"The mountains are considered the symbol of courage and peace. These arc the last natural frontiers, and nature's ultimate strongholds. In Europe, Alps are extensively being used for mountain tourism. The Rockies are a great source of inspiration to Canada, USA and Mexico. The Andes Ranges are the most beautiful scenic-mountains in Southern America and are being used for tourism. Some nations have done marvellous work in mountain tourism.
The mountains are the most modern genetic pool for the human being over this earth. The Caucasus, Carpathians and a few other parts of Southern Europe are a source of wild fruits, nuts, wild pears, apples, plum, pistachio, pomegranate, fig and wild wheats.
Mountains are storehouses for natural resources - water, minerals and timber. The mountain forests protect the lands from Hood, avalanche, erosion and landslide. The Archa (juniper) forests that once covered Tien Shan, Pamir Alai in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have been vanished away once covering 20,000 km2 Archa forests have been reduced to 4000 km2.
The mountains are a great source of freshwater rivers. We should harness and protect them for mountain tourism and sustainable livelihoods. |
