1. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal
Youth Perspectives on
Promoting Green Economy
in Asia Pacific Mountains:
Options and Opportunities
Tek Jung Mahat
Node Manager
Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN)
tmahat@icimod.org

2. Outline of the presentation
• Regional contexts of the HKH,
SEAP and CA regions
• Assessment process and methods
• Key Messages

3. HKH Region: the key features
Four global
biodiversity hotspots,
two mega-diversity
countries, and 12
global eco-regions.
Region with 40% of the
global poor; poor
progress in meeting
MDGs; weak institutions
in LDCs; good
governance largely
missing; lack of political
commitment to SMD;
HKH glaciers – the third
pole - are sources of
freshwater reserves
providing head waters
for 10 major river
systems in Asia – a
lifeline for almost one
third of humanity

4. Central Asia
A majority of the people
earn a living by herding
livestock. Industrial
activity centers in the
region's cities.
Varied geography (high
passes and mountains
(Tian Shan), vast deserts
(Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum,
Taklamakan), and
especially treeless,
grassy steppes.

5. South East Asia and Pacific
Source: http://www.world-
maps.co.uk/continent-map-of-
south-east-asia.htm (Accessed on
2 September 2011)
One of earth’s mega
diverse regions; vast
reserves of unique
floras and faunas;
source of rich timber,
mineral and water
resources and
destination of global
private investors and
bioprospectors.
Home of diverse
indigenous peoples and
cultures but are
marginalized, poor, and
neglected.
Mountains not mainstreamed in
the governance system,
policies are inadequate to
strengthen sustainable
development.

6. Process and steps:
Virtual (e-conference) consultations
Table I: Summary information of ICIMOD’s organized three e-
Conferences (Stakeholder Consultation on Rio+20 Conference)
e-conference
event
Event
duration
No. of
stakeholders
participated
Countries represented
with major
concentration
Total contributions and
eye catchers
HKH 4-24 April
2011
296 20 countries in AP,
Europe, North & Latin
America (mostly from
HKH)
Over 210
Key topics: shifting
cultivation, water & other
drivers of change
South and
Central Asia
(Youth
Perspective)
9-29 May
2011
550 38 countries AP, Europe,
North & Latin America
(mostly from HKH &
Central Asia)
Over 400
Key topics: green jobs,
technology transfer and
alternative energy,
mainstreaming youth in Rio
+20 process
Southeast
Asia and
Pacific
1-30 June
2011
150 20 countries AP, Europe,
North & Latin America
(mostly from South and
Southeast Asia)
Over 100
Key topics: NR conflicts,
indigenous community
rights over NRs,

7. Process and steps:
Commissioning of case studies
Table II: Distribution of case studies by countries and themes
Event Countries
covered
No. of case studies and
purpose
Thematic focus
HKH (covered
by
commissioned
case studies)
India, Bhutan,
Nepal, and
Pakistan
10 ( assess balance
between three pillars –
economic, ecological and
social/institutional – of SD/
SMD); policy review
implementation status).
Biodiversity, Community
Forestry; Eco-tourism;
Micro-hydro; Bio-gas;
Organic Agriculture;
Watershed; CBNRM;
REDD+
South East Asia
and Pacific
(case studies
done)
Indonesia,
Philippines, PNG
and Vietnam
4 (examination of what
worked and what did not
and what are the policy
weaknesses)
Watershed management,
forest conservation,
Beekeeping and bio-
resources conservation
HKH (key
informant’s
sharing)
Bangladesh,
China, Myanmar,
Afghanistan
General overview on
country’s policy priority to
SD/SMD
Capacity building,
implementation of
conventions and climate
change

8. Process and steps
Activities in the HKH and AP region
Table III: AP regional capacity building & knowledge sharing workshops
Event Participating countries Key highlights Major outputs
Asia-Pacific Youth
Forum on Climate
Actions and Mountain
Issues (convened as
Asia Pacific Youth
meeting on Rio+20),
8-12 August 2011
43 YOUTH from 17 countries
HKH: AFG, BAN, BHU, CHI, IND,
MYA, NEP & PAK
SEAP/CA: Cambodia, Indonesia,
Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam
• Capacity building
sessions
• Motivational sessions
• Sustainability
exercises
• Team works
developing youth
statements for Rio+20
• Asia Pacific Youth
Declaration on
Climate Change and
Sustainable
Development
• Asia Pacific Youth
Position paper on
Rio+20
Regional Sharing
Workshop on
Assessment of
Challenges and
Opportunities in the
Asia Pacific region for
Rio +20, 23-25 August
2011
50 participants from 10
countries
HKH: AFG, BAN, BHU, CHI, IND,
MYA, NEP & PAK
SEAP: Indonesia, Philippines,
PNG and Vietnam
• Presentation of and
discussion on case
studies
• Presentation of Key
Informants
• Sub/regional group
works to assess key
issues, challenges
and opportunities and
develop
recommendations
• Finalization of
structure of
Assessment Report
• Documentation of
key issues,
challenges and
opportunities
• Development of key
recommendations

