Regional Workshop on Kailash Sacred Landscape

Media Coverage KSLCI Regional workshop, Almora

1. Transboundary Initiative for Mt Kailash Landscape Conservation http://moef.nic.in/index.php MoEF, Govt of India

2. Trans-boundary Initiative for Mt Kailash Landscape Conservation Launched http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=60218 Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India – 9th April 2010

3. China, India and Nepal to work in tandem http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=China%2C+India%2C+Nepal+to +work+in+tandem&NewsID=239063 The Himalayan Times – 15th April 2010

4. India, China, Nepal join hands to save Mt Kailash http://www.indianexpress.com/news/India--China--Nepal-join-hands-to-save-Mt- Kailash/605025 Indian Express.com – 12th April 2010

5. India, China, Nepal come together for Mt Kailash http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/the-sunday-et/dateline-india/India-China- Nepal-come-together-for-Mt-Kailash/articleshow/5783219.cms The Economic Times – 11th April 2010

6. India, China to jointly preserve Kailash http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/India-China-to-jointly-preserve- Kailash/articleshow/5830038.cms The Economic Times – 19th April 2010

7. Trans-boundary project for Mt Kailash landscape conservation launched http://netindian.in/news/2010/04/10/0006120/trans-boundary-project-mt-kailash- landscape-conservation-launched NetIndian.in – 10th April 2010

8. India, China, Nepal launch cross-border conservation project http://www.domain-b.com/environment/20100410_Nepal_launch.html domain-b.com – 10th April 2010

9. China, India and Nepal join hands to save Mount Kailash http://www.mynews.in/News/China,_India_and_Nepal_join_hands_to_save_Mount_Kail ash_N47540.html MyNews.in – 17th April 2010

10. NOW EVEN CHINA CONCEDES THE SPIRITUAL VALUE OF MOUNT KAILASH http://www.reportersnepal.com/newsbase/nid/25119 Reportersnepal.com – 13th April 2010

11. Regional Workshop on Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative http://cdbtu.edu.np/news/2010/4/9/regional-workshop-kailash-sacred-landscape- conservation-initiative Central Dept. of Botany, TU – 9th April 2010

12. India, China, Nepal launch conservation project of Mt Kailash region http://www.netindia123.com/showdetails.asp?id=1481941&cat=India&head=India%2C+China%2 C+Nepal+launch+conservation+project+of+Mt+Kailash+region NetIndia123.com

13. China, India, Nepal Agree to Mount Kailash Preservation Framework http://www.2point6billion.com/news/2010/04/19/china-india-nepal-agree-to-mount- kailash-preservation-framework-5379.html 2point6billion.com – 19th April 2010

14. India, Nepal, China to jointly conserve Greater Mt Kailash http://www.zeenews.com/news620402.html ZeeNews.com – 19th April 2010

15. India, China, Nepal agree on Kailash preservation http://www.indiablooms.com/EnvironmentDetailsPage/environmentDetails190410b.php IndiaBlooms.com – 19th April 2010

16. India, China, Nepal agree on Kailash preservation http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-92824.html NewKeral.com

17. Conserving Mount Kailash http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=33218 CentralChronicle.com – 21st April

Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt of India

Transboundary Initiative for Mt Kailash Landscape Conservation New Delhi, 9th April, 2010

A major transboundary project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mt Kailash Region, involving India, Nepal and China has been launched, facilitated by ICIMOD, with support from UNEP. The project is titled ‘Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mt. Kailash Region of Nepal, India & China’. The Minister for Environment & Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh said: “This is a first of its kind transboundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan region." http://moef.nic.in/index.php Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India – 9th April 2010

Trans-boundary Initiative for Mt Kailash Landscape Conservation Launched

20:23 IST

A major transboundary project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mt Kailash Region, involving India, Nepal and China has been launched under the guidance of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The project is titled ‘Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mt. Kailash Region of Nepal, India & China’. The Minister for Environment & Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh said: “This is a first of its kind trans-boundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan region. I commend the institutions involved and look forward to the results of the project”.

