Preamble to discussions
 The Vice-Chairman of the Piedmont region, Roberto Vaglio, welcomes the members of the board on behalf of the Chairman, Enzo Ghigo. Chairman Lassalle thanks Roberto Vaglio for this welcome which reveals his unwavering commitment to the WMPA since its start. He then thanks Pierre Rémy – the spiritual father of this whole project– and also thanks the WMPA team, Claudine Stanislas and Gitta Jacob, for having organised this meeting in record time. He welcomes Alain Jouret and Philippe Pialoux, who are here to represent the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and without whom the meeting in Turin would not have been possible. Thanks also go to VSF-CICDA and the Municipality of Saluzzo for their support given to this event. A big welcome to the delegates from Africa (Cameroon, Madagascar, Morocco, Uganda), and to those from Latin America (Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru), and from Asia (Kirghizstan, India, Nepal), and from Europe (France, Italy, Portugal, Rumania), the full list can be downloaded
He reminds us all of the significance of mountains to the world - that they make up 35 % of the planet’s surface and accommodate 15 % of the planet’s population. Mountains are source of some of the richest natural resources on the planet and yet mountain people possess almost none of this wealth. The political and cultural establishments are such that they often find themselves excluded. To recognise their right to have their say on such resources is essential for the future.
After Chambéry, the summit in Quito saw the official registration of WMPA’s birth in 2002 with the adoption of the Charter which comprises its constitution, the structuring of the board and the main principles of the works outlined in the minutes of the full board meeting of Ispoure which was adopted unanimously.
We are yet, according to the Chairman, to give the momentum to this movement which would make it a movement simply impossible to ignore. He reminded the Board that the WMPA had not set out to usurp anyone but was there to work alongside anyone engaged in the delicate field of emotional quotient, comprehension and optimism. In a fractured world this initiative on the part of both men and women to help those who wish to help themselves gives real legitimacy to this peaceful movement. After Europe, Asia, the Andes, this is what the WMPA wants to say to Africa next year.
So as to all be working towards the same objective, the Chairman invites each delegation to respond to the proposals forwarded with the aim of making the long litany of suffering heard at each meeting : namely that of depopulation, breakdown of communities, loss of identity, a thing of the past. «However advanced the world may be in matters of thought and communication, it has never been so trapped in its prejudices. So many problems are pregnant with the seeds of violence. The men and women of the mountain - eternally pacifist - are carriers of hope. Their suffering has driven them to achievements, made greater by frequently extreme conditions, which have shown their genius and their creativity. In order for the global village, which whether we like it or not - is growing before our very eyes – to no longer be lead by armed groups spreading terror here and there, these mountain men and women must be committed in order to keep the thought process alive, the humanity, the equality, in a project that extends beyond their lifetime. What is hard is that they are the ones to be taking the first steps, the ones opening the road forward.»
And then there is the lack of funds at the disposal of mountain communities. It is the role of the WMPA to respond to this, but they are not going to act alone, nor make promises they cannot keep; that is the sense of the action plan proposed. The priority is to complete the organisation. From the basis of three or four buttress ideas to be broadcast worldwide, we must share our conviction with everyone we meet. In order to change things in a significant way, the WMPA have begun working on a project for a foundation and have met potential sponsors responsive to their ideals. The WMPA want to hold the first intergovernmental conference on mountains in Paris, in Spring 2006. It is an ambitious project which has to mobilise the heads of state of all the world’s mountain countries so that this great idea becomes a great programme, taken up by the powerful the world over. Simultaneously a world mountain observatory will be established because one cannot press for things to change, engage the support of militants, if there is no transparency in the challenges, the strengths and the difficulties entailed... This up to date log book should be a source of information for all those who are actively involved. It is a project that demands enormous commitment and work from each and everyone. The first label for Mountain Produce, which is, at this moment, under preparation, will mean that quality products can become a source of revenue for mountains producers. So that is the rough outline of the proposed programme.
