Sustainable mountain development A/RES/71/234 still high, particularly in developing countries, and access to safe and affordable drinking water and basic sanitation as well as to sustainable modern energy services continues to be limited, Noting with deep concern that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the number of mountain people in developing countries considered vulnerable to food insecurity increased by 3 0 per cent between 2000 and 2012, while the total world population of people who live in mountain areas increased by 16 per cent, and in this regard acknowledging the need to prioritize the special and urgent attention needed by mountain areas, including by focusing on the specific challenges they face and the opportunities they provide, Noting the collaborative efforts of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (Mountain Partnership), launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development as a multi-stakeholder approach benefiting from the committed support of 57 Governments, 14 intergovernmental organizations, 210 organizations from major groups and 5 subnational authorities, and engaged in the promotion of sustainable development in its three dimensions — economic, social and environmental — in mountain regions, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on sustainable mountain development; 8 2. Encourages States to adopt a long-term vision and holistic approaches, including through incorporating mountain-specific policies into national sustainable development strategies, increase efforts to end poverty in all its forms and dimensions and address food insecurity and malnutrition, social exclusion, environmental degradation and disaster risk in mountain areas, taking into account that an integrated landscape approach which addresses natural resources management, including watershed and sustainable forest management as well as climate change resilience through multi-stakeholder approaches, can lead to the sustainable development of highland areas, the improvement of the livelihood of the local mountain communities and the sustainable use of mountain resources; 3. Stresses the special vulnerability of people living in mountain environments, often with limited access to health, education and economic systems and particularly at risk because of the negative impact of extreme natural phenomena, and invites States to strengthen cooperative action, with the effective involvement and sharing of knowledge and experience of all relevant stakeholders, including traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples living in mountain areas and knowledge of local mountain communities, by strengthening existing arrangements, agreements and centres of excellence for sustainable mountain development, as well as exploring new arrangements and agreements, as appropriate; 4. Also stresses the importance of innovative solutions for the diversification of livelihoods and income enhancement opportunities for local mountain communities, and in this regard encourages the promotion of innovative solutions and entrepreneurship within local mountain communities, as appropriate, to end poverty and hunger; 5. Further stresses that the traditions and knowledge of indigenous peoples living in mountain areas and the knowledge of local mountain communities, particularly in the fields of agriculture and medicine, should be fully considered, _______________ 8 A/71/256. 3/6

Select target paragraph3