Background
Mountains are very important for the BIMSTEC region as it covers more than 1.1 million square kilometres, constituting 23% of the total land area and a population of 140 million people. As such, the development of the mountain economy is imperative for the protection of the mountains and the livelihood of people living in the mountains.
Mountain Economy is a sub-sector under the Environment and Climate Change with Bhutan as the Lead member State. The Mountain Economy was initially identified as one of the areas of cooperation in 2016. However, with rationalization and reconstitution of Sectors and Sub-Sectors in 2022, Mountain Economy was considered as a cross-cutting issues in the areas of Cooperation and approved as the sub-sector under the Environment and Climate Change Sector by the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held in 2023.
Institutional Mechanism
The Intergovernmental Expert Group on Mountain Economy (IEG-ME) is the main institutional mechanism to conduct the business of the Mountain Economy Sub-sector. The meeting decisions of the IEG-ME are submitted to the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Environment and Climate Change for consideration. JWG-ECC has held its 1st meeting in April 2024.
Plan of Action
The Plan of Action on Mountain Economy has been finalized by the Inter-governmental Expert Group on Mountain Economy (IEG-ME) which outlines the following 5 priority areas: 1) Developing Compact Mountain Settlements; 2) Enhancing Mountain Connectivity; 3) Promoting Clean Renewable Energy; 4) Protecting Mountain Environments and Ensuring Ecosystem Services; and 5) Fostering Mountain Tourism and Green (agro and forest-based) enterprises.
Mountain
Mountains are crucial for the BIMSTEC countries for preservation and conservation of water, energy, food security, adaptation to climate change and biodiversity. The BIMSTEC region is the region is home to the highest nine of the world’s 14 mountains over 8,000 metres. Each year, hundreds of visitors are drawn to these peaks by their beautiful splendour. While most of land in Bhutan and Nepal’s land is covered with hills and mountains, only 23% of the BIMSTEC region consists of mountains. Myanmar has the second-highest range of mountains in the BIMSTEC region, which is 47%.
Mountain Population
BIMSTEC mountain area is home to vibrant communities with unique socio-cultural identities. The mountainous regions constitute a variety of population distribution patterns. For instance, the Himalayan areas of Bhutan and Nepal are well known for their diverse cultural history and picturesque mountain communities, drawing both visitors and academics. On the other hand, the hilly regions of northeastern India and parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar are home to a variety of ethnic groups, each with its own customs and ways of life.
Though India and Bangladesh have the highest populations among the BIMSTEC member States, only 3% and 1% population, respectively, live in the mountain areas. Furthermore, in only 17% of total area about 9% Sri Lankan population resides in mountain areas, which is the second highest mountain population after Bhutan and Nepal.