« Every time a mountain person began forging a path where no path existed, he never turned back and he was, moreover, almost always followed. This programme means we can mobilise the powerful and enthuse the less so, so that man may meet man and in meeting they may take hold , in one united gesture ,of the great construction project of our time. It is up to us to know whether we want our mountain people to stand strong, keeping a light burning on their territory, the light of hope gleaming out over this foggy and difficult world. A little light of peace... »
Wmpa's international action
Pierre Rémy starts proceedings by reminding the board of his resignation as General Secretary for personal reasons entirely independent of WMPA’s aims or organisation. He has chosen a back seat from where he can express his commitment more actively and with better use of his experience.
He draws our attention to the requirement for structuring our action on the charter to achieve fair and sustainable development of mountain territories. The importance of these two terms in the WMPA constitution, and the consequent originality thereof, is emphasised.
He makes reference to the two most important objectives which triggered its creation :
- To put mountain territories in touch with each other , North and South and also South and South so that they may share their experiences and their resources.
- To voice – internationally - the concerns and wishes of the mountain people to the powers that be.
Beyond the numerous initiatives already undertaken, a further dimension can be made available to the mountain people through an « intergovernmental conference » which should address the issue of specificity, raised by the mountain territories, within the framework of international, regional and national regulations. To achieve this, we need to create a tool to further its exposure worldwide. An « international observatory of mountains » would allow us to improve our knowledge of the main current trends and to act, to react, but above all to anticipate changes. What is more the creation of an “international foundation for the fair and sustainable development of the world’s mountains” would release funds to set up structures and tools of communication.
The proposals for the development of the WMPA’s activities are outlined in the 3 orientation papers distributed during the session :
- General orientations for 2005 ;
- Creation of an International foundation as a means of expanding cooperation between mountain territories ;
- Meeting of an intergovernmental conference on mountains to launch a positive interchange between local peoples and heads of government in mountain countries.
As a result of this discussion, these proposals are adopted unanimously with the following recommendations. They will be implemented with close consultation with the peoples represented and in full respect of their fundamental values (sustainability, equitability, solidarity and democracy), values that have presided over the creation of this communication forum which is the WMPA, keeping in mind at all times the importance of generating added value in order to gain greater support from all our partners, in particular financial backers.
Chairman Lassalle reminds us of the importance of gaining the governments’ confidence so that they commit to supporting the peoples, enabling them to develop the action required. Communicating with and at all these different levels will be one of the top priorities for the future General Secretary to be appointed before the end of the year. On this point, Jean Lassalle thanks Pierre Rémy for his action, comments upon his resignation but also on his wish to continue to see the WMPA expand and to continue working from a distance. He remains a militant and a committed man, rich in ideas and experience. He intends to find before Christmas his replacement, whose remit will differ from his own. Pierre Rémy was General Secretary on a voluntary basis. He now suggests that the next General Secretary be remunerated and in charge of coordinating all the actions and implementing the policy defined by the board. He reminds us that, on October 6th, the executive board asked for members to put themselves forward and that candidates keen to stand should come forward as soon as possible.
Development of communication and cooperation between mountain territories
Africa
Variously structured depending on the country, inter-mountain territory cooperation in Africa is developing with one major concern, that of economic development made possible by the strong increase in added value of the valuable raw materials that they harbour. Faced with national concerns for the reduction of poverty, mountain regions are integrated into national programmes for fair and sustainable development while maintaining their comparative advantages. WMPA Madagascar, set up in 2002, drew up an action plan, approved by the Madagascan Government, on the theme of integrated management of water, on inter-communality and the promotion of products that have high added value (silk, vanilla, essential oils). In Cameroon initiatives have continued since the exchange of experiences between some of the mayors in Cameroon and in France in 2003 on the topic of local government and territorial management. These initiatives lead to the setting up of an association of elected mountain members and the decision to receive the WMPA in 2005. With the support of the NGO Mairies-Conseils, local councils have continued their efforts to identify opportunities for inter-communal cooperation between mountain ranges. In Uganda 50 % of the population live in the high territories, which are home to rare resources with enormous economic potential. A recent meeting of all the mayors on the issue of decentralisation meant that a task force was put in place for mountain development. Firm support for the WMPA would help the setting up of a structure specifically to favour dialogue between mountain communities and the Ugandan Government.
An important initiative on mountains has been launched in Morocco, through a project for new legislation or mountain policy currently under consideration by inter-ministerial committee.
