The International Climate Champions comprising 10 nations, including India, China and UK, today demanded that the legislation and framework of the countries concerned be strengthen for proper management of rules and regulations related to mountain eco-system.

In a 'Global Declaration' released after an eight-day camp here, the group demanded a suitable integrated approach between government, NGOs and local people of each country to ensure appropriate steps for conserving and sustaining the mountain ecosystem.

Expressing serious concern over how climate change posed severe threat to survival of the whole living community in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu and other mountain ecosystems of the World, the group hoped that the global community would take
steps towards conservation of the mountain ecosystem wherever located.

The declaration wanted to foster an ethos of integrated land management to conserve the system, discourage and restrict construction of buildings in landslide prone areas. It said the already eroded and vulnerable mountain areas be restored with the most appropriate conservation measures.

Expressing disappointment at the outcome of recent Conference of the Parties under the UN Frame Work Convention of Climate Change to bind a commitment towards a greener world by not arriving at a common consensus, the declaration suggested to carry out research on climate change focusing on its impact, adaptation, mitigation and necessary measures to raise awareness.

The champions,also hailing from Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Libya, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Norway, said they were highly disturbed by the unsustainable development in the mountain regions resulting in higher frequency of man-made as well as nature disasters, resulting in loss of lives, property and the ecosystem, which endangered prosperity of futuregenerations.

The declaration said it was seriously saddened that most indigenous communities all over the world were gradually moving towards a degeneration of their rich cultural diversity and rights to the mountain ecosystem and thus decreasing the opportunity of their future generations to absorb and be a part of their ancient culture.

They were seriously worried about the anthropogenic interventions leading to the degradation of the mountain ecosystem and thus making the planet more vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

They expressed anxiety over 'lack of communication' between different agencies of the government to tackle the impact of climate change in the mountain regions despite the continuous efforts made by conservationists, environmental organisations. The declaration, therefore, wanted all individual governments, policy makers, scientific committees, media, NGOs, donor agencies and other agencies to express concern over this.