A workshop is being organized by ICIMOD at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED) in Almora, Uttarakhand, India on April 11-13, 2010 to facilitate development of compatibility of approaches in information generation and analysis and use of standard protocols for the project.

The project, proposes, in collaboration with UNEP and other partners, to engage regional, national, local partners and other stakeholders in India, Nepal, and China, in attempting to establish a transboundary cultural and biodiversity conservation landscape – the Mt Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) – in its first phase, which will run for 18 months.

The involved Institutions from Indian side - G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED; Lead Institute); Wildlife Institute of India (WII; Partner Institute) and Forest Department Uttarakhand (Partner Organization), with their wide ranging expertise and skills, are well suited to execute the project activities in the target landscape in Indian part.

The nodal institution from Nepal is Ministry of Forests, and the nodal institution from China is the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The target Landscape; which spans widely over the southwestern portions of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TAR), and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal is highly diverse and environmentally fragile. It represents a sacred geography significant to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, and around the globe. The landscape, under accelerated change scenario accompanied by poverty and limited livelihood opportunities, is experiencing increasingly high pressure on fragile natural resource base that includes globally significant biodiversity and medicinal plant resources, vital ecosystem goods and services of the vast region.

Therefore, the project with its envisaged goal to promote transboundary biodiversity and cultural conservation, ecosystem management, sustainable development, and climate change adaptations within the Mt. Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), is timely and has potential of becoming a model project for replication across the globe.

It is hoped that the project, with its aim to promote long-term ecological, climatic, and biodiversity datasets within the KSL would contribute to alleviating knowledge gaps that have emerged as a serious impediment to improved understanding, modeling, and prediction of climate change impacts (locally, regionally, and globally).

Specific objectives of the project are:

• Enhancing cooperation among the regional member countries through establishment of a Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF), development of a strategy for conservation of Mt. Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), and developing a transboundary regional knowledge base;

• Facilitating coordination among the various actors and stakeholders within the KSL landscape through enhancing cross-boundary collaboration in ecological and climate change monitoring and information exchange networks, and

• Recognize, and strengthen local capacity efforts for community-based participation in conservation and sustainable development, and enhance cultural-socio-ecological resilience.

The expected outcomes of the project are a regional dialog and forum created for RMCs and partner institutions, based on an improved knowledge base, to promote and facilitate transboundary cultural and environmental conservation through sustainable development , a consultative process aimed at developing a Regional Transboundary Framework facilitating the establishment and implementation of the KSL transboundary conservation landscape, strengthened policy at regional and national level that encourages and facilitates regional cooperation and transboundary management approaches and local capacity for community- based participation in conservation and sustainable development efforts within the KSL recognized and strengthened.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=60218

The Himalayan Times – 15th April 2010

China, India and Nepal to work in tandem

KATHMANDU: Representatives from Nepal, India and China have agreed to develop a common framework of conservation strategy and environment monitoring for the Kailash Sacred Landscape.

The landscape includes trans-boundary areas of Kang Rinpoche,Gangrenbogi Feng and Kailash Parvat.

The agreement was reached after the first regional workshop held in Almoda, Uttarakhand, India from April 11 to 13.

The 18-month preparatory phase of the conservation strategy had started in August 2009.

According to International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), this Initiative is the first pilot programme for implementation of ICIMOD’s ‘Trans-Himalayan Transects Programme’, which encompasses seven landscapes and four transects in the Hindukush Himalayas.

It aims to focus and increase the effectiveness of research and development activities.

The landscape, which includes the south-western portions of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and the adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal, is one of the most culturally and ecologically diverse and fragile areas in the world.

It also holds sacred significance for hundreds of millions in Asia, and around the globe.

The framework is being prepared on the basis of principles of participatory management, equity, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem approach, lessons-learned approach, and trans-boundary cooperation.

