May 29, 2019 - At the launching ceremony, Mr. Wu Mai, the Deputy Secretary-general of IMTA, read the Call to Action: Guarding Our Mountain Home co-sponsored by IMTA, Chinese Mountaineering Association and Nepalese Mountaineering Association, calling on everyone to change from the beneficiaries of mountain resources to the guardians of mountain homes, cherish nature, revere nature, conform to nature, protect mountain ecological environment, and cherish it, to make positive contributions to the sustainable utilization of mountainous resources.
Mountains are an important terrestrial form, ecosystem and living space. The natural and cultural resources in the mountainous environment are precious wealth shared by all human beings and important tourism and outdoor sports resources. Related industries involved from mountain resources are rich in variety and contents, covering sightseeing, leisure, climbing, hiking, skiing, exploration, scientific expedition, popular science, research and other categories, and has become a modern way of life that people aspire.
Mountain health tourism has brought people with an brand new experience. More and more people choose mountain tourism and outdoor sports as a lifestyle that is beneficial to both physical and mental health. When people get close to the nature and get to know the nature, they can relax their body and mind, and find their true self. As a result of climate change and human activities, mountains are struggling with problems such as ecological damage, environmental pollution and receding snowline. Take Mount Qomolangma(Mount Sagarmatha/Mount Everest) , the Roof of the World, as an example, flocks of climbers and endless snow are not the only scene of the mountains. Increasing wastes, like food bags, food cans, used ropes, used tents and used gas cans have cast an indelible shadow on the holy snow mountains. The ecological environment and resources of the mountainous regions are extremely fragile. Over-exploitation is destroying the ecological environment and biodiversity of mountains. For example, the damage of mountain vegetation causes soil erosion, desertification and ecological imbalance, and aggravates global warming.
Mountains are our common home. Mountains are generous. The complex and volatile environment of the mountainous regions brings abundant and diverse natural resources. It creates a sound living space and environment for people to live in harmony with nature, nurtures brilliant cultures, and generates an unforgettable experience for tourists. Mountains are also fragile. We should respect and reward the generosity of mountains, make good use of the gifts of mountains, develop and consume mountain resources in a sustainable way.
Mountain is the spiritual homeland of mankind. We should shoulder the responsibility of guarding our mountain home, and make mountains a colorful part of human civilization. To this end, the International Mountain Tourism Alliance, the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Nepal Mountaineering Association are jointly making this appeal to “Guard Our Mountain Home”. We call on the mountain ecological concept of "scientific, civilized, safe and environment-friendly" . Let us, with a sense of social responsibility and historical mission, change our role from the beneficiaries of mountain resources to the guardians of mountain home, cherish and revere nature, follow the laws of nature, protect the ecological environment of mountains, cherish mountain cultural resources, use them wisely, and contribute to the everlasting utilization of mountain resources with redoubled efforts.
