Origins

The WMPA can be regarded as an expression, on a worldwide scale, of the multi-secular solidarity that exists between mountain people. Indeed, the mountains have a long tradition of solidarity. Without such inter-aid, mountain peoples would not have been able to survive and develop in their hostile and restricting environment. Solidarity was initially a feature of traditional mountain communities. As travel opportunities and visibility throughout the world developed, however, these communities became aware that other mountain areas were facing the same challenges as them and that it would be a good idea to meet, exchange ideas and work together to implement joint solutions. They also realised that their destiny was not merely in the hands of local authorities but that the decisions that affected the future of their areas were being taken at a national level. It was consequently imperative that they should play a role in this decision-making process. Finally, it became clear that decisions concerning mountain areas were not just crucial for the inhabitants themselves, but were also of the utmost importance for humanity as a whole, in light of the exceptional contribution made by these areas (nearly 35% of the surface area of all the continents and 15% of the world’s population) to the environment, world culture and the economy. The mountain cause therefore had a universal dimension that required the intervention of the international community.

On the basis of these three observations, mountain populations started to introduce new forms of solidarity and organisations. These innovations initially saw the light of day in Europe’s mountainous countries (Switzerland, Italy, France, etc.) where farmer’s associations were first formed for mountain areas and then for regional districts (at a national level and then at a European level). This process then became global following the staging (on the initiative of the National Association of Elected Representatives of Mountain Areas and Chambery) of a World Mountain Forum in June 2000, which resulted a few months later in the birth of the WMPA (April 2001). The vocation of this new organisation was two-fold: to create a basis for co-operation and exchange between mountain territories for the sharing of knowledge and resources, and to introduce a tool that would form a platform for expression and international action in order to promote actions and policies designed to meet the new challenges faced by mountain areas.

Project  

In September 2002, the WMPA defined its project in Quito (in the heart of the Andes) in the form of a Charter for mountain populations throughout the world. The objectives and scope of this Charter were universal: to implement “fair and sustainable” development. ‘Fair’ for the inhabitants of mountain areas, which must: i) have access to the same civil rights, ii) retain control of their resources and the management of their area, iii) benefit fully from the fruit of the new showcasing policy, iv) be recognised for their true identity and the diversity of their cultures, v) enjoy a high level of independence in their actions and vi) benefit from a fair realignment of national resources. ‘Sustainable’ for the areas thanks to a policy to: i) diversify activities, ii) enhance the value of products, iii) control the usage of space, iv) protect agricultural and forestry activities, v) maintain biodiversity and vi) efficiently manage natural resources. Rapid development in these areas requires strong commitment on the part of the national administration and the international community, reinforced co-operation between mountain populations and permanent dialogue between the decision-makers and the representatives of the mountain populations. These are the major components of the project implemented by the WMPA.

Action programmes

The WMPA has formalised its two principal vocations via two action programmes: i) the sharing of knowledge and resources through exchange and co-operation, and ii) the association’s role as the driving force behind new policies and actions to meet the new challenges faced by mountain areas.

1. The introduction, within every mountainous country, of organisations that unite the mountain populations (based on the same model as the WMPA), capable of speaking and making commitments on behalf of these populations, and mobilising them to take part in different projects. Without these structures, measures could only be implemented on an occasional basis and they would be without any real impact.
2. The signing of partnership and exchange conventions between these organisations and their equivalents (European or other) in order to define the objectives, forms and terms of the co-operation (notably for the transfer of knowledge).
3. The staging, every two years, of a “Mountain Forum”, with three principal components: a seminar, information and a platform for forming new partnerships, capable of creating or strengthening the exchange and co-operation dynamics between mountain areas during its preparation, implementation and extension phases.

In order to unite all the mountain partners concerned by the success of this enterprise, the creation of a “Centre for mountain co-operation and exchange” (supported by a Foundation) has been envisaged.

Action programme N° 2: “New challenges, new partners and new tools”
This programme principally encompasses three main axes :

1. Making governments and international institutions aware of the stakes involved with mountain areas and the joint search for solutions to meet the new challenges faced by both the national administration and the international community vis-à-vis these mountain areas. One of the most important phases of this action will be the staging (in Paris) of an “Intergovernmental conference on mountain issues” in 2006. This will present the representatives of mountain populations with an opportunity to initiate dialogue with the representatives of the governments and international institutions.
2. The monitoring of the mountain situation at different levels (geopolitical, environmental, cultural, etc.) with a view to understanding and assessing developments in order to be able to implement corrective or preventive measures. The scheduled creation of a “International Mountain Research Institute” should provide a platform for centralising information and guiding initiatives and research.
3. The fine-tuning of policy, legislation and programme proposals adapted to mountain areas, on the basis of analyses of concrete situations and the evaluation of existing tools and their inadequacies (if any).

