A/RES/62/196 Noting the outcome of the meeting of the Adelboden Group on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions, which met in Rome from 1 to 3 October 2007, Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on sustainable mountain 1. development; 4 3F 2. Notes with appreciation that a growing network of Governments, organizations, major groups and individuals around the world recognize the importance of the sustainable development of mountain regions for poverty eradication, and recognizes the global importance of mountains as the source of most of the Earth’s freshwater, as repositories of rich biological diversity and other natural resources, including timber and minerals, as providers of some sources of renewable energy, as popular destinations for recreation and tourism and as areas of important cultural diversity, knowledge and heritage, all of which generate positive, unaccounted economic benefits; Recognizes that mountains provide indications of global climate change 3. through phenomena such as modifications of biological diversity, the retreat of mountain glaciers and changes in seasonal runoff that may impact major sources of freshwater in the world, and stresses the need to undertake actions to minimize the negative effects of these phenomena; Recognizes also that sustainable mountain development is a key 4. component in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in many regions of the world; Notes with concern that there remain key challenges to achieving 5. sustainable development, eradicating poverty in mountain regions and protecting mountain ecosystems, and that populations in mountain regions are frequently among the poorest in a given country; Encourages Governments to adopt a long-term vision and holistic 6. approaches in their sustainable development strategies, and to promote integrated approaches to policies related to sustainable development in mountain regions; Also encourages Governments to integrate mountain sustainable 7. development in national, regional and global policymaking and development strategies, including through incorporating mountain-specific requirements in sustainable development policies or through specific mountain policies; Notes that the growing demand for natural resources, including water, the 8. consequences of erosion, deforestation and other forms of watershed degradation, the occurrence of natural disasters, as well as increasing out-migration, the pressures of industry, transport, tourism, mining, agriculture and the consequences of global climate change are some of the key challenges in fragile mountain ecosystems to implementing sustainable development and eradicating poverty in mountain regions, consistent with the Millennium Development Goals; Underlines the importance of sustainable forest management, the 9. avoidance of deforestation, as well as the restoration of lost and degraded forest ecosystems of mountains in order to enhance the role of mountains as natural carbon and water regulators; _______________ 4 2 A/62/292.