Mountain; Majestic, Towering and Sacred Phenomenon

Mountains people & climate change & migration

Climate change is a big issue for the mountains as temperature is rising. It cause so many difficulties for mountain people who are arguably the poorest and hungriest people in the world. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people. However, Mountain communities have some valuable knowledge and strategies accumulated over generations, on how to adapt to climate variability.

Climate change combined with political, economic and social marginalization, increase the vulnerability of mountain peoples to food shortages and extreme poverty. Currently, about 39 percent of the mountain population in developing countries, or 329 million people, is estimated to be vulnerable to food insecurity.

Migration is another issue related to the mountains. As mountain populations grows, migration increases both abroad and to urban centres. Those who remain are usually women, left to manage the farms but with little access to credit, training and land tenure rights. Out-migration from mountain areas will also result in an immeasurable loss in terms of provision of ecosystem services and preservation of cultural and agro biodiversity. Investments and policies can relieve the harsh living conditions of mountain communities and reverse out-migration trends from mountain areas.

Threats to the mountains

Farming mountainous regions

Increasing of population force people to farm unproductive regions. Almost half of Africa’s mountainous regions are now used for cultivation —10 percent for crops and 34 percent for grazing.

The importance of mountain in religions

Most of religions, Abrahamic and Non-Abrahamic, see some mountains as sacred places. If we look through the scriptures of deferent religions, we can find at least one or more Sacred Mountains. They are often seen as a site of revelation and inspiration. For many, the most symbolic aspect of a mountain is the peak because it is believed that it is closest to heaven or other religious worlds. 

Mountains are mentioned frequently in the Bible because of many stories in the Bible takes place there. For this reason, mountains and hills are mentioned more than 500 times in Scripture. Mountains have a logical religious symbolism for Jewish and Christian cultures since they are “closer to God” who dwells in the heavens.

The mountains of Sinai and Zion are most significant in the Old Testament because it is the place where Moses received the gift of the law, the Ten Commandments.

Zion, to the south, is the location of the Jerusalem Temple. 

In the New Testament (Mark and Luke to be precise), Jesus appoints the 12 disciples on a mountain. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus delivers the Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount, conjuring an image of Moses who received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. (Matthew’s mostly Jewish audience would immediately pick up on the comparison between Moses and Jesus.) 

The other one is mount Tabor, where it is supposed Jesus was revealed to be the Son of God. Muhammad is said to have received his first revelation in a cave called Hira, located on the mountain Jabal an-Nour, near Mecca. According to biographies of Muhammad, while on retreat in a mountain cave near Mecca (the cave of Hira), Gabriel appears before him and commands him to recite the first lines of chapter 96 of the Quran. This revelation took place after 40 days, holy prophet was worshiping God there. 

Muslims believe that the world was created by God which warrants respect, obedience and gratitude towards Him. This includes respect of animals, other people, and the environment. And because any act that leads to its destruction or degradation leads necessarily to the destruction and degradation of life on earth, such acts are categorically forbidden.

Besides, in holy Quran, we have some verses about the importance of mountains for our world. These verses introduce mountains as creatures that prepare considerable amount of our fresh water sources and the main factor to keep our planet in balance:

“And the earth, after that He has spread it out; from it He has brought forth its waters and its pastures, and He has made fast the mountains, a provision for you and for your cattle.” (79:30-33)

“And the earth, We have spread it out, and made in it mountains standing firm, and grown in it everything in balance.  And We have provided in it sustenance for you, and for those whom you do not support.” (15:19-20)

However, mountains are sacred places in most of religions and the main factor to keep the earth in balance and preparing fresh water and pasture for us.