The Workshop was organised by (ICIMOD), hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=China%2C+India%2C+Nepal+to+work+i n+tandem&NewsID=239063 The Economic Times – 11th April 2010 India, China, Nepal come together for Mt Kailash

11 Apr 2010, 0113 hrs IST,ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: With co-operation between India and China in environment related issues on the ascendant, the two countries, along with Nepal, are now participating in a transboundary project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mount Kailash Region.

The project has been launched under the guidance of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said: “this is a first-of-its-kind trans-boundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan. I commend the institutions involved and look forward to the results of the project”.

The project seeks to enhance cooperation among the regional member countries through establishment of a Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF). It will also develop a strategy for conservation of Mt Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), and a transboundary regional knowledge base.

It will seek to facilitate coordination among the various actors and stakeholders within the KSL landscape by enhancing cross-boundary collaboration in ecological and climate change monitoring and information exchange networks.

But this is not the only example of the growing co-operation between the two countries on issues related to environment. Not only have the two countries been co-ordinating strategies in climate change negotiations, this year’s Boao Forum has a special session on the cooperation between China and India on economic issues and the environment.

Mr Ramesh who is representing India at the ongoing two -day meet is of the view that the summit’s focus on India reflected “the deepening of the relationship” between the two countries. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/the-sunday-et/dateline-india/India-China-Nepal- come-together-for-Mt-Kailash/articleshow/5783219.cms Indian Express.com – 12th April 2010 India, China to jointly preserve Kailash

19 Apr 2010, 0603 hrs IST,ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: India, China and Nepal will work together for the conservation and sustainable development of the greater Mount Kailash region. The three have agreed on framework to develop a conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan.

This is the first step towards a regional co-operation framework for the Kailash Sacred Landscape Initiative. The landscape includes the southwestern portions of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal. It is among the most-culturally and ecologically diverse and fragile areas in the world. The region has sacred significance particularly in Asia.

“The project has great geostrategic implications. It shows a new approach to transborder cooperation on environmental issues,” said environment minister Jairam Ramesh. The framework would focus on transboundary biodiversity, environmental and cultural conservation; scientific and technical co-operation ; information exchange and sharing; and regional guidelines and policy mechanisms . It will be based on the principles of participatory management, equity, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem approach, lessons-learned approach, and transboundary co-operation .

The first regional workshop, held last week in Almora, was attended by representatives of 18 institutions, senior government officials from the environment ministries of India and Nepal and Chinese Academy of Sciences. The second regional workshop on the Initiative will be held early in September at Jiuzaigou in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan province of China.

The lead partnering institutes — Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, and the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University — have undertaken feasibility assessment studies, as well as a review of the policy and enabling environment.

The feasibility assessment included delineation of the target landscape by each of the countries following common agreed criteria. The landscape area was agreed to at the Almora workshop held last week.

The assessment included countrywise descriptions of the landscape, status of resources, culture and heritage sites, tourism and pilgrimage status and potentials, environmental degradation and cultural integrity, identification of priority areas, community perception on biodiversity, cultural values and best-suited livelihood options.

This will enable environment assessment through policy review and the identification of gap areas. Each country will finalise their report. ICIMOD will prepare a regional landscape map, and synthesise the feasibility report, policy and enabling environment report , conservation strategy, and environmental monitoring plan. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/India-China-to-jointly-preserve- Kailash/articleshow/5830038.cms NetIndian.in – 10th April 2010

Trans-boundary project for Mt Kailash landscape conservation launched

A major trans-boundary project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mount Kailash Region, involving India, Nepal and China, has been launched under the guidance of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

The project is titled the "Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mount Kailash Region of Nepal, India & China".

Union Minister of State for Environment & Forests Jairam Ramesh said this was a first of its kind transboundary project in the region.

"It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan region. I commend the institutions involved and look forward to the results of the project," he said.

The ICIMOD has organised a workshop on April 11-13 at the G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED) in Almora, Uttarakhand to facilitate development of compatibility of approaches in information generation and analysis and use of standard protocols for the project.

