Source: TOI
Context: The 12th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS-XII) began at Doon University, Dehradun.
About Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS):
- What it is?
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- A flagship annual summit that addresses ecological, economic, and social challenges of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
- Acts as a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and policy recommendations.
- Organised by: Conducted by the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), a civil society-led network.
- Origin: First held in 2011 at Nainital, Uttarakhand (SMDS-I).
- Aim:
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- Promote sustainable development in ecologically fragile Himalayan ecosystems.
- Strengthen community participation in governance and policy-making.
- Blend science and traditional wisdom for resilience against climate change.
- Mainstream mountain concerns into India’s national and global development agenda.
- Features:
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- Mountain Legislators’ Meet (MLM): Policy dialogue with elected representatives from IHR states.
- Indian Himalayan Youth Summit: Platform for youth to voice challenges and solutions.
- Knowledge sessions: Cover agroecology, disaster management, sustainable tourism, and climate adaptation.
- Cross-sector participation: Involves scientists, farmers, NGOs, academicians, and government officials.
- Significance:
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- Policy impact: Provides actionable recommendations influencing state and central policies.
- Climate resilience: Encourages adoption of traditional farming, organic practices, and disaster preparedness.