Meanwhile most efforts, in particular that of the populations, are taken up by the immense cross-frontier issues which require answers urgently: the struggle against poverty, access to health and education for all , the status of women, democratic development and particularly local democracy, equality of rights and reconciliation commission for the prevention of serious violations of human rights, and the struggle against the various forms of fundamentalism…
The founding members of WMPA in Morocco have succeeded in raising awareness, around the WMPA, in quite a number of people, principally researchers plus some companion associations of mountain peoples. This initial support for the WMPA project is closely linked to the aim of setting up the Mediterranean WMPA together. Offering henceforth a base for one of the objectives taken on by the WMPA, namely to contribute to the construction of international solidarity (not just that of North-South, but also South-South and North-North), the Mediterranean WMPA represents one of the most innovative initiatives of the WMPA. To facilitate its setting up and to avoid such obstacles as the many conflicts that exist in the East, the founding members in Morocco have suggested beginning with the setting up of West Mediterranean WMPA which would group together North Africa, and the neighbouring European countries such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. The pertinence of such a proposal can be seen when we look at the evolution of the Barcelona process and in how the current WMPA in the Mediterranean is made up, i.e. of members from the afore mentioned countries.
Within Morocco the current situation does not require a new organisation but a framework in which common aims and synergy can be played out by the different actors in the mountain community. Among them the traditional representatives of the mountain communities, who are considered by the local population as the most legitimate representatives, and merit special attention (along with a few “true elected members”). The whole WMPA is called up to persuade them to take up their roles, as defined in the WMPA statutes, and, in this way, reinforce the WMPA’s first collegium.
Andes America
In the Andes there are strong organisations (representing several million indigenous peoples) and multi secular organisations focusing on topics such as territory, resources, cultural identity and the sovereignty of peoples. The WMPA must support such organisations that are already active. And that is why in Bolivia, in October 2002 we held in Achocalla, the 1st Andes regional meeting which took place prior to Quito. The Andes have viewed the WMPA ever since as a means of expression, dialogue and vocalisation and a platform from which to defend community rights on a global level. Trans-national initiatives emerge from these foundation structures like AICO (Association of Indigenous Authorities in Colombia) between Colombia and Ecuador on the defense of the ecosystems under threat and between the Wayuu peoples of Colombia and Ecuador.To hold a continental meeting of the Andes and of the WMPA board would allow an exchange to take place on this project and would also give weight to the local initiatives driven by the peoples who are solidly organised and whose history transcends national frontiers.
Asia
The Nepalese WMPA has registered its statutes and has, among its members, community representatives such as FECOFUN (Fédération Népalaise des Groupes d’utilisateurs de la Forêt - Nepalese Federation of Forest Users) that comprises 1000 representatives from local organisations.) and others who manage water, irrigation, energy, education and health…. They have held a meeting and begun to identify the most sensitive problems. After Ispoure, a concrete action plan was launched in the name of the WMPA by FECOFUN, in the form of a petition which resulted in a reduction in government tax on forest produce from 40 % to 15 %, and also to enable the local groups who manage the forest to benefit.
Nepal is prey to an armed insurrection maintained by the Maoists who demand one man from every household for their army and also demand a 50 % tax on all the produce. Even when the local population manages to loosen the governmental hold on local resources, the people are still left with the insurgents’ demands to contend with. In Daïlekh, 20,000 women and children have succeeded, thanks to their work over the last nine years, in standing up to the insurgents and in refusing to pay their tax and have even managed to chase the insurgents away. For these women and children, the real success, the truly positive result is here: the absence of all exterior power or administration has enabled them to organise themselves on a local level and to introduce a form of real, direct, participatory democracy, thanks to the smallness of the communities involved. For them it is proof that development should not depend so heavily on regional government but more on government by local population because the local population are seeped in the ancient tradition of organising and managing their own resources and their own territory.
