Environment News

The members of the Eco Everest expedition 2008 have reached the summit. The purpose of the expedition was to field test an environmentally friendly approach to climbing and draw attention to climate change.

In the Khumbu region of the Himalayas, a pilot early warning system for glacial lake outbursts is being developed. Glacial lake outbursts can be caused by global warming and is a major threath to people in the region.

The Board of the Himalayan Environment Trust has decided to institute an award in Sir Edmund Hillary's memory. The annual award will be given to an organisation or an individual for outstanding lifetime contribution to the cause of the Himalayan Environment.

Imagine if no one could get to Everest or K2 - what would happen to mountaineering and trekking in Nepal or Pakistan? What would happen to the people who live around those peaks? Afghanistan faces this situation today. Its highest peak, Noshaq (7492m), is virtually inaccessible because the route to base camp is blocked by landmines.

Has your federation worked with land owners to preserve mountain areas? Then you could help mountain communities by sharing your experiences.

23 July to 6 August 2008, the Mountain Partnership is organising a course on “Mountain Environment and Climate Change” in Italy. The course is open to professionals with a University degree working with mountain development in the public or private sector in their country.

The Centre for Mountain Studies in Scotland are offering a scholarship for its Master of Science course in Managing Sustainable Mountain Development. Applicants from mountain areas of the new EU states will have priority.

The development of a large ski resort in Serbia is threatening the flora and fauna of the country’s largest national park. The Association for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Stara Planina is protesting against the construction of the new ski resort inside the Stara Planina National Park.

11th December is the UN’s International Mountain Day. Since 2003 this date, which was declared after the International Year of Mountains in 2002, has been used to focus on issues such as biodiversity, peace and tourism. This year’s theme is “Facing Change: Climate Change in Mountain Areas”.

They were protesting against global warming, but the volunteers gathered in the Swiss Alps 18th August weren’t breaking a sweat. To draw attention to Switzerland’s melting glaciers, hundreds of people from all over Europe were photographed lying and standing naked on the Aletsch glacier.