The project, proposes, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other partners, to engage regional, national, local partners and other stakeholders in India, Nepal, and China, in attempting to establish a trans-boundary cultural and biodiversity conservation landscape – the Mt Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) – in its first phase, which will run for 18 months.

The involved institutions from Indian side - GBPIHED, the lead institute, the Wildlife Institute of India and Forest Department, Uttarakhand, with their wide ranging expertise and skills, will execute the project activities in the target landscape in the Indian part.

The nodal institution from Nepal is the Ministry of Forests, and the nodal institution from China is the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an official press release said.

The target landscape, which covers the south-western portions of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TAR), and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal, is highly diverse and environmentally fragile.

According to the release, it represents a sacred geography significant to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, and around the globe. The landscape, under accelerated change scenario accompanied by poverty and limited livelihood opportunities, is experiencing increasingly high pressure on fragile natural resource base that includes globally significant biodiversity and medicinal plant resources, vital ecosystem goods and services of the vast region.

Therefore, the project, with its goal of promoting trans-boundary biodiversity and cultural conservation, ecosystem management, sustainable development, and climate change adaptations within the Mt. Kailash Sacred Landscape, was timely and had the potential of becoming a model project for replication across the globe, the release said.

It is expected to promote long-term ecological, climatic, and biodiversity datasets within the KSL and contribute to bridging the knowledge gaps that have emerged as a serious impediment to improved understanding, modeling, and prediction of climate change impacts, locally, regionally and globally. The release said the specific objectives of the project are:

• Recognize, and strengthen local capacity efforts for community-based participation in conservation and sustainable development, and enhance cultural-socio-ecological resilience.

The expected outcomes of the project are a regional dialogue and forum created for RMCs and partner institutions, based on an improved knowledge base, to promote and facilitate transboundary cultural and environmental conservation through sustainable development , a consultative process aimed at developing a Regional Transboundary Framework facilitating the establishment and implementation of the KSL transboundary conservation landscape, strengthened policy at regional and national level that encourages and facilitates regional cooperation and transboundary management approaches and local capacity for community- based participation in conservation and sustainable development efforts within the KSL recognized and strengthened.

NNN

http://netindian.in/news/2010/04/10/0006120/trans-boundary-project-mt-kailash-landscape-conservation- launched domain-b.com – 10th April 2010

India, China, Nepal launch cross-border conservation project news

10 April 2010

India, Nepal and China have launched a major cross-border project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mt Kailash region. The project is being under the guidance of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

The project is titled 'Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mt Kailash Region of Nepal, India and China'.

"This is a first of its kind trans-boundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaborations between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the Greater Himalayan region. I commend the institutions involved and look forward to the results of the project," minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said.

ICIMOD is organising a workshop at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) in Almora, Uttarakhand on 11-13 April, to facilitate development of compatibility of approaches in information generation and analysis and use of standard protocols for the project, a government release said.

The project, being implemented in collaboration with UNEP and other partners, proposes to engage regional, national, local partners and other stakeholders in India, Nepal, and China, in attempting to establish a transboundary cultural and biodiversity conservation landscape - the Mt Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) - in its first phase, which will run for 18 months.

From the Indian side, the G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (Lead Institute), Wildlife Institute of India (Partner Institute) and Forest Department of Uttarakhand (Partner Organisation) will actively participate in the project activities in the target landscape in the Indian part.

The nodal institution from Nepal is the ministry of forests and the nodal institution from China is the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "The target landscape, which spans widely over the southwestern portions of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TAR), and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal, is highly diverse and environmentally fragile. It represents a sacred geography significant to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, and around the globe.

The landscape, under accelerated change scenario accompanied by poverty and limited livelihood opportunities, is experiencing increasingly high pressure on fragile natural resource base that includes globally significant biodiversity and medicinal plant resources, vital ecosystem goods and services of the vast region," the release noted.

