International Mountain Day: Restoring Mountain Ecosystems

In recent days, the first real snow of this year has fallen in Slovenia's hills and high mountains. We look forward to snow and winter, but in today's times, we selfishly take winter and snow for ourselves. Who will be the first to go ski touring, who will be the first to 'plow' the snow slopes, social networks were already full of 'heroes' on the first nice days after the snowfall. Are we prepared for winter tours, what about safety, what about the issue of protecting mountain nature? And finally, humble questions to ourselves: Do the magnificent mountains with their still fragile mountain ecosystems deserve this? Are we respectful enough to the mountains and how should our visit to the mountains be responsible towards them themselves, all inhabitants and visitors of the mountains, ultimately towards ourselves?

Mountains or mountain ecosystems cover a good quarter of all land on Earth and are home to more than half of all species on the planet. Water sources, food, people who live there are part of the mountains. Mountaineers, visitors and tourists also claim the mountains as their own. Mountain ecosystems have also shown two faces this year amid natural disasters, fragility and harshness.

The significance of mountains is not only the significance of mountains as a goal and motivation for conquerors of the useless world, but the significance of mountains is manifold. In 2002, the United Nations declared it the International Year of Mountains. Many resonant actions were then the reason that the UN General Assembly declared 11 December as International Mountain Day. With a responsible attitude towards mountains, with considerate visits and behavior, we can help reduce pressures on nature in the mountain world. In this way, we can contribute to this year's central theme of International Mountain Day, which is Restoring Mountain Ecosystems. We will mark International Mountain Day on 11 December, and with special emphasis on the central theme, we will also dedicate it in Slovenia this time to the Read the Mountains action.

Mountains are burdened by the impacts of climate change and unsustainable development, which increases risks for people and the planet. Climate change threatens water flows, rapidly rising temperatures force species, including people dependent on these ecosystems, to adapt or migrate. Steep slopes in the mountain world mean that deforestation for agriculture, settlements or infrastructure can cause soil erosion and loss of habitat. Erosion and pollution harm water quality, which flows downward according to the laws of gravity and ultimately always appears in our glass too. Still good enough?

International Mountain Day 2023 is an opportunity for greater awareness of the importance of mountain ecosystems and a call for nature-based solutions, best practices and investments that build resilience, reduce vulnerability and increase the mountains' capacity to adapt to daily threats and extreme weather events.

What can we all do who like to go to the hills? A lot! How can we connect respectful and responsible visits to the mountains, reading and restoring mountain ecosystems? Let's listen to each other, read, exchange experiences and go to the mountains with the goal of simultaneous mountaineering experience and protection of mountain nature. Let our visit to the mountains be respectful and responsible, behave considerately towards nature, help the animal world survive the winter, let mountaineers and ski tourers be a connected part of mountain nature together with the animals.

Martin Šolar, Vice President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia