Mountain pastoralists have shaped life on high-altitude rangelands for generations. Through seasonal movements, grazing practices and knowledge passed down over generations, they care for animals, produce food and fibre products, and support biodiversity and water resources far beyond the highlands.

Yet these traditions are at risk: climate change, land degradation and shrinking access to grazing lands and water are threatening pastoralist livelihoods.

This year's International Mountain Day contributes to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

We invite you to capture life on mountain rangelands through your camera lens. The winning photo will receive an action camera.

How to enter:

1. Submit up to 5 photos showing life on mountain rangelands. For example:
   · pastoralists moving herds across mountain landscapes
   · yaks, llamas, alpacas, sheep or other animals adapted to mountain environments
   · seasonal migrations, transhumance and traditional grazing practices
   · Indigenous Peoples' and local knowledge practices
   · women and youth shaping pastoralist livelihoods
   · shearing and spinning wool, weaving textiles, felting, embroidery and knitting
   · cooking, handling animals, feeding, milking and dairy production
2. Submit the online entry form, explaining what your photo portrays, where it is located, and why mountain rangelands are vital to sustaining life and our planet.
3. Share your photo on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Flickr using the hashtag #MountainsMatter, tagging @FAO and @UNMountains.

Deadline for entries: 10 August 2026

Disclaimer: participants under the age of 18 need the consent of their parent or legal custodian, who must sign the Subject Release Form and email it to Info-IMD@fao.org.

Source: FAO, click here to follow the link

The 64th session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) SB64 took place in Bonn, bringing together delegates from about 190 countries. The purpose of the event was to lay the groundwork for future climate decisions and to prepare for the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP31), to be held in Antalya, Turkey. The Kyrgyz Republic's delegation, headed by the President's Special Representative for the Mountain Agenda Dinara Kemelova, took part in the session.

At the plenary session, the Kyrgyzstan delegation, speaking on behalf of the Mountain Group, which unites 11 states, noted that mountain countries remain among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and need access to climate finance, modern technology, and early warning systems. It was emphasized that mountain regions play a key role in global resilience, affecting water security, biodiversity, food systems, and energy for both mountain states and downstream countries.

On June 12, as part of the Bonn Conference, the International Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change was held, as mandated by the COP30 decision. The discussion involved representatives of more than 30 states, as well as international organizations, NGOs, academia, and local communities. Participants stressed the need to more fully account for the specifics of mountain regions in the international climate agenda and to integrate mountain issues into UNFCCC mandates and work programs. A report with recommendations for consideration at COP31 will be prepared based on the outcomes of the Dialogue.

On June 10, Andorra, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Bhutan, with support from the Mountain Partnership Secretariat and other partners, organized a thematic event, "Advancing Mountains and Climate Change: SBSTA 64 Dialogue, COP31 and Next Steps," with the participation of state representatives, international organizations, the academic community, youth, and indigenous peoples. Discussions covered measures to strengthen the climate resilience of mountain regions, including financial mechanisms, debt-for-climate swap instruments, and adaptation and climate risk reduction programs.

The Mountain Group held consultations with the COP31 Presidency (Turkey and Australia) on further advancing the mountain agenda, including capacity-building and improving mountain countries' access to climate finance.

On the sidelines of the events and during bilateral meetings with the GEF, the Adaptation Fund, and representatives of a number of states, partners were briefed on the Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25."

Following the Seventh Global Meeting of the Mountain Partnership in Andorra, members of the Steering Committee unanimously elected the Kyrgyz Republic as First Vice-Chair, and Kyrgyzstan was re-elected to the Committee for a new four-year term. The meeting brought together representatives of more than 687 members of the Mountain Partnership an international alliance established in 2002 by the governments of Italy and Switzerland together with FAO and UNEP including 74 governments worldwide. The meeting was the last before the conclusion of the Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions for 2023–2027. The Kyrgyz Republic's delegation, headed by the President's Special Representative for the Mountain Agenda Dinara Kemelova, took part in the forum.

On March 25, a bilateral meeting was held with the Head of Government of the Principality of Andorra, Xavier Espot Zamora, during which a message from the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov was delivered, inviting Andorra to participate in the Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25" in 2027, and bilateral cooperation on the mountain agenda was discussed.

On March 26, chaired by Andorra's Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor Faus, a High-Level Round Table was held on consolidating the efforts of mountain countries and strengthening international cooperation in advancing the mountain agenda, with the participation of delegations from Armenia, Germany, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, and Ecuador. Dinara Kemelova delivered a message from President Sadyr Japarov, reported on the outcomes of the "Global Mountain Dialogue" held in Bishkek in 2025 and the initiatives announced by the Head of State, and called for the consolidation of efforts by mountain countries to advance the mountain agenda.

The same day, during a panel session on climate, Kyrgyzstan's activities in promoting the mountain agenda at international platforms, including within UNFCCC structures, were presented, and the dates of the Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25" October 21–23, 2027 were announced.

On the sidelines of the meeting, a side event was held in partnership with the OSCE on the impact of climate change in mountain areas on migration and security.

Bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the forum with officials from Andorra, Germany, Switzerland, Montenegro, Italy, UNEP, and the OSCE on cooperation and preparations for the upcoming "Bishkek+25" Summit. With the German delegation, prospects for protecting mountain ecosystems and cooperation within climate and financial platforms were discussed. At a meeting with Arnold Kreilhuber, Director of the UN Environment Programme's European Regional Office, practical aspects of UNEP's involvement in preparing the Summit were discussed, including the conservation of the snow leopard and the protection of mountain ecosystems.

Following the meeting, members of the Mountain Partnership adopted the Andorra Declaration, setting out a common agenda for the next four years.

Closing the meeting, Andorra's Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor Faus noted that mountain regions connect landscapes, peoples, and states, and that what happens in the mountains is felt downstream as well, and that resilience must be built together.

Italy retained its status as Chair of the Steering Committee, as the Mountain Partnership's main donor. From civil society organizations in Central Asia, the public organization "Anajita" (Tajikistan) and the Kyrgyzstani organization "Camp Ala-Too" (alternate) were elected to the Committee.