XIII European Mountain Convention “Shaping the future of mountain economies” | From 15 to 18 October 2024 in Puigcerdà (Catalonia)

Mountain economies are based on economic sectors that are the beating heart of mountain areas, provide employment to mountain communities and essential ecosystem services to the society at large, and are often embedded in territorial identities and values. However, these value chains face a number of economic, social and environmental challenges, exacerbated by the geographical constraints of mountain areas. The XIII European Mountain Convention will be an opportunity to explore and identify solutions and pathways to overcome some of these challenges.

The Convention will address key issues for ESIRA, especially when it comes to the contribution of social innovations and social economy to the economic development of mountain areas. Several ESIRA partners will also contribute to the European Mountain Convention! Elena Badeanschi from Federation of Trentino Cooperatives will explore the contribution of the cooperative movement to entrepreneurship development in Trentino, including among vulnerable groups and in less-favoured areas. In another workshop, Kjell Overvåg from our partner organisation the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences will look at innovative planning solutions for shrinking mountain areas.

Organised by Euromontana, the Government of Catalonia and CREAF, the event will build on the 2050 vision for mountain areas articulated during the previous European Mountain Convention held in Calabria in 2022, and will focus on how to make mountain economies more sustainable, resilient and prosperous.

More info: www.mountainconvention.eu