Day-3: World Mountain Forum

Sunday December 11th 2011

In the framework of the Third Verbier Green Pioneering Summit, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in partnership with the private sector, internationally engaged individuals and regional mountain initiatives worldwide will launch the World Mountain Forum during the Verbier Green Pioneering Summit in conjunction with the celebration of the International Mountain Day on December 11^th 2011.

The vision of the World Mountain Forum (WMF) is to conserve, construct and celebrate mountain regions as vital ecosystems, by engaging their inhabitants and all those who benefit from mountains to jointly promote their conservation and sustainable development.

“Mountains provide humankind with stunning landscapes, recreation, inspiration and resources, such as water, that are indispensable to our common future. However globally, mountain environments suffer from widespread degradation and their people endure poverty, lack of opportunities and neglect”

Recent years have seen a massive increase in construction and investment in mountain resorts like Verbier. Climate change and environment discussions are focusing more on the risk of melting snow caps, glaciers and seasonal melt water which provide life support for billions of people around the world. Mountain communities need business development, but they also want to ensure that it is managed and sustainable in an environmentally friendly way.

The WMF is a network of individuals and organisations concerned with the wellbeing of mountain dwellers. The theme of this first Forum is to construct, conserve and celebrate our common mountain home, a subject that links the abiding reverence of traditional mountain cultures to the powerful restorative forces the modern societies still find in the high places of the world. This forum will, for the first time, unite the global community of those who live, work and play in mountains.

The WMF is a public-private program that aims at stimulating business relations for generating funding to enhance communication and implement practical sustainable solutions in the world’s mountain regions. The vision of the World Mountain Forum is to conserve, construct and celebrate mountain regions as vital ecosystems, by engaging their inhabitants and all those who benefit from mountains to jointly promote their conservation and sustainable development. The WMF will celebrate the International Mountain Day with a special interactive space with live streaming and activities focused for the younger generations.

The event will close with the prize-giving of the Everest Award which will be given to the winner of an art competition. The subject of the competition will be “why we love our mountains” for children from the four participating continents.

 

Programme

09.00  Registration

10.00  Introduction by Moderator’- Gregory Greenwood - Director, Mountain Research Initiative

10.05  Official opening – Launch of the World Mountain Forum – Francois Muenger – Head Water Initiative Section, Global Cooperation Domain, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

• “Mountains as the world’s water towers and the role of the private sector”

10.30  Live  link with Kathmandu organised by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

• Video  “Conserving Pachamama” by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Johannah Bernstein - Environmental Lawyer
• “Himalayan approach to conservation, construction and celebration” by ICIMOD
• Keynote speaker in Kathmandu – Why Mountains matter for me ? Rajesh Hamal, actor
• Keynote speaker in Verbier – Why Mountains matter for me ?  Patrick Z’Brun, Director of Vins Chevaliers , Mountaineer and Founder of Swiss Sherpa Association
• Simultaneous panels in Verbier and Kathmandu- Discussion on “Conserve, Construct and Celebrate”with
• In Kathamandu : Dawa Steven, Sherpa – Rajan Kotru, Watershed Management Specialist, ICIMOD – Jean-François Cuenod, SDC
• In Verbier : Patrick Z’Brun, Director of Vins Chevaliers , Mountaineer and Founder of Swiss Sherpa Association-  David Frankel, Project Director Aleevee8 – David Breashears, Mountaineer and film maker

11.30  The importance of Public-Private Partnership in addressing global challenges by Daniel Maselli, Senior Programme Officer ‘Global Mountain Development’ - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

• Presentation of the first Public-Private Partnership Project- “The Carafe Initiative” by Marinah Embiricos, Co-Chair Verbier GPS, Founder & President of Botza
• Overview of the Blue Schools Programme – Presentations of the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) by Vessela Monta, Executive Director and the Initiator of the “Blue Schools” programme
• The future of the Public-Private Partnership Project (PPP) - Presentation of potential other PPP projects: Gregory Greenwood, Director of Mountain Research Initiative – David Frankel, Project Director Aleevee8
• Official launch of the Public-Private Partnership with Elisabeth Delamorclaz, Commune de Bagnes, Environmental Department, Services Industriels de Bagnes

12.30 Official address - Feedback and impressions from World Mountain Forum initiative and possible connection to Rio +20 - Brice Lalonde,  Executive coordinator Rio+20

12.50  Lunch – Le Hameau Restaurant

14.00  Video  “Conserving Pachamama” by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Johannah Bernstein - Environmental Lawyer

14.10  Opening address – Public-Private Partnerships in European Mountains by Jan Dusik, Acting Regional Director and Regional Representative, United Nations Environment Programme – Regional Office for Europe - UNEP

• Overview of the Carpathian Eco-Region Initiative by Christoph Promberger
• ViaStoria, Cultural Routes of Switzerland: An Opportunity for other Mountain Regions  by Guy Schneider, Project manager, Himalaya Heritage Routes

15.00 Live link with Cusco organised by CONDESAN (Consorcio para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Ecorregión Andina) and SDC

• Opening address - “Conserve, Construct, Celebrate” presented by CONDESAN
• Keynote Speaker in Verbier- “Why and how mountains matter for me?” by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of Nestlé Group
• Keynote speaker in Cusco – “Why and how mountains matter for me?” by Director of CONDESAN
• Simultaneous panels in Verbier and Cuzco- Discussion on “Conserve, Construct and Celebrate” with
• In Cusco : Marco Sotomayor, Proyecto MASAL – Ninoska Rozas Palma, Cusco’s Regional Natural Ressources
• In Verbier : Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Donna Bertarelli, Dominique Perret

16.00 Coffee break

16.30 Live with Whistler organised by the Whistler Centre for Sustainability

• Opening address – “Conserve, Construct, Celebrate” by Whistler Centre for Sustainability
• Keynote speaker in Whistler – Celebration of the International Mountain Day by Whistler Centre for Sustainability
• Simultaneous panels in Verbier and Whistler – Discussion on “Conserve, Construct and Celebrate”

17.30  Keynote address – “Climate Change and the Himalaya” by David Breashears, mountaineer and film maker

17.50 Closing ceremony -Awards-school painting contest on why we love our mountains - Princess Lilly zu Sayn Wittgenstein Berleburg

18.00  Closing remarks – Awards and official closing by Ambassador and swiss official