Homo Montanus: Sustainable human-mountain relations in a changing world.

The second edition of the Global Mountain Sustainability (GMS) Forum aims at exploring sustainable and resilient human-mountain relations in light of current societal and environmental challenges humanity is faced with. In doing so, the conference strives to provide a platform for multi- and interdisciplinary discussion while shedding light on the lessons to be learned from mountains and mountain communities in relation to the sustainable reorganisation of modern societies. A special focus will be placed on the dynamics between highlands and lowlands.

All scientists, researchers and students are invited to submit their application to present their research. Interdisciplinary topics are particularly welcome! Abstracts should be assigned to one of the four thematic sessions:
– Managing environmental challenges in mountain areas
– Resilient communities & community resilience
– Mountain leadership
– Changing values and mountain narratives

Call for Abstracts: Sunday, 29 May 2022
Registration: 30 June 2022
More Information: https://lnkd.in/dtPxnFs

The ODT Forum 2022 will revolve around the theme: “What are the strategies for the sustainability of localised agri-food systems in the face of the climate crisis?”. It aims to open up arenas for debate on the issue of global ecosystem health, policy solutions for sustainable transition at different territorial scales and the future roles of food systems.

The ODT Forum community will underline in 2022 the importance of mountain territories by focusing its attention mainly, but not exclusively, on mountain territories and their agri-food chains, also due to the involvement of its partners (academics, politicians, researchers and local actors) in the European project MOVING H2020.

The “International Mountain Conference” will open this year’s ODT Forum, with ten field visits in the morning and debates in the afternoon with local stakeholders, scientists, the Tête de Moine PDO sector and the Swiss and Jura authorities. The objective of this international mountain conference is to give the floor to personalities from all continents to bring a global perspective to the functioning of localised agri-food systems and the innovative approaches developed by mountain communities in the face of the climate crisis.

The following two days of the ODT Forum will address the theme in 5 workshops with complementary angles:

1. Identify impacts of differentiation strategies on the sustainability and resilience of territories to climate change.
2. Research on mountain territories, particularly affected by climate change.
3. Bring together researchers, experts and practitioners on the theme of “OneHealth” global health of ecosystems, animals and human populations and strategies to restore or improve it.
4. Take stock of the resilience strategies of territories focused on the search for food sovereignty, sometimes to achieve food autonomy.
5. Reflect on the role of public policies in the agro-ecological transition of territories in the global context, focusing on soil in climate policy and the need to better connect agricultural policy, including quality signs with rural development policy.

Registration and call for contributions, here.

See flyer of the Forum, here.

It is a unique opportunity to get in touch with academics, experts, researchers, international organisations, local actors, and promoters of innovative initiatives. Participants will discover the landscapes and sounds of the Swiss and French Jura mountains, and meet and dialogue with members of rural communities on site.

Euromontana and CIA – Agricoltori italiani are co-organising the XII European Mountain Convention in Sila National Natural Park, Italy, on 25-26-27 October 2022.

The XII European Mountain Convention aims to define a sustainable strategy for the development of smart mountains towards 2050.

The Convention goals are to present the economic, social or environmental challenges faced by European mountains and provide innovative solutions to these. It will thus showcase smart initiatives for key sectors in mountain areas, such as tourism and agriculture, and will provide the basis for more integrated and effective public policies, contributing to the sustainable development of mountain areas and the quality of life of mountain communities.

MOVING will organise an European Multi-Actor Platform (EU MAP) webinar on 8 November 2022, from 9.30 to 1.15 (CET), on European Quality schemes: the added value for mountain value chains.

The objectives of the webinar are;

• Find out more about MOVING project results and the EU MAP;
• Provide an update of the new EU quality policy, according to the EC legislative proposals;
• Inform about the implementation and added value of the EU quality schemes and the implications for mountain value chains;
• Enhance the exchange, learn and interact at the EU level on the application to mountain value chains.

See Draft Agenda, here. The webinar includes a final internal session for members, and others interested actors, about the EU MAP (meet its members, present and future actions). Please indicate in the registration whether or not you would like to participate in this session.

Complete Registration form, here.

Learn more:

• Update of the EU quality frameworks in the blog article ‘The revision of the EU Geographical Indications system’ by Francesca Alampi (AREPO).

• Read the interview with Lukas Flinzberger (University of Göttingen) about Protected Designations of Origin and correlations with social-ecological landscape values.

• Read the blog article Farm certification schemes for sustainable agriculture: specifications for origin and quality of the final products by Blanca Casares (AEIDL)

The United Nations designated 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. Despite the efforts made in promoting the sustainable development of mountain regions and the conservation of mountain ecosystems, poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, limited access to basic services (drinking water, sanitation, energy), environmental degradation and exposure to natural hazards are still increasing.

The symposium welcomes contributions from the research community in helping to respond to some of these challenges. A potential outcome of the symposium is to consolidate key discussion points and reflections on possible research priorities and/or contributions that the Swiss and international geosciences community would like to propose in support of the goals of the Year and the planned strategy roadmap that will follow.