The project, with its aim to promote long-term ecological, climatic, and biodiversity datasets within the Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL) is expected to contribute to alleviating knowledge gaps that have emerged as a serious impediment to improved understanding, modeling, and prediction of climate change impacts (locally, regionally, and globally).

The project is specifically intended to enhance cooperation among the regional member countries through establishment of an appropriate framework, development of a strategy for conservation and developing a transboundary regional knowledge base.

The project would also help coordination among the various actors and stakeholders within the KSL landscape through enhancing cross-boundary collaboration in ecological and climate change monitoring and information exchange networks.

Besides, the project would help strengthen local capacity efforts for community-based participation in conservation and sustainable development, and enhance cultural-socio-ecological resilience.

The project is expected to result in a regional dialogue forum among member countries and partner institutions, based on an improved knowledge base, and promote and facilitate transboundary cultural and environmental conservation through sustainable development.

National lake conservation projects

The ministry of environment and forests has so far sanctioned conservation and management projects for 58 polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas of the country, involving an expenditure of Rs883.94 crore.

The cost will be shared on a 70:30 basis between the centre and the respective state governments. The approved projects include: Karnataka : Three lakes in Bangalore, namely, Vengaiahkere, Nagavara and Jarganahalli, at an estimated cost of Rs11.48 crore; Bellandur lake in Bangalore (Rs5.54 crore); Kotekere lake, Belgaum (Rs5.64 crore); Bhishma lake, Gadag (Rs2.50 crore); Lal Bagh, Bangalore (Rs1.66 crore); Channapatna lake, Hasan (Rs4.97 crore); Sharanbhasveshwara lake, Gulbarga (Rs4.89 crore); Akkamahadevi lake, Haveri (Rs2.64 crore); Kundawada lake, Davangere (Rs3.41 crore); Kote Tavarekere lake, Chikmagalur (Rs3.64 crore); Tripuranthkeshwar lake, Bidar (Rs4.67 crore); Gowramma and Hombalamma lakes, Magadi town, Bangalore Rural (Rs4.77 crore); and Amanikere Lake, Tumkur (Rs13.37 crore), totalling Rs69.18 crore, of which a sum of Rs11.93 crore has already been spent in the last three years;

Andhra Pradesh : Banjara lake, Hyderabad, at a cost of Rs4.30 crore;

Maharashtra : Powai lake, Mumbai (Rs6.62 crore); Nine lakes in Thane (Rs2.53 crore); Mahalaxmi lake, Vadagaon (Rs1.85 crore); Rankala lake, Kolhapur (Rs8.65 crore); Varhala Devi lake, Bhiwandi (Rs4.60 crore); and Siddheshwar Lake, Solapur (Rs4.32 crore), involving a total investment of Rs28.57 crore, Rs4.06 crore of which has already been spent.

Rajasthan: Mansagar lake, Jaipur (Rs24.72 crore); Anasagar lake, Ajmer (Rs15.28 crore); Pushkar sarovar, Ajmer (Rs48.37 crore); Fatehsagar lake, Udaipur (Rs41.86 crore); and Pichola lake system (Rs84.75 crore), involving a total expenditure of Rs214.98 core, of which Rs26.99 has already been spent.

Tamilnadu: Ooty lake (Rs1.75 crore); and Kodaikanal lake, Dindigul (Rs10.42 crore), involving total expeniture of Rs12.17 crore;

Tripura: Three lakes in Agartala, at a total expenditure of Rs2.02 crore;

Uttranchal: Four lakes in Nainital involving a total expenditure of Rs16.85 crore; and Nainital lake, Nainital (Rs47.97 crore), for a total of Rs64.82 crore, of which a sum of Rs15.01 crore has already been spent.

West Bengal : Rabindra Sarovar (Rs6.96 crore); Mirik lake, Darjeeling (Rs4.01 crore); and a 22-km stretch of Adi Ganga in South 24 Parganas (Rs24.94 crore), involving a total expenditure of Rs35.91 croe, Rs5.00 crore of which has already been spent;

J&K : Dal lake, Srinagar (Rs298.76 crore), for which a sum of Rs74.16 crore has already been spent.

