This year, the spotlight shines on the importance of protecting ecosystems around the world’s summits, for future generations.

It is an occasion to educate children about the role that mountains play in supporting billions up and downstream – providing freshwater, clean energy, food and recreation.

Making education, training, employment, and access to technology readily available, can ensure a brighter future for young communities on mountainsides everywhere.

Listen here to the FAO's podcast Target: Zero Hunger. In this episode, FAO's Charlotta Lomas visits Montenegro, where smallholder farmers rely heavily on traditional agriculture practices for their livelihoods. So much so, that a poor blueberry harvest or honey season can have devastating impacts on rural households. 

Lack of opportunities 

As access to opportunities for youth living in mountains can be scarce, the day offers the chance to demand improvements in order to prevent the drift away to lowland areas, in search of a better life and employment.