TMI was established in 1972 in West Virginia, where its work focused on experiential and leadership education for West Virginia's youth. This work was based at a 400-acre nature preserve on the slopes of West Virginia's highest mountain, Spruce Knob. TMI formally expanded into an international organization in 1987, when it assisted in the establishment of two new protected areas in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Regional TMI offices were established in Nepal and Peru a few years later.
Our mission broadened in 1993 to include economic development and support for traditional cultures, as well as the conservation of natural resources in the world's longest, oldest, and highest mountain ranges - the Andes, Appalachians, and Himalayas. Additional program offices now exist in Beijing, China and Sikkim, India. New programs are underway in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and are being planned in Mongolia and Tanzania. TMI's original home, the Spruce Knob Mountain Learning Center, continues to operate as an education, conservation, and conference facility. An international headquarters was established in Washington, D.C., in 2002, which provides technical, logistical, and financial support to our regional offices.
We have an international staff of more than 55 people, largely local residents who are from the countries and mountain regions in which we work and who speak the local languages. These include Spanish, Quechua, Nepali, Hindi, Tibetan, Mandarin Chinese, Urdu, Hindi, Marathi, French, Shungana, Pamiri, Russian, Romani (Gypsy), Balkan Dialects, Dari, Persian, Farsi, and English.
We implement programs directly with communities and work with and through a wide variety of development, government, program, academic, and technical partners. TMI's programs now reach more than a quarter of a million people a year, not including the visitors to those national parks we helped establish.
Mountains sustain life on earth. In a world facing unprecedented change, The Mountain Institute is committed to protecting its mountains. Through empowering mountain communities and conserving mountain ecosystems, TMI ensures that mountains will continue to provide the essential resources - natural, cultural and inspirational -- needed for mankind's survival on a healthy planet.
The integration of economic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural sustainability The forging of long-term commitments to the people and regions we serve Teamwork and collaboration within TMI and with our partners Cultural sensitivity and fluency in the regions where we work, and Measurable accountability and concrete results in all of our projects
The integration of economic development, environmental stewardship, and cultural sustainability