Eco Everest Expedition 2008

Eco Everest Expedition 2008

The Eco Everest Expedition 2008 is being organised on the occasion of Silver jubilee of ICIMOD with an aim of attracting the attention of the global community to the problems of melting glaciers due to climate change, to the threats posed to local community and infrastructure due to GLOFs and raising the awareness of environment conservation of fragile mountain ecosystem. The specific objectives of the Eco-expedition are: * To draw the world's attention on rapid melting of glaciers by conducting field research and investigations and organising special events in close partnership with relevant stakeholders and working closely with national and international media. * To sensitise the local community in building their capacity for reducing the risks of potential Glacial Lake Outburst Floods to the local people, infrastructure and fragile environment in the Everest region. The expedition will depart from Kathmandu on the 6th of April 2008 on a 62 days long campaign in the region. The Eco Everest Expedition will be led by Dawa Steven Sherpa of Nepal who climbed Everest in the Spring of 2007. The expedition will be joined by the famous Japanese climber and alpinist Ken Noguchi in the base camp in the Nepalese side. In addition, Eco Everest Expedition 2008 will draw other internationally renowned Everest summiteers. In tandem with climbing expedition, there will be a scientific expedition consisting of detailed field investigations to study the climate change impacts on the glaciers, glacial lakes and risk posed by potential dangerous lakes. Special events will be organised working closely with national and international media to raise the awareness of climate change impact in the Himalaya. Efforts will be made to involve local organisations and community. Through the expedition it also intends to raise funds to build the capacity of local community for monitoring and early warning of potential GLOFs. Eco Everest Expedition will try and attract other like-minded organisations and individuals including the private sectors for contributions to form a broader coalition in the partnership.