ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: A three-day ‘Mountain Festival’ kicks off here on Sunday to raise awareness for the protection of biodiversity of three splendid mountain ranges — Karakorum, Hindukush and Himalayas — in Northern Areas.

Organized by the Mountain Areas Conservancy Project (MACP), the festival will feature exhibition of arts and crafts from mountains, photographs, screening of documentaries, holding conferences, live performance by Northern Areas artistes, food and entertainment for children.

There will also be a slide show presenting glimpses of community-based conservation. Climbers and conservationists will share their experiences of ice-bound lands with the audience.

The MACP, which encourages a community-based conservation approach, serves an estimated population of 350,000 people spread over an area of 16,365km.

The seven-year long MACP, is funded by the Global Environment Facility, UNDP and the government of Pakistan.

The IUCN is implementing the project in collaboration with the provincial forest and wildlife departments in NWFP and Northern Areas.

The other key partners in MACP are WWF, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and the Himalayan Wildlife Foundation.

“The mountain festival aims to showcase the achievements and success of MACP along with an effort to bring the environmental significance of mountains in limelight,” an organiser of the festival said.

“The festival will create awareness about conservation and environment among decision-makers, civil society organizations, donors and the public,” he added.—APP