In Hindoukouch to the west of the Himalayas, in Afghanistan (at 80% above 1000 m altitude), Madera (Mission d’aide au développement des économies rurales en Afghanistan) who has been participating in the WMPA since Chambéry, has seen the context evolve considerably over the last five years : after the fall of the Taliban, the Afghan state is in full reconstruction mode: President Karzai was elected with a strong turn out ; his government is in place, the legislative elections are in the Spring, followed, sometime later, by the local elections. But the promises of financial backing made by the international community have been too slow to materialize. Incidentally the growing of opium has taken off again. With devastating effect (rise in the cost of land, food producing crops abandoned, increased dependence on drug trafficking on the part of the local peasants… ) and to eradicate it long term requires accompanying conditions which are not in place today, which shows how hard it is build a healthy rural economy quickly. Integrated development programmes are more necessary than ever (education, health, agriculture, livestock) and sadly difficult to achieve while NGOs and funding bodies function separately. Madera has been implementing operations backing rural development (civil engineering, agriculture, animal health, forestry, micro-credit) by trying to promote local development by means of the urgent actions that are always necessary in three zones of the country (in the East near the Pakistani border for the last eighteen years; in the centre, in Hazarajat, for the last ten years; and in the West, in the province of Ghor, for the last four years) financed by the international community in particular Europe and within Europe, France (http://www.madera-asso.org). These actions fall within the framework of regional programmes and are little by little being taken over by national policies such as the NSP (National Solidarity Programme) : the population of the districts concerned are invited to elaborate priority investments (participative methods), to designate pilot committees that have the funding to act with the participation of the NGO or local businesses. Madera is an integral part of the WMPA charter and seeks partnerships between the Afghan territories, in which it is active, and other European regions or local governments, and endeavours to find and encourage Afghan organisations that are interested in making known the living conditions of their mountain peoples and their typical expectations vis-à-vis the international community.
From this point of view the role of the WMPA should not be one of launching their own actions. Their role is to support and motivate the local population’s efforts to structure and manage their own development. In this way the Resource Centres Project enables mountain people, who are isolated and unable to access new information and technologies, to communicate with one another and to share their experience and skills and, through such an exchange, provide reciprocal information and training. The Foundation seems also to be an excellent way of collecting funds to help the local population to look after themselves. The many success stories of local management of national funds for water and irrigation, or electricity provide full justification for community management of such facilities. Lastly mountain people should receive some recompense for their service to the environment and their management of resources on the ground (water and forest). The action plan for a mountain label will not only promote survival but even create a means of survival for mountain people: tea, coffee, medicinal herbs etc.
Europe
In Europe local mountain communities have been structured for several years as organisations that act nationally (UNCEM in Italy, ANEM in France) and at a European level (AEM). The Vice Chairman, Valerio Prignachi, reaffirms the enthusiasm and commitment of UNCEM (Unione Nazionale Comuni Comunità Enti Montani), founding organisation of the WMPA, which represents all the Italian mountain communities. They have offered to hold a meeting at the beginning of January focusing on consultation and coordination to achieve better synergy between the founder organisations of the WMPA in the implementation of orientations and their funding. This meeting ought to bring new verve to the commitment of our European partners.
Switzerland, represented by a delegation from Canton du Valais, mentions that there is a mountain people group (called SAB) that they could envisage joining the WMPA in the future. The ability to convince and congregate greater numbers through the European organisation has, according to Vice-Chairman, Gabrielle Nanchen, to be achieved in compliance with the formal rules at statuary meetings.
There is discussion of a mountain section being set up within the Portuguese Municipal group which would allow for greater participation of the Portuguese in the WMPA in the future. If a WMPA meeting were to be hosted in Portugal, it would give weight to this project.
Conclusion
The calendar for 2005 should make room for the organisation of talk groups that could give additional support to local and regional initiatives by putting into place communication centres and relay hubs for their activities (setting up of a Mediterranean Region, follow up of activities in the Andes, Himalaya, Africa and Europe). The structuring of the network should be built up from the organisations that are both representative and legitimately established, but yet to be listed in detail. At their next board meeting, the WMPA should discuss methods of participation, communication and its internal organisation ( the way it functions as an association on international level,reinforcement of both collegium 2 and 3, and how meetings are run) The consolidation of its activities requires special thought (capitalisation and transmission of initiatives, methodologies and forms of expression specific to peoples, recognition of mountain identity on a European level, work on the identity of the people along side the work on products and the project to label them). |
