With its unique dual governmental and non-governmental constituency, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature has a particularly important role to play. Strong collaboration from research institutions in IYM is also crucial. Strategies and guidelines for sustainable mountain development will only be efficient and effective with a solid scientific foundation. Research institutions have made major contributions to awareness raising on the global importance of mountain resources through recent scientific results on freshwater, biodiversity, climate change, land degradation and rehabilitation, and tourism development in mountain areas. The IYM also represents an opportunity to promote scientific cooperation that will lead to the development of innovative research programmes.
Mountains are an important source of minerals, forest products, water, recreation, etc.
Given its crucial impact in mountain areas, private sector participation in IYM implementation is highly desirable for both awareness raising and sustainable mountain development. They are repositories of indigenous knowledge and experiences regarding the ecology, fragility and opportunity potential of their environment. Mountain community contribution and cooperation to IYM are essential in basing the development of best practices and policy formulation for sustainable mountain development on consummate knowledge, and practical experience. The voice of mountain communities is also important in ensuring they obtain optimal benefits from efforts to improve their livelihood systems in IYM and beyond. Indeed everyone can contribute through action, proper behaviour in mountain environments, sharing of experiences and proactive support.