A/RES/62/196 10. Notes that sustainable agriculture in mountain regions is important for the protection of the mountain environment and the promotion of the regional economy; 11. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in mountain regions, especially those in developing countries, and urges the international community to take concrete steps to support national and regional efforts to ensure the sustainable development of mountains; 12. Encourages Governments, the international community and other relevant stakeholders to improve the awareness, preparedness and infrastructure to cope with the increasing impact of disasters in mountain regions, such as flash floods, including glacial lake outburst floods, as well as landslides, debris flow and earthquakes; 13. Encourages Governments, with the collaboration of the scientific community, mountain communities and intergovernmental organizations, where appropriate, to study, with a view to promoting sustainable mountain development, the specific concerns of mountain communities, including the effects of global climate change on mountain environments and biological diversity, in order to elaborate sustainable adaptation strategies to cope with the adverse effects of climate change; 14. Underlines the fact that action at the national level is a key factor in achieving progress in sustainable mountain development, welcomes its steady increase in recent years with a multitude of events, activities and initiatives, and invites the international community to support the efforts of developing countries to develop and implement strategies and programmes, including, where required, enabling policies and laws for the sustainable development of mountains, within the framework of national development plans; 15. Encourages the further establishment of committees or similar multistakeholder institutional arrangements and mechanisms at the national and regional levels, where appropriate, to enhance intersectoral coordination and collaboration for sustainable development in mountain regions; 16. Also encourages the increased involvement of local authorities, as well as other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, in the development and implementation of programmes, land-use planning and land tenure arrangements, and activities related to sustainable development in mountains; 17. Underlines the need for improved access to resources, including land, for women in mountain regions as well as the need to strengthen the role of women in mountain regions in decision-making processes that affect their communities, cultures and environments; 18. Encourages, in this regard, Governments and intergovernmental organizations to integrate the gender dimension, including, inter alia, gender disaggregated indicators, in mountain development activities, programmes and projects; 19. Stresses that indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge, including in the field of medicine, are to be fully considered, respected and promoted in development policy and planning in mountain regions, and underlines the 3