UN Mountain partnership inked

DEPARTMENT of Tourism Cordillera regional director Marie Venus has been elected into the United Nations Mountain Partnership.

The Mountain Partnership is a United Nations voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of mountain peoples and protecting mountain environments around the world.

Tan said the partnership aims to alleviate poverty and is comprised of mountain destination like the city forming a support group to boast each area’s economy.

Founded in 2002, the Mountain Partnership addresses the challenges facing mountain regions by tapping the wealth and diversity of resources, knowledge, information and expertise, from and between its members, in order to stimulate concrete initiatives at all levels that will ensure improved quality of life and environments in the world’s mountain regions.

Tan said the crafts, cuisine of the city will be tapped along with the city being a major destination.

During the General Global Assembly in Rome attended by Over 220 participants, the Philippines represented by Tan was elected to the Steering Committee as Lead Coordinator for Asia Pacific member Governments.

Currently, more than 300 governments, intergovernmental organizations, major groups (e.g. civil society, NGOs and the private sector) and subnational authorities are members.

In the Asia and the Pacific, the 10 members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

The Mountain Partnership is comprised of 58 Governments, seven Subnational authorities, 16 Intergovernmental organizations, 237 Major Groups from civil society, NGOs and the private sector.

Mountain Partnership members envision a world with increasing public and private sector attention, commitment, engagement, and investments in sustainable mountain development that; maintain and enhance the conservation, health, vitality and stewardship of mountain ecosystems for their inherent value and for the mutual benefit of mountain communities and those who live in the larger geographic regions which include mountains. Improve the social and economic well-being and livelihoods of, and opportunities for, both mountain peoples – particularly the most vulnerable – and those who live in the larger geographic regions which include mountains; and empower and enable mountain peoples to be fully engaged in the decisionmaking processes that determine the future of mountain communities and ecosystems, particularly in light of global change and globalization processes.