**Children Spotlight Climate Change at National Mountain Conservation Meet in Islamabad**
The 21st National Children’s Mountain Conservation Meet (NCMC), organized by Adventure Foundation Pakistan (AFP), concluded in Islamabad, drawing attention to the pressing impact of climate change on Pakistan’s mountain environments. The ten-day event, held in the picturesque Siran Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, brought together 100 children from across Pakistan, who engaged in hands-on environmental education and conservation activities.
Participants gathered at the Children Mountain Forum, held at Islamabad’s Margala Hotel, to present their insights on “Climate Change and its Impact on the Mountain Environment.” The presentations, delivered by the young attendees, highlighted real-world challenges facing mountain ecosystems and offered recommendations to government departments for addressing environmental and climate-related issues in these regions. At the forum’s conclusion, the children presented a joint petition outlining their proposals and urging policy action.
Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Her Excellency Marilina Armellin, attended the event as chief guest. Praising AFP’s efforts to foster environmental awareness among youth, the Ambassador said, “In today’s world of digital technologies and overconsumption, it has become more important that we should make an effort to keep young people in touch with Mother Earth.” She underscored the long-standing cooperation between Italy and Pakistan in mountain and glacier research, noting that Italy’s involvement dates back over a century to the first Italian expedition in 1909, which aimed to chart a route to K2. Ambassador Armellin also recalled the historic 1954 Italian ascent of K2 and pointed out that the most widely used route to the summit today, the “Abruzzi Spur,” was discovered by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, during the 1909 Italian expedition.
AFP President Ali Hasan Habib welcomed participants and guests, congratulating the young environmental ‘Eco-Guards’—the title given to children who complete the programme—on their successful completion of the project. National Coordinator Aftab Rana explained that the NCMC was launched as a flagship AFP initiative in 2002, coinciding with the United Nations’ International Year of Mountains. Each year, children from all over Pakistan are selected to participate in this ten-day camp, designed to use mountain environments as an “open classroom” to build environmental consciousness and leadership.
The programme emphasizes action-oriented learning, encouraging participants to undertake community-based environmental projects after the camp. So far, 21 annual meets have been organized, with more than 2,500 young people and 500 staff members taking part since the programme’s inception.
The Italian Ambassador pledged to support the issues raised by the children, expressing hope that relevant authorities would adopt the recommendations put forth during the forum. The AFP, established in 1980, remains Pakistan’s only non-commercial organization committed solely to promoting outdoor adventure and environmental education for all age groups and genders, aiming to build resilience and stewardship of natural resources through immersive experiences in the outdoors.