Action programme for 2003-2006

The WMPA has launched several pilot projects, monitored by working groups within the association which include representatives of public authorities and qualified persons.

Policies and Laws Initiative
Within the framework of the “Mountain Partnership” launched in 2002 during the International Year of Mountains and co-ordinated by the FAO, the WMPA set itself several objectives :

• to identify the needs and priorities of populations in the different mountain regions
• to list and analyse the traditional forms of governance which have proved their efficiency
• to list and analyse the specific laws which involve mountain policies around the world
• to organise exchange and training sessions for governments, officials and local decision-makers, on the basis of experiences of equitable and sustainable development.

To complete these missions, the WMPA will co-ordinate the compilation of the laws, particularly at European level, and during the period 2005-2006 will organise a working session in each of the six major mountain regions of the world: Andean America, North America, Africa, Central Asia, Himalayas, South-East Asia.

A partnership between the WMPA, UNCEM (Italian association of elected representatives of the mountains) and EURAC (European Academy) will lead the project, whose secretariat will be provided by the FAO.

Global label for mountain produce
The WMPA is working to create an international label for mountain produce, which will make it possible to recognise and describe the “know-how”, for all types of production of goods and services from the world’s mountain regions, with the two-fold aim of improving the economies of these regions and of promoting their identity and culture.

This global label of “produce of the world’s mountain people” will be proposed as an “umbrella brand” for labels which are more specific to a particular mountain region or a particular mountain product. It will be created within the framework of a broad partnership with existing international organisations and with national and regional representations of the WMPA, which will start the process.

Co-operation between mountain territories
The WMPA wants to promote decentralised co-operation between mountain territories in order to develop exchanges of initiatives and know-how (agriculture, management of water and natural resources, transport, ecotourism, etc.). It intends in particular to develop relationships between the Andes and the Himalayas.

There have already been contacts between Andean towns and Alpine towns on the concerted management of water resources. Agreements are also underway between mountain groups in Cameroon and associations of elected officials in Europe.

These experiences should lead to the creation of a network of mountain towns, which will be co-ordinated at international level by the WMPA. The project will make it possible to share problems and solutions regarding town planning and management in a more constricting and more costly mountain context than for other towns.

Traditional cultures and mountains
It is in mountain territories that people grow the plants (coca, opium, hashish) from used to produce the hard drugs consumed primarily in Western countries. That is certainly the most sensitive problem on the planet, as are pure water resources and biodiversity. The populations in question defend their right to continue the traditional and cultural uses of these types of agriculture. They would like viable and acceptable alternatives for global economic development, which would allow them to escape from the illicit use of these products, which help them to survive. It is in this spirit that the WMPA has taken over the original action of Bolivian coca producers located on the mountain with the European Parliament. It plans to extend this thinking and action to the territories and populations of other regions where this type of farming is practised: Morocco, Afghanistan, etc.

Ministerial conference on mountains
The WMPA proposed to the French government to take the initiative in organising the first international ministerial conference on mountains in Paris, with the aim of opening a real dialogue between governments and representatives of mountain people.

This action is guided by the desire to make governments directly aware of the challenges of the mountains and to research together solutions which could be implemented at a national, continental or international level. This Conference will bring together for the first time the States, relevant international organisations, professional organisations and representatives of the mountains (elected officials, communities, NGOs, associations, researchers and simple citizens) represented by the WMPA.

The Conference should conclude with a common declaration by the States. It would also define the action programmes of the international community with regard to these territories. It would thus lay the political foundations for the equitable and sustainable development of mountains, whose signatories would commit to its implementation.

International mountain observatory
It is necessary to monitor the situation of the mountain territories at the different levels (geopolitical, environmental, cultural etc.) in order to learn and understand developments and implement the appropriate policy. The planned creation of an “International mountain observatory” would make it possible to centralise information and to influence thinking. It would use the WMPA network as a means of collecting information as close to the ground as possible. It would also use international organisations, competent administrations and scientific establishments.

See the WMPA schedule

Events planned for 2005-2006 :

• April 2005 : Himalayan regional meeting in Tripuradevi – India
• May 2005 : Executive Board meeting in Martigny – Switzerland
• June 2005 : Visit to France of a delegation from the town of Quito: partnership of Andean towns and Alpine towns
• September 2005 : Andean regional meeting in La Paz – Bolivia: "Territories, autonomies and the State”
• October 2005 : Regional WMPA meetings in France: Alps, Massif Central, Pyrenees
• 1st half 2006 : 2nd WMPA General Assembly and International Ministerial Conference on Mountains – Paris – France