Spotlight shines on the world's mountains

(Vatican Radio) December the 11^th is International Mountain Day. On the sidelines of the recent Doha Climate Summit concern was expressed over the effects global warming is having on the world’s peaks. Lydia O’Kane spoke Eduardo Rojas-Briales, Assistant Director-General of the Forestry Department, at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization about the work being done to prevent mountains from becoming casualties of climate change.
He says it is important to increase awareness, adding that Mountain Day can be a big help in this.
“The 11^th of December is established to increase awareness because in most of the countries… mountains are present and they are important even cultural background of a country.”
Eduardo Rojas adds that its important to, “move forward sustainable mountain agendas and policies by governments overcoming the different departmental borders that generate difficulties to embrace the issues of mountains…”
Mountains stretch over a quarter of the planet’s land surface and are home to about 12 percent of the world’s population.

They also provide over 50% of the world’s population with freshwater for drinking, cooking, irrigation, hydropower and industry. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Eduardo Rojas-Briales