Conservation of the Biosphere

The Mountain Institute is conducting ongoing research on historical and contemporary landscape change in the Mt. Everest region of Nepal and Tibet, with a focus on the human dimensions of glacial recession; and a partnership developed with the National Geographic Cartography Division created new conservation maps of the region surrounding the world’s highest mountain, to be published in a special edition of the magazine, honoring the successful summit of Mt. Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa fifty years ago.

In the Andes, TMI continues to monitor the changes in the more than 600 glaciers in Huascarán National Park (26 of them at 6000 meters or higher), and to track the more than 750 species of flora, including the rare quenual trees and the Puya Raimondii, famous for its inflorescence.

Rammed Earth Technology

In 2002 The Mountain Institute was awarded a patent for a new rammed earth technology, invented by one of the organization’s founders, Jim Underwood. Simpler, stronger, and cheaper than existing technologies, it appears to be ideal for construction in remote mountain locations where energy sources and transport are difficult. Pilot testing continues in the Tibet Autonomous Region, where several houses, an office structure, and a dairy processing plant have been built; and the successful technology transfer has been made to a local machine shop in Lhasa, in keeping with TMI’s commitment to local ownership of development enterprises. Further testing of this technology and its transfer is being considered by governments and private enterprises in Afghanistan, Mexico and Peru.

Inca Cultural Studies

In an ongoing effort to understand the rich culture of the ancient Inca civilization, Dr. Johan Reinhard, Senior Fellow of The Mountain Institute, continues his research in the high Andes of Peru and Argentina, excavating a new archaeological site in Urcos in 2002, supported by TMI, The Goldsbury Foundation, and National Geographic Society.

Since his spectacular discovery of a near-perfectly preserved mummy (nicknamed “Juanita”, the Ice Maiden) on the frozen peak of Mt. Ampato in 1995, Dr. Reinhard’s team has found 17 additional bodies on neighboring mountains of Misti, Pichu Pichu, Sara Sara (in Peru) and Llullaillaco and Quehuar (in Argentina). These human offerings to the ancient gods offer remarkable gifts to science today. Astonishing textiles, ceramics, symbolic objects of copper, silver and gold, personal items, and the DNA of these ancient citizens are providing important new information about a fascinating culture.

Related research by Dr. Ricardo Espinosa, Senior Fellow at TMI, explores the historic roadway, Gran Ruta Inca, covering more than 400,000 square kilometers, linking ancient routes from the coastal regions to the mountains, yielding new glimpses of indigenous knowledge and traditions. A major restoration and research project has begun, in partnership with the government of Peru, and local, regional, and international organizations like The Mountain Institute.