"Forum" is a popular word in UN circles since it stresses that groups gathered to discuss matters are not intended to take decisions.  In this way discussions are less inhibited and often more creative.

The Mountain Forum

MOUNTAIN FORUM was the name agreed in Lima for a "federation of networks" to ensure that those working in mountain sustainable development knew of each other's activity and were able to offer help where possible.

This concept was embodied in a successful proposal to the Swiss Government in 1995/6 for the funding of what was the principal follow-up machinery to Ch. 13 of Agenda 21. The original design comprised a membership administration and regional communication nodes in Latin America, North America, Asia, and Africa. The nervous system of the body was to be electronic links to facilitate a communication between all those who registered their email addresses. Its most ambitious project was a participatory Conference and bulletin board which rapidly became a great success in providing general connectivity for those interested in the mountain agenda and a notable advance on the conventional face to face conference for shaking out policy proposals and publishing  results. The original design also had a major outreach concept which was to target the media and raise public awareness. The Mountain Forum  provided the connectivity or "nervous system" for a world-wide network of NGOs and individuals interested in environmental threats to mountains and their populations.

The original design was truncated due to a last minute reduction in hoped for funding by the major donor, the Swiss Government. The halving of the anticipated support generously offered by SDC in 1996 and 1997meant inevitable decisions on priorities. An international server node - was set up to cope with membership requirements and the hosting of a bulletin board/conference facility for the members of the Mountain Forum. The ambitious series of successful, cheap and effective electronic conferences among members resulted in published policy documents. These were prepared in a fifth the time of conventional conferences at about only 20 per cent of the cost and are all available through the Internet. Currently a data base of various documents is also carried and can be accessed electronically

(It is open to all. Join through http://www.mtnforum.org. or by e mail through <mtn-forum@mtnforum.org.>.)

 

Mallory´s body found, Knoydart rescued, Himalayan glaciers-alarm grows, Everest Forests-a Sherpa's view,
The epic of Mt. Everest, The state of the world mountains, My first summer in Sierra
Poems and Belles letters, The Yellow brick Road - Polemic, Paradise fishing at Autannes, Traditional Solar Science,Dogs on high, Obituary, Esme Percy, Web-sites for browsing
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan on sustainable mountain tourism
P.B. Stone on mountains under pressure (general overeview of so-called Mountain problematique

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