International Conference on
Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions
(SARD-Mountains 2002),
16 - 20 June 2002 - Adelboden, Switzerland
From 16 to 20 June, about 200 participants from countries with mountain regions are expected to participate in an "
International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions" in Adelboden, Switzerland. This conference can be seen as a link between the World Food Summit: five years later and the
World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (WSSD). It offers an opportunity to link and strengthen the follow-up of Chapter 13 (Sustainable Mountain Development) and Chapter 14 (Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development) of Agenda 21.
The conference is also one of a series of major global events associated with the
International Year of the Mountains (IYM2002), for which FAO is the lead agency. "
Mountains are crucial to all life on earth. Mountains provide most of the world's fresh water, harbour as much or more biodiversity than any other ecoregion on the planet and are home to more than one in ten people worldwide. Yet, in many parts of the world, the web of life that mountains support is threatened by war, poverty, hunger, climate change and environmental destruction." declared Mr Themba Masuku, Director of the FAO's Liaison Office with the United Nations in Geneva during a press conference on 11 April in Berne.
More than half of the 200 participants will be representatives of local stakeholders. The main strategic issues discussed will be :
- Roles and tasks of agriculture.
- Good practices.
- Access to resources.
- Fair conditions for work.
Eight case studies will be presented during working groups. The participants are anticipated to adopt on the closing day a final "Declaration of Adelboden" providing recommendations on SARD in mountain regions and to discuss concrete "initiatives for partnership" as a follow-up to the conference.
More details on this conference are available at the following address :
http://www.sard-m2002.ch
