The important gathering of Mountain Women in Thimphu marks the beginning of the closing of the International Year of Mountains 2002. A month after, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, one of the most mountainous countries in the world will host the great international meeting for the closing of this year of celebrations. During 2002, mountain-related issues have been the focus of attention of the political, social and economic lives of many countries around the world. In those areas, mountain regions have significant importance as a crucial resource for sustainable development, as an irreplaceable element for the preservation of the world ecosystem, and as a basic reserve of water and environmental resources.
