Extract from the Position Paper

WSSD 2002 - 5 -Positionen der Schweiz Erarbeitungsstand 22. März 2002Alps as a signatory of the Alpine Convention. Therefore, sharing our own experience, cooperatingin adapting this experience to the needs of other mountain regions, and showing solidarity andengaging in partnership with mountain people throughout the world constitute an opportunity aswell as an international obligation.c) Mountain development as a key interface of sustainable developmentSustainable development in mountain regions is a pervasive issue. It touches on all the priorityareas to which Switzerland is committed in the framework of Rio+10, i.e. freshwater resources,international environmental issues – especially sustainable management of fragile ecosystems,global climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable forest management – poverty alleviation, andtrade-related issues, especially market access for marginal regions. Other important issues arequestions of governance, especially decentralisation and subsidiarity, as well as the participation ofcivil society, the private sector and the scientific community in political decision-making processes.2. Political positions taken by Switzerland in support of sustainable development inmountain regionsa) Mountains – an environment for learning about and implementing principles ofsustainabilityNature has always played a dominant role in the mountains. Despite the advances of moderntechnology and civilisation, economic and social conditions are more directly affected by naturalphenomena in mountain regions than in any other environment, and people living in mountainregions are more intensely and immediately affected by natural conditions than people elsewhere.Switzerland therefore believes that sustainable development in mountain regions constitutes anarea of endeavour that is fundamental to learning about and implementing the principle ofsustainable development, which must give equal consideration to natural, social and economicconditions – the thee main components of sustainability. This will involve fostering integration ofdifferent sectors and policies and applying resulting concepts and approaches appropriately inother development contexts.b) Recognition of mountain regions as important, specific areas of developmentThe driving forces of mountain development are very often dominated by the interests of politicaland economic centres and densely populated urban centres; moreover, these forces are usuallynot beholden to principles of sustainability. Hence if sustainable development is to be possible inmountain regions at all, the political status of the world’s mountain regions must be enhanced,especially at the national level.Switzerland is committed to national political frameworks that enable mountain regions to advocatetheir interests as equal partners, especially vis à vis centres of political and economic power.Federalism, decentralisation, subsidiarity, local self-government and accountability,acknowledgment of local rights to resources and targeted economic development are the coreconcepts in such frameworks. Ultimately, these concepts must be concretely expressed in anational policy for mountain regions. Switzerland supports exchange and collaboration amongmountain regions within national borders as well as international cooperation among mountainregions, with the aim of enhancing the political significance of these regions at the national andregional levels.c) Compensation for services rendered to surrounding areas