MOUNTAINS are home to 15 percent of the world´s population and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. They provide fresh water for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation. As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people.
This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures. The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains.

International Mountain Day is celebrated annually on 11 December to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development, and build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments worldwide. Women Move Mountains is the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day on 11 December.

Women play a key role in environmental protection and social and economic development in mountain areas. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture and experts in traditional medicine.

Increasing climate variability, coupled with a lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, has often pushed men to migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods. Women have therefore taken on many tasks formerly done by men, yet mountain women are often invisible, due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to resources.
As farmers, market sellers, businesswomen, artisans, entrepreneurs and community leaders, mountain women and girls, in particular in rural areas, have the potential to be major agents of change. When rural women have access to resources, services and opportunities, they become a driving force against hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty and are active in the development of mountain economies.

To trigger real change towards sustainable development, it is important to engage in gender transformative change.
International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity to raise awareness about the need to empower mountain women, so they can participate more effectively in decision-making processes and have more control over productive resources. By sharing excellence, opportunities and capacity development in the mountains, the day can promote gender equality and improve social justice, livelihoods and resilience.

Mountains in Guyana
Mountains and their surrounding landscapes are often picturesque and attract many tourists and nature lovers. Guyana has more than 200 named mountains, with four mountain ranges which are mostly found in the highland region.

Did you know that?
* 57 peaks are found in Cuyuni-Mazaruni
* 45 peaks are found in Potaro-Siparuni
* 52 peaks are found in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

There are four mountain ranges in Guyana:
1. The Acarai Mountains
2. The Imataka Mountains
3. The Pakaraima Mountains and
4. The Kanuku Mountains.

The main mountain range in Guyana is the “Kanuku” Mountains which separate the North and South Rupununi savannahs.
You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.