This project protects and restores high altitude alpine ecosystems degraded by unregulated adventure tourism in
Nepal (Mt. Everest National Park; Makalu-Barun National Park), Peru (Huascaran National Park), and Patagonia
(Glaciers National Park).
Progress in Nepal in 2009:
In the Hongu valley in Makalu-Barun National Park, Nepal, the burning of all shrub juniper has been
completely discontinued as a result of project activities—a savings of about 250,000 kg of shrub
juniper annually that was formerly ripped out and burned by lodges and expeditions (results to be
published in a forthcoming paper in Botanica Helvetica). The first alpine project in the Sagarmatha
(Everest) National Park (2004) continues to save 100,000 kg of alpine juniper and vegetation annually.
Nurseries with alpine species have been established in both the Khumbu and in Mera Peak areas and
seedlings are being distributed to local people and lodge owners to replant degraded areas on public
and private lands.