Mountains come in all shapes and sizes. Found on every continent, from the equator to the polar regions, they rise to different altitudes, in a great variety of climates and particular combinations of ecosystems.

For millennia, mountains have served as vast reserves of valuable resources - such as water, energy and biological diversity - as well as centres of culture and recreation.

Unfortunately in our current society, the rapid pace of globalization, urbanization and mass tourism are threatening mountain communities and the resources they depend on.

This is why the United Nations has proclaimed 2002 as the International Year of Mountains (IYM). The aim is to increase international awareness of the global importance of mountain ecosystems and has placed mountains on an equal footing with climate change as a key issue in the global debate on environment and development.

As all Natives love mountains, we thought you might find some of the following links interesting:

Official 'Year of the Mountains' Website
Peakware (Photographs and details of mountains around the world)
European Mountain Forum

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