Problems of Mountainous Regions and International Organizations

Abstract

Mountainous landscapes occupy about a fifth of Earth’s entire terrestrial surface. Despite the fact, mountain systems are present on every continent, world scientists have not agreed on the definition of high mountains yet. One thing is clear, mountains criteria is based on altitude and slope in combination (Goishvili, 2004).

Mountains are differed by their location, area, elevation, orography, natural conditions, Altitudinal zonation, level of geopolitical development and other characteristics (Gogoladze, 2020).

In the past, governments were trying to develop lowlands and create comfortable living conditions for local people, because these territories were producing a major share of states’ GDP. Mountain areas were often left without development. Before the XX century, mountains were a topic of interest to a relatively small number of scientists, development experts, and decision makers.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, presented a unique opportunity to move mountains onto the global stage, through the inclusion of a specific chapter in Agenda 21, the plan for action endorsed at UNCED by the Heads of State or Government of most of the world’s nations (Price 1998; Stone 2002).

The article discusses the importance of mountain areas, their geographical problems and international conventions and organizations whose main objectives are promotion of protection and sustainable development of mountain areas.