Orem City Joins The Mountain Partnership

On Tuesday January 11 the city of Orem became the first city in the state of Utah and only the second city, behind Aspen Colorado, in the United States to join the Mountain Partnership. The Orem City Council voted unanimously on a resolution to support the membership of the Mountain Partnership and authorized Mayor Washburn to sign the Mountain Partnership application. Interim City Manager Bruce Chesnut recommended to the Council that by resolution “support the City of Orem’s membership in the Mountain Partnership, a voluntary alliance of partners dedicated to improving the lives of people and protecting mountain environments around the world.” Dr. Odell Miner adjunct professor and Former Ambassador to the US and Canada from Kyrgyzstan, and visiting guest lecturer Baktybek Abdrisaev, of the History and Political Science Department at Utah Valley University were instrumental in bringing together information to help the city of Orem join.
According to its website, The Mountain Partnership is a voluntary coalition 50 countries, 16 intergovernmental organizations and 107 major groups (e.g. civil society, NGOs and the private sector). An official UN partnership, it was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Previous to its entrance, The United Nations had already recognized the diligent work the city of Orem has contributed to mountain regions through the Orem Declaration of Mountain Women, which recognized the important role that women play in the vital growth of mountain regions. Each of the members play a role through initiatives to create sustainable mountain development. It is also the mission of the Mountain Partnership to raise awareness and tackle the unique challenges that mountain areas present to its inhabitants.
There is increasing demand around the world for quality, high-value products. In particular, for foods and beverages such as coffee, honey, herbs and spices and for handicrafts, cosmetics and medicines. But even though many of these sought-after products originate in mountain areas, mountain people rarely exploit their market potential and reap the benefits of production. Instead they are often still engaged in producing staple commodities with fluctuating prices. Mountains are rich in resources, yet many mountain people live in poverty. Creating new income-generating activities and enhancing traditional or alternative employment opportunities will help conserve mountain environments and improve the livelihoods of mountain people.
The Mountain Partnership was formed with the intention to educate and not only members of mountain communities, but those of all regions on the importance that mountain regions play on the global scale. Sustainable development in mountain regions is vital to stability for all regions. For example, Switzerland, recognizing the uniqueness and potential of its mountains, adopted special mountain policies. As a result, policies were developed which have turned Switzerland’s mountains into some of the most prosperous regions in the country. Among these policies:mountain communities were given more power to determine their region's development path and how local resources were used, national subsidies were created for agriculture and other forms of development in mountain regions, health care and education were improved to a great extent, profits from tourism were put into the hands of local people rather than being siphoned off to urban centres
Utah’s, and especially Orem’s success can be attributed to many hardworking people who over the years have been governed by proficient principles creating an affluent atmosphere. Utah has an exceptionally diverse economy that has adequately adapted to its unique geography high up in the Rocky Mountains. These include financial services, general services, manufacturing, mining, farming and military and government jobs. Utah’s unemployment remains well below the national average and enjoys a relatively successful standard of living for its citizens. Many people from various states have sought residence in Utah due to its economic opportunities, low cost of living and great familial atmosphere. Utah is also a hotspot when it comes to tourism and recreation. Utah’s mountains contain adventure from skiing in the cottonwoods to hiking the subway in Zions National Park. Many people also come to Utah to hunt, fish, rock climb, hike and tour the many great sites that Utah has to offer.
In the short span of 150 years the people of Utah have changed a desolate desert wasteland into one of the most successful and flourishing mountain regions in the world. Through the Mountain Partnership Orem will be able to network with other members and nations with mountain regions and share principles of success through already designed initiatives. The mountain partnership is a practical system where mountain communities can easily share ideas and best methods with each other.
In the City of Orem Utah Valley University is already a member of the Mountain Partnership and has been able to network, through the Mountain Partnership, with other mountainous nations, regions and groups around the globe striving to improve life in mountainous areas. The most recent project UVU will be working on with the Mountain Partnership is its preparations to host the 2011 Women of the Mountains Conference. Diplomats and representatives from various nations, NGO’s and groups, including the President of the Mountain Partnership Doug Maguire will attend as Utah Valley University hosts the conference, and facilitates the sharing of ideas to create more conducive environments for mountain women to play a more involved and integral role in the development of their communities.
Through the Mountain Partnership the city of Orem will have the opportunity to further increase its reputation throughout the world as a leader in the development of mountain nations and an excellent example that other mountain regions will be able to emulate. hte Mountain Partnership has high hopes for the future of Mountain regions and has expressed them; these include, roads, railways and telecommunications systems that have opened mountain communities to outside influences. These changes have been both good and bad for mountain people. Better transportation, for example, makes it easier for mountain people to move their goods to markets. At the same time, imported goods have become cheaper and more widely available in mountain communities. Some of these imported goods are displacing indigenous products. In the Andes, for example, the recent sudden availability of synthetic yarns has severely diminished the local demand for hand-spun, naturally dyed wools. As access to mountain regions increases, so too does the potential for exploitation of mountain people and mountain resources. Putting power back into the hands of mountain people and advocating policies and practices that ensure equitable access to and distribution of the benefits from mountain rangeland, water, forests and mining are important steps towards alleviating poverty in mountain communities and, in turn, protecting mountain resources.

Jesse Gray Student at UVU

Photos courtesy of
http://www.areavibes.com/orem-ut/city-guide/ and
http://www.alparc.org/news/news-from-the-network-alparc/first-workshop-on-mountain-environmental-education