ON INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY
December 11th
We look to remote mountain communities
as our role models
.
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| The community of Tanta at 14,000+ feet, Peruvian Andes. |
When faced with daunting challenges,
they turn to nature for solutions.
Mountain villagers living in the Andes and Himalayas don't need to be convinced about climate change. They've been living that reality for decades. These communities rely on nearby glaciers as their water source and have built their livelihoods around a healthy mountain ecosystem. But climate change means vanishing glaciers, droughts, shifts in precipitation and extreme weather--all threats to essential water sources and to a way of life that has
endured
for centuries.
Mountain people need practical solutions--ways to adapt and somehow carry on.
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| Tatopani, Nepal: Villagers preparing to build a nursery for medicinal plants. |
That is our specialty
--working with mountain people to find sustainable solutions.
For decades, The Mountain Institute has worked in the Andes and Himalayas, hand-in-hand with mountain communities as a trusted partner. Working together, combining science with traditional knowledge, we help make mountain livelihoods more sustainable and communities more resilient.
Our approach is inclusive. We are champions for indigenous people and gender equality.
Groups that have been marginalized or discriminated against are included in the planning process; women are in leadership roles. Ancient cultures are not just protected, they are the source of innovative solutions to modern challenges. An example of this can be seen in our award-winning initiatives based on restoring ancestral water
management
systems in the Andes.
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Leaders of seven mountain communities met recently to discuss ancestral water systems in the Peruvian Andes.
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Climate change problems in mountains may seem very far away.
In fact, they are a preview of what's coming
and as close as your next drink of water.
As the water towers of the world, mountains supply freshwater to billions downstream. Over half of humanity relies on mountains as their water source every day.
And mountain villagers play a critical role as stewards of the very top of our watersheds.
These communities living at the foot of receding glaciers continue to inspire us. Their creativity, tenacity and resilience come from a deep trust in nature and kinship with the mountains that surround them. Mountain people can teach all of us how to adapt to a warming world.
The Mountain Institute is the only international non-profit focused solely on mountains worldwide, and actively dedicated to
mountain communities and their unique environments.
Community, Culture, Conservation - Since 1972.
From all of us in the Himalayas, Andes and USA,
WE THANK YOU for your support!
If you prefer to mail a check, please use our D.C. address, given below.
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