In its Final Declaration the UN Conference on the Environment and Development has emphasized a special position and needs of the "least developed and environmentally most vulnerable countries " (Principle 6, the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development. In view of this Principle, Chapter 13 was included into the Agenda-2 1: "Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development". For the first time the problem of mountain territories was highlighted at this high level of the international meetings.
In 1993 the process of consultations was started between the governments, as well as the nongovernmental organizations aiming to develop a plan of actions to implement the recommendations of Chapter 13. The inter-governmental consultations were co-coordinated by FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization). In 1994 Nepal hosted the Asian Consultations, in 1995 Bolivia brought together the South American Consultations, in 1996 -countries of Europe and Africa had a meeting. In 1997 the Consultations will take place in North America. In 1998 the World Conference is planned under the UN aegis to discuss the problems of sustainable development of the mountain regions.
