The first Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Environment Award, instituted by the Himalayan Environment Trust, founded by Sir Edmund Hillary and Chairman, Captain M.S. Kohli in 1989, was awarded on Dr Andreas Schild presently Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development based in Kathmandu. The glittering ceremony took place at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation Headquarters in New Delhi on 14 Oct, 2008, the 20th Foundation Day of the Himalayan Environment Trust.
Dr. Schild was the Executive Director of Inter Cooperation from 1988 to 2000 during which period the organization saw considerable growth and expanded in thematic coverage. Born in Switzerland in 1944, Dr. Schild has over 30 years experience in designing, planning implementation and monitoring of cooperation programmers mainly in sustainable natural resources management with partner institutions all over the world. Starting in 1968, he has worked in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal with outstanding performances. His mother tongue is German but he can also speak French, English, Spanish, Italian, Nepali and Russian. During his 30 years of highly active association with numerous environmental projects in several countries he has had made an outstanding contribution towards the reason of environment and development.
Dr. R. K. Pachauri, the Chief Guest, delivered the Keynote Address on ‘Climate Change and the Development of Mountain Areas’. According to Dr. Pachauri the development of mountain areas in India has suffered in recent times from neglect as well as faulty policies that have created serious ecological problems which in turn are leading to severe constraints in bringing about sustainable development of these regions and enhancing the welfare of the people dependant on them. While a wide range of these ecosystems have suffered serious degradation and damage, today a much more profound challenge exists for those who are responsible for the management of mountain ecosystems and the development of communities living there. This is essentially on account of human induced climate change which, on the basis of observations now available is becoming a serious threat, and likely to become even more serious in the future. If we study the northern range of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush mountains, the rapid rate at which the glaciers are melting and the mass balance of these bodies of ice is being reduced poses two sets of problems. In the immediate future there is the possibility of landslides, mudslides, and damage to ecosystems, but in the long run with the reduction in mass balance of glaciers the likelihood exists of reduced flow in the rivers flowing across the northern part of the subcontinent, which has serious implication for about 500 million people dependant on water in these river systems.
Dr. Karan Singh who presided over the function paid a rich tribute to late Sir Edmund Hillary, Captain M.S. Kohli, Maurice Herzog, Sir Chris Bonington, Reinhold Messener and Junko Tabei, the Founders of HET, for not only arresting the growing degradation of the Himalayan areas but for spreading awareness about the problems of Himalayan environment all over the world. Dr. Karan Singh that he was privileged of being associated with the Himalayan Environment Trust from its very inception as Advisor Dr. Karan Singh stated that Himalayas are not merely a geographical feature, they are civilisational legacies regardless of the religion the people in this region may follow. To us in India, on the one hand they represent and support the vast human habitation and on the other, they have this special spiritual dimension.
The Chairman of the Trust, Captain M.S. Kohli traced the history of the Himalayan Environment during the past two decades which has resulted in saving the Himalayas. Captain Kohli said that 20 years ago they took up the threat of degradation and deforestation of the Himalayan areas with great determination and success. The HET, though Sir Edmund Hillary is no more with us, will now take up the challenge of global warming and shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers with the same vigour.
Mr. Bikrum Pandey, HET Representative of Nepal, Mr. Ang Tsering Sherpa - Immediate Past President of NMA and Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa - Eco Everest Expeditions were also present on the occasion.
Source : NATURALLY NEPAL
1.Age of Everest:
Everest was formed about 60 million years ago.
2.Elevation:
29,035 (8850m)-found to be 6\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' higher in 1999.
3.Name in Nepal:
Sagarmatha (means: goddess of the sky).
4.In Tibet:
Chomolungma: (means: mother goddess of the universe).
