Journal 31

Recently, I have been revisiting the Mountain Focus Group meeting that was hosted on the 17^th of October by the Permanent Mission of Italy. Aside from the usual countries (Italy and Switzerland) that were present and the influence that they brought to the conference. There were 2 groups there that I believe I did not give them the just recognition that they deserved; they were the UIMF and Vista 360.

The first is Vista 360, a Non-Governmental Organization situated next to and representative of the Rocky Mountains and Jackson, Wyoming and their contributions; which seeks the preservation of mountainous cultures worldwide. While their words were insightful and certainly appropriate to the meeting, of more significance was their presence. They, along with the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF – the other group), which was there representing the City of Orem, Utah and, the only educational institution, Utah Valley University, were a very minor yet truly significant representation of mountain-minded individuals. They represented a small yet fast growing group of concerned individuals who are interested in the outcome of sustainable mountain-development policy. Yet, despite their being there representing mountain development at the community level, they had an almost non-existent role in the meeting. This is not to say that they didn’t get a chance to speak or that their words fell on deaf ears. In fact, some of what they spoke of was the catalyst for other discussions.

The relevance of this though was lost in the grander scheme of things. The effort being put forth at the community level was almost overlooked by the emergence of ideas, brought forward by Governments, and the policies that they were pushing forward for sponsorship, in order for ratification. Personally, while I can understand the importance of these pushes for support, I, as a member of the UIMF and as an individual interested in sustainable mountain development, could see the huge whole in the meeting. The party for whom I was there as a representative of, had almost no relevant impact on the proceedings, nor was the significance of having community representatives truly utilized during the free forum portion of the meeting.

The lack of a meaningful contribution at the community level, was a glaring indictment of the lack of relevant communication between the national and community levels. But, as negative as all this might sound, the meeting was exciting, eventful, and filled with great ideas. There were just some things that might have been overlooked that didn't really need to be.