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Celebrations in Rome to mark first International Mountain Day

Celebrations in Rome to mark first International Mountain Day

Mountain ecosystems are unique reservoirs
Noting that one out of every two people depend on mountain water in some form, and that 245 million people living in rural mountain areas in developing countries are threatened by food insecurity, the United Nations food agency held a series of events in Rome today to mark the first-ever International Mountain Day.

The UN established International Mountain Day to recognize the global importance of mountain eco-systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement issued today. The FAO said this year's theme is "Mountains: Source of Freshwater."

The FAO said its research shows that rural mountain communities in poorer nations are among the hungriest in the world.

FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf, joined by Italy's Regional Affairs Minister Enrico La Loggia, led observances to mark the day at the FAO's headquarters in Rome.

An educational exhibition on mountains was also unveiled and there was a screening of the BBC documentary Angle on Hunger, which was produced by the FAO last year.