Islamabad:
The 21st National Conservation Meeting of the Children’s Mountain that was organized by AFP (AFP) from July 11 to 20, 2025 ended today in Islamabad.
Under this program, every year, around one hundred children from all Pakistan parts are selected to attend a 10 -day environmental education camp in one of the mountainous areas of Pakistan. One hundred children and staff members participated in this year’s camp, which was held in the beautiful Syran Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The camp was followed by the Children Mountain Forum held in a hotel in Islamabad in which the young participants of the debatable made presentations on the topic “Climate change and its impact on the mountain environment”.
The National Coordinator of NCMC Meet Project Affab Rana reported that this AFP flagship program was launched on the occasion of the 2002 International Mountain Year with the aim of raising awareness among young people about mountain ecosystems and involving them in significant activities using the mountain environment as an open classroom.
In addition, he informed that this educational program involves young children in learning oriented to action on the natural environment and their related problems. Participation in this meeting makes them conscious enough to do something practical for the conservation and preservation of the natural environment through the realization of micro level projects in their communities and schools. Children who attend this meeting receive the title of “Eco Guards”, which gives them confidence to play an active role in their daily lives to raise awareness about the protection of the natural environment and their important role in our daily lives.
Based on the first -hand exhibition, young speakers in their presentations highlighted the problems facing the natural environment in mountainous areas and shared their personal observations with the audience. They also made recommendations to government departments concerned to address environmental problems, especially problems related to climate change. At the end of the forum, the young NCMC representative met with an NCMC 2025 meeting.
The ambassador of the Italian Republic in Pakistan, Marilina Armellin, was the main guest of this event. In his final comments, Marilina appreciated the efforts of the AFP to raise awareness among young people about the conservation of the natural environment. She said: “In the current world of digital technologies and about consumption, it has become more important for us to make young people in contact with Mother Earth.” She emphasized the long cooperation between Italy and Pakistan in the conservation of the mountains and the glaciers that it has been in progress for more than a century.