9. Major findings of the case
studies
Case study theme Major highlights
Trans-boundary Eco-
tourism, Bhutan and
Sikkim (India)
Important source of income to local
community with relatively more distributive
effects (higher income equity)
Van Panchayats
(Community forestry),
Uttarakhand, India
Provides multiple benefits including carbon
co-benefits; successful strengthened
traditional institution
Development of
Forestry CDM, Himachal
Pradesh, India
One of the few forestry CDMs in India;
helps strengthen/develop traditional as well
as new forestry institutions; benefit
amounts and sharing are issues
Promotion of Organic
Agriculture,
Uttarakhand, India
highly people centric, environmental
friendly, and remunerative community
acceptance.

10. Major findings of the case
studies
Case study theme Major highlights of findings
Medicinal Plants/
NTFPs,
Uttarakhand, India
One of the most important bio-resources; identification and
removal of policy barriers can improve access to medicinal
plants by local people and double the benefits; can be a
model sub-sector for SMD
Community-
based NRM,
Meghalaya, India
Enabling communities to participate in planning,
designing, implementing and monitoring of NRM at local
level empower indigenous communities and lead to an
improved resource governance
Community
forestry and
REDD+ , Nepal
Good model of forest resource governance enabling farmers to
improve livelihoods and participate in and benefit from REDD+;
CF of Nepal is a model case for SMD as in gives “triple
dividend” : improved environment in terms watershed
management and biodiversity conservation, enhanced local
income and carbon sequestration - adaptation, mitigation and
poverty reduction

11. Major findings of the case
studies
Case study theme Major highlights
Bio-gas promotion
Program, Nepal
A model program promoting massive peoples’ participation;
significant social and economic benefits (carbon credits being
paid) and recognized environmental benefits ( CDM board has
awarded CER certificate); excellent global replication
Micro-hydal
projects, Gilgit,
Pakistan
Low-cost, clean and sustainable source of energy to remote
mountain communities (off-grid locations) off-setting carbon
emissions and generating and trading CERs under a UNFCCC
recognized CDM programme.
Watershed
management, KPK,
Pakistan
Watershed conservation in catchment areas of a major water
storage and hydroelectricity dam has multiple benefits; Policy
weaknesses leads to poor sectoral coordination and poor
integration of social and environmental pillars; future potentials
are high including REDD+
Conservation area
project, PNG
Aim was to have equal community participation and self-
reliance and development of sustainable alternative livelihoods
through conservation; equitable benefit sharing is not possible
due to poor policy implementation

12. Major findings of the case
studies
Case study theme Major highlights
Community-based
Forest Honey
Network, Indonesia
Establishing an effective ‘working’ network is key for
sustainable NTFP management; support from government
agencies is crucial; Indigenous honey production by the
growers empowered community organizations, improved
economic gains and enhanced conservation and SD/SMD
Integrated forest
and watershed
management,
Philippines
Effective implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services
(PES) can help a large population to escape from poverty,
protect and expand forests, restore wildlife, provide health
service and eventually utilize the generated revenue to meet
the costs of social benefits
Collaborative
forest
management
(CFM), Vietnam
Multi-stakeholder (at all levels) consultation is critical to
ensure project sustainability and effective replication or up
scaling; Convince all parties about benefits can lead to a win-
win situation.

13. Key issues…

14. Key messages…
• Capacity building events are needed, that are rich in concepts, as well
as the facts and figures related to Rio+20 focus areas. Youths need to
advocate with solid facts and figures in hand and a logical argument:
“Why we are important in this process?”
• A list of ‘youth expectations from Rio+20’, and the ‘expected role
of youth in Rio+20 process’, should be made, and passed to the
respective government focal points and UNCSD Secretariat/ UNEP/
UNDESA/ UNGA respectively.
• There should be a call for national meetings of government
representatives and development communities to debate the role and
realistic expectations of youth as a result of Rio+20; they should be
asked how youth engagement can be improved.
• Virtual groups and subgroups would be useful to enhance
understanding, communication and collaboration among the youth
and promoting institutions.

15. Key messages…
• shift from ‘assistant’ to ‘managerial’ role in the process as we have the
comparative advantage of knowing the latest technologies and emerging
issues and have the calibre to manage changed situations.
• The provision of a ‘Green Youth Fund’ at the regional, national and sub-
national level will enable many youth to start green businesses/
entrepreneurship and to contribute to the green economy.
• This is a good time to demand a separate youth division as part of the
proposed World Environmental Organisation or similar entities.
• International mechanisms like UNEP should be asked to start Green Youth
Leadership programmes.

16. Thank youThank you
"Youth should be given a chance to
take an active part in the decision-
making of local, national and global
levels.“
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-
moon.