Coordinator's
Note
The three-year APMN project
was launched on 1 November 1995 with financial assistance
from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
(SDC). This is the last issue of the APMN Bulletin for
this phase of the APMN project.
During the past three years,
APMN has had a number of significant achievements. First
and foremost, it brought together hundreds of individuals
and institutions throughout Asia and the Pacific to
share information and their experiences firsthand. It
sponsored several workshops and seminars throughout
the region, and it supported numerous study tours and
exchange visits. Six issues of this Bulletin to facilitate
communication and exchange of information in the region,
bridging the gap between APMN on-line (on the Internet)
and off-line members. Last ,but not least, it worked
closely with the Mountain Forum.
We are submitting a proposal
to SDC that concentrates on institutional strengthening
and capacity building by carrying out study visits and
internships, conducting electronic discussions and conferences
on key topics and issues related to mountain development
in Asia and the Pacific, and by bringing out this Bulletin
over the next three-years. We will keep you informed
of our progress in this respect.
This last issue of the
APMN Bulletin for the present phase focuses especially
on the Central Asian subregion of Asia and the Pacific.
This is because ,although the republics of Central Asia
are mountainous, they have been given little space in
previous issues of the Bulletin. In addition, we bring
you highlights of the ongoing electronic discussion
of the MountainForum on the Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
. This discussion demonstrates clearly the value of
Internet not only for sharing information, but also
for raising questions and issues for debate. Such a
mechanism can enrich original ideas or concepts even
as they are being formed. Like-minded individuals -
people who may not have even heard of each other previously
but who share common concerns - can work together throughout
the world without moving from their offices. |