Kerala: Veli Akkulum lake, Thiruvananthpuram (Rs24.56 crore), of which a sum of Rs24.56 crore has already been spent;

Orissa: Bindu sagar lake, Bhubaneshwar (Rs3.50 crore), of which Rs2.00 crore has already been spent;

Madhya Pradesh: Rani talab, Rewa (Rs3.31 crore); Sagar lake, Sagar (Rs21.33 crore); and Shivpuri lakes, Shivpuri (Rs51.99 crore), for a total of Rs76.63 crore, of which an amount of Rs13.93 crore has already been spent;

Nagaland: Twin lakes in Mokokchung, involving an expenditure of Rs25.83 crore, work on which has almost completed;

Uttar Pradesh: Mansi Ganga lake, Govardhan, involving expenditure of Rs22.71 crore, Rs6.49 crore of which has already been spent.

Of the total estimated expenditure of Rs883.94 crore, Rs159.57 crore has already been spent, the release noted

http://www.domain-b.com/environment/20100410_Nepal_launch.html MyNews.in – 17th April 2010

China, India and Nepal join hands to save Mount Kailash

Posted On: 17-Apr-2010 19:40:25 Source: rediff Font Size:

China, India and Nepal join hands to save Mount Kailash

Representatives from China, India and Nepal have agreed on a common framework for developing a conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan, as a first step towards developing a regional cooperation framework for the Kailash Sacred Landscape, the trans-boundary region linked to the sacred mountain, which is also known as Kang Rinpoche, Gangrenboqi Feng, and Kailasa Parvata.

According to the press statement, the representatives met in India at a workshop organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative focuses on developing a trans-boundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development.

The preparatory phase of 18 months started in August 2009 following consultations with the governments and partners in China, India and Nepal. This initiative is the first pilot for implementation of ICIMOD's 'Trans-Himalayan Transects Programme' which encompasses seven landscapes and four transects in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, and aims to focus and increase the effectiveness of research and development activities.

The Landscape, which includes the southwestern portions of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal, is among the most culturally and ecologically diverse and fragile areas in the world, and has sacred significance for hundreds of millions of people in Asia, and around the globe.

Joint secretary in the ministry of environment and forests Hem Pande emphasised the participatory and people-centred approach that is being adopted in the preparation of the framework. Tim Kasten, deputy director of UNEP's division of environmental policy implementation, suggested that sustainability needs to given special consideration.

Dr Yang Yongping, deputy director of the Institute of the Tibetan Plateau and professor at Kunming Institute of Botany, advised that regional issues are highly relevant for cooperation, which needs to emerge from the workshops. The director of GBPIHED, Dr LMS Palni, emphasised the importance of the Landscape and the Initiative in the context of the recent challenges arising from climate change.

Dr Eklabya Sharma of ICIMOD stressed the importance of adhering to conceptual clarity and the process whereby countries agree at every stage to the methodologies and documents prepared on the Landscape for the Cooperation Framework.

The Second Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative will be held early in September at Jiuzaigou in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan Province of China. http://www.mynews.in/News/China,_India_and_Nepal_join_hands_to_save_Mount_Kailash_N 47540.html Reportersnepal.com – 13th April 2010

NOW EVEN CHINA CONCEDES THE SPIRITUAL VALUE OF MOUNT KAILASH

KATHMANDU, APRIL 14 : China, India and Nepal have agreed on a common way forward for conservation and sustainable development of the Kailash Sacred Landscape following a conference in India, ICIMOD said.

Representatives from China, India and Nepal have reportedly agreed on a common framework for developing a conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan as a first step towards developing a regional cooperation framework for the Kailash Sacred Landscape, the transboundary region linked to the sacred mountain, also known as Kang Rinpoche, Gangrenboqi Feng, and Kailasa Parvata.

The representatives met at the First Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative held from 11 to 13 April 2010, in Almora, Uttarakhand, India.

