 (Business & Industry, Children & Youth, Farmers, Indigenous Peoples, Local Authorities, NGOs, Scientific & Technological Community, Women, Workers & Trade Union). (Existing) Chapter V paragraph. 94 Mountains We recognize that mountainous regions and people provide essential goods and services for human survival. Mountains are the water towers of the world storing water in the form of glaciers, snow, wetlands, lakes, and subsurface sources, supplying fresh water to more than half of humankind and contributing to food, clean energy, livelihoods, and ecological security. Nonetheless, mountains are highly vulnerable to climate and other global changes. Their sustainable management is necessary for human survival. We recognize that many mountain communities, including indigenous peoples, have long practised sustainable natural resource management and that their efforts to maintain mountain ecosystem services generate positive yet unaccounted economic benefits, not only to themselves, but also to a large portion of the world’s lowland population including urbanized areas. We recognize the need to create global, regional, national, and local mechanisms that justly support mountain communities in providing essential resources and services for human well-being. We underline the importance of supporting green and low-carbon economic activities in mountain regions through capacity building and development of suitable technologies, as well as innovative means of financing for sustainable development and conservation of mountain regions. We stress the pivotal role of regional centres of competence in research and development to achieve solutions that take into account the specificities of mountain areas. We recognize that mountain people are often marginalized, with insecure tenure and access to resources, and high poverty rates. We stress the importance of building capacity and strengthening institutions to promote inclusive development solutions, especially targeted at youth and women. We acknowledge the efforts of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (“Mountain Partnership�), as well as those of other UN bodies, governments, and other partners, to promote cooperation among the institutions, initiatives,
instruments, and conventions relevant to mountain development. We welcome new opportunities for public-private partnerships and investments in mountain ecosystem goods and services, especially in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable forest management, sustainable tourism, responsible industrial development, and climate-smart agriculture including promotion of natural products. We acknowledge that actions in support of sustainable mountain development are key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. (Comments) Chapter V paragraph. 94 Mountains We recognize that mountainous regions and people provide essential goods and services for human survival. Mountains are the water towers of the world storing water in the form of glaciers, snow, wetlands, lakes, and subsurface sources, supplying fresh water to more than half of humankind and contributing to food, clean energy, livelihoods, and ecological security. Nonetheless, mountains are highly vulnerable to climate and other global changes. Their sustainable management is necessary for human survival. We recognize that many mountain communities, including indigenous peoples, have long practiced sustainable natural resource management and that their efforts to maintain mountain ecosystem services generate positive yet unaccounted economic benefits, not only to themselves, but also to a large portion of the world’s lowland population including urbanized areas. We recognize the need to create global, regional, national, and local mechanisms that justly support mountain communities in providing essential resources and services for human well-being. We underline the importance of supporting green and low-carbon economic activities in mountain regions through capacity building and development of suitable technologies, as well as innovative means of financing for sustainable development and conservation of mountain regions. We stress the pivotal role of regional centers of competence in research and development to achieve solutions that take into account the specificities of mountain areas. [We underline the need to nurture youth leaders, who will be the future promoters of sustainable mountain development-MP-Rockies]. We recognize that mountain people are often marginalized, with insecure tenure and access to resources, and high poverty rates. We stress the importance of building capacity and strengthening institutions to promote inclusive development solutions, especially targeted at youth and women. We acknowledge the efforts of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (“Mountain Partnership�), as well as those of other UN bodies, governments, and other partners, to promote cooperation among the institutions, initiatives, instruments, and conventions relevant to mountain development [and the need for more effective networking and integration of the various stakeholders in sustainable mountain development through further expansion of the Mountain Partnership membership and strengthening the role of its regional
hubs-MP-Rockies]. We welcome new opportunities for public-private partnerships and investments in mountain ecosystem goods and services, especially in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable forest management, sustainable tourism, responsible [industrial-MP-Rockies-delete] [commercialMP-Rockies] development, and climate-smart agriculture including promotion of natural products. [We further encourage the sharing of information and best practice among mountain regions, particular through investment in information and communication technologies-MP-Rockies]. We acknowledge that actions in support of sustainable mountain development are key to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Sincerely, Mountain Partnership Members from the Rocky Mountains (MP-Rockies): Aspen International Mountain Foundation: Karinjo DeVore Rebecca Wallace Co-Presidents
Gruppmann International Violin Institute: Igor Gruppmann Vesna Gruupmann Co-Directors
Utah Russia-Institute: Rusty Butler President
Utah Valley University: Rusty Butler Associate Vice-President International Affairs and Diplomacy Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of students clubs, Utah Valley University John McClure President Baktybek Abdrisaev Advisor Â