Kathmandu: On the second day of the Sagarmatha Dialogue, experts working across climate, conservation, and development sectors stressed that protecting the world’s mountains is a shared global responsibility, as they are vital sources of livelihood, culture, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Speaking during a session titled ‘Exploring Nature, Culture and Adventure in the Mountains’, participants underscored the critical role mountains play in sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, which supports nearly half of the world’s population.

Keynote speaker Dr. Ghanashyam Gurung, Nepal’s National Representative for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), emphasized that safeguarding mountain ecosystems is essential not only for local communities but also for global climate stability.

The panel also featured diverse voices:

-Rajan Subedi, River Basin Manager at Oxfam,

-Nadhira Al-Harthy, Mount Everest climber from Oman,

-Maureen Anino, Assistant Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment, and

-Tshering Sherpa, CEO of the Everest Pollution Control Committee.

Each expert shared insights and experiences related to the challenges and opportunities in preserving natural heritage, promoting eco-tourism, and addressing the impacts of climate change in mountainous regions.

The Himalayan region, which accounts for 22% of the Earth’s surface, is not only a biodiversity hotspot but also a hub of cultural diversity, home to more than a thousand languages and traditions. It draws over 70 million tourists annually, highlighting its global ecological and economic significance.

The session focused on identifying innovative solutions to strengthen the Himalayan ecosystem’s resilience and on mobilizing investment in natural capital to benefit broader populations, especially those living downstream and in coastal regions affected by mountain-fed rivers.

The experts concluded that protecting the mountains is not a local issue—it’s a global imperative that demands collective action.