WT56 – Management of mountain territories

In partnership with :

Regione Piemonte (Region of Piedmont) : www.regione.pmn.it/
Association des Populations des Montagnes du Monde / World Mountain People Association (APPM-WMPA) : www.mountainpeople.org

Workshop Presentation

Mountain regions pose particular problems both in Europe and China. They are first and foremost fragile and diverse ecosystems. They are often inhabited by ethnic minorities. Their peripheral position and their often difficult access frequently put them a long way from the centres of economic development and they are often sources of emigration. For all these reasons their representatives are often relatively marginalised at political level. At the same time these mountain regions bear the full brunt of globalisation, notably because mountainous regions often control significant natural wealth: water and hydroelectric power, gas, minerals, etc., giving rise to investment by big multinational companies or the state. In the last few years an international dynamic to bring mountain populations together and for common consideration of the challenges faced by these regions has emerged in the context of the World Mountain People Association (WMPA).