International Sustainable Mountain Development Conference-2022 was organized at Chadragiri Hills Resort on Dec 1 – 3 2022. The conference concluded with the conclusion that the interest and integrated efforts of all stakeholders are necessary for the sustainable management of the mountains.
In the conference held at Chandragiri in Kathmandu on Mangsir 15th, 16th and 17th, serious concerns and concerns have been expressed about the global climate change and its impact on the Himalayas and the overall environment.
The conference was held on the eve of the International Mountain Day (International Mountain Day-2022) as the United Nations General Assembly declared 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development (2022).
The experts and scientists of the Himalayan region participating in the conference from different countries of the world have also suggested to the stakeholders to be serious, saying that if the mountains are not managed sustainably, it can lead to serious consequences in both natural and human areas. Dr. Alton C. Wire, professor of the University of Colorado, the main speaker of the program, said that the program helped to unite for integrated efforts to protect the Himalayas while minimizing the effects of climate change and its effects on the Himalayan region.
Executive Head of Tourism Board Dr. Dhananjay Regmi expressed his belief that this conference, organized in Nepal with the participation of experts from the environment and the Himalaya region from around the world, will be successful in conveying the message for the sustainable management of the Himalayas globally.
Likewise, Maniraj Lamichhane, director and information officer of Nepal Tourism Board, said that according to the topics raised in the conference, the conference has paved the way to set a policy for the overall development and protection of the Himalayan region in the future and that the conference was a success. Director Lamichhane informed that 66 working papers were presented in the program.
The working papers focused on the economy of the mountain region, biological diversity and ecosystem, mountain community and culture, relationship between women, mountain region and other geographies, climate change in the mountain region and its effects.
Inaugurating the conference, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha said that Nepal is a country of Himalayas and this program organized in Nepal has helped in conveying a positive message for sustainable development and protection of Himalayas.
In the program, experts from countries including Nepal, USA, UK, Japan, China, Vietnam, Chile, Spain and India gave presentations live and virtually. The conference was attended by heads and representatives of various associations and organizations related to tourism in Nepal.
The conference was organized by the Nepal Tourism Board and with the technical support and coordination of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Hokkaido University Japan, University of Colorado America, GLP Japan, WWF Nepal, ICIMOD, UNDP and other organizations.