EXISTING GREEN STRATEGIES AND POLICIES FOR MOUNTAIN AREAS

Existing green strategies for mountain areas are based on integrated territorial development. This means that mountain regions are not treated as natural areas that need protection, or as tourism destinations that need promotion. Instead, they are understood as living territories where environmental sustainability, local livelihoods, culture, and governance should be addressed together.

At the European level, the Common Agricultural Policy plays an important role in mountain areas because it supports agricultural activity, sustainable land management, social cohesion, and the preservation of cultural landscapes. Mountain farming is often less intensive than lowland agriculture, but it is essential for maintaining landscapes, preventing land abandonment, and supporting local food systems.

European strategies also connect mountain development with the Green Deal, climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, and the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. These frameworks encourage regions to protect ecosystems, reduce climate risks, strengthen local value chains, and create opportunities for young people and small businesses. For the Carpathians, the Carpathian Convention is one of the clearest examples of a dedicated mountain policy framework. It promotes the protection and sustainable development of the Carpathian region, including biodiversity, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and cooperation among countries.

For Jordan, green strategies are connected with the Green Growth National Action Plan, which integrates climate change, sustainable development, and green growth objectives into key sectors, including tourism, agriculture, energy, transport, waste, and water.

(European Commission, 2021; FAO, 2022).

For the PeakED project, these policies show that green strategies for mountain areas should not be limited to conservation. They should also support local entrepreneurship, youth participation, sustainable tourism, environmental education, local food systems, and community resilience. (European Commission, 2021; FAO, 2022; UNWTO, 2021).