On 26 and 27 October 2022, 150+ mountain actors from all over Europe gathered in Camigliatello Silano in Calabria, Italy, to take part in the 12th European Mountain Convention on “Smart mountains: how to make our territories attractive and future oriented”. The event was jointly organised by Euromontana, Cia – Agricoltori Italiani, and several Italian organisations including the Region of Calabria and the Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry Policies.
As a main outcome of the Convention, the Sila Declaration was co-developed to give shape to the mountains of the future. Smart mountains take advantage of social and technological innovation to overcome the socio-economic and environmental challenges they are facing while creating new opportunities for themselves. They strive to be attractive and resilient territories, that better manage and adequately valuate their natural resources and ecosystem services.
To achieve this vision, Euromontana members call on European, national and regional institutions to better recognise the specific challenges of mountain areas but, more importantly, to consider them for the opportunities they represent, not only for themselves but for the broader society. Examples of such contributions to global challenge include food and energy security, the delivery of basic ecosystem services, or the protection of a rich natural environment.
This is why it is important that public authorities actively support the development of diversified economies in mountain areas, help those territories adapt to the impacts of climate change, and offer better connectivity to its inhabitants. It is even more important that mountain communities are actively involved in the design and implementation of such endeavours through inclusive participatory processes.
On the path towards smarter mountains, more investment in interdisciplinary research, suitable development indicators and knowledge sharing at all levels will be key to unlock the potential of community led transitions in our territories. As a network, Euromontana is committed to work with all actors to foster the exchange of enabling knowledge and support policy makers in the deployment of innovative place based development policies.
The Sila Declaration is available in English, French and Italian.
For any question, please contact info@euromontana.org
25 November 2022