The Workshop was organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative (KSLCI) focuses on developing a transboundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development. The preparatory phase of 18 months started in August 2009 following consultations with governments and partners in China, India and Nepal. This Initiative is the first pilot for implementation of ICIMOD�s �Trans-Himalayan Transects Programme� which encompasses seven landscapes and four transects in the Hindu Kush- Himalayas, and aims to focus and increase the effectiveness of research and development activities.

Development of the Regional Cooperation Framework for the Kailash Landscape is being facilitated by ICIMOD with support from UNEP.

The framework is expected to focus on transboundary biodiversity, and environmental and cultural conservation; scientific and technical cooperation; information exchange and sharing; and regional guidelines and policy mechanisms. The framework is being prepared based on the principles of participatory management, equity, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem approach, lessons-learned approach, and transboundary cooperation.

The Second Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative will be held in early September 2010 at Jiuzaigou in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan Province of PR China, ICIMOD said further.

http://www.reportersnepal.com/newsbase/nid/25119 Central Dept. of Botany, TU – 9th April 2010

Regional Workshop on Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative

9 Apr 2010

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in collaboration with United Nation’s Environmental Program (UNEP) is organizing a “Regional Workshop on Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative as part of the Kailash project implementation from 11-13 April 2010, in Almora, Uttarakhand, India. The G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development is the Indian host of the workshop.

The main objective of the workshop is to review the implementation status of the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative project, discuss on the key challenges on the project implementation and decide on the plans for the next set of activities.

Experts from the Ministry of Forests & Soil Conservation, Central Department of Botany TU, and ICIMOD (Nepal), China and India are participating the workshop. Prof. Krishna K. Shrestha (Head, CDB TU) and Prof. Ram P. Chaudhary (National Coordinator) are representing the Tribhuvan university to attend the workshop.

http://cdbtu.edu.np/news/2010/4/9/regional-workshop-kailash-sacred- landscape-conservation-initiative IndianExpress.com

India, China, Nepal join hands to save Mt Kailash

India, China and Nepal are set to launch a joint conservation initiative for the Mount Kailash landscape. The conservation will be meant to tackle the issue of glacial melt, biodiversity conservation and, interestingly, also have a mandate for cultural conservation in the Himalayan region. This would be a first-of-its-kind trans-boundary conservation initiative in the area. “Concerns of climate change and glacial melt form a backdrop for the programme. We will be looking at biodiversity conservation and also work together for glaciology,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told The Indian Express. The trans-boundary programme will be launched in about two weeks. The Environment Ministries from China and Nepal will be involved in the project, which has been launched under the guidance of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Ramesh had visited China last year, with an agenda for co-operation in the fields of glacier conservation and saving the tiger. He also met the Nepali Environment Minister recently, with the same mandate. “This particular project was discussed during my last visit to China,” Ramesh said. “All three ministries will be contributing to the project.” From India, Wildlife Institute of India, GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development along with the state Forest Department of Uttarakhand will take part. The first phase of the project will last 18 months. A way forward is expected to emerge after ICIMOD commences with a training workshop next week at GB Pant Institute. It remains to be seen, however, how areas in Tibet, which will fall under the landscape, will be involved. China has at least once raised the issue of conservation of the Tibetan Antelope, the Chiru, in India. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/India--China--Nepal-join-hands-to-save-Mt-Kailash/605025

Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative (KSLCI) in press in National/Regional daily (Vox populli)

The Himalayan Times netindia123.com

India, China, Nepal launch conservation project of Mt Kailash region

New Delhi | Friday, Apr 9 2010 IST

A major transboundary project for conservation and sustainable development of the Greater Mt Kailash region, involving India, Nepal and China has been launched under the guidance of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The project is titled â€˜Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mt Kailash Region of Nepal, India and Chinaâ€™. ''This is a first of its kind trans-boundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more transboundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan region. I commend the institutions involved and look forward to the results of the project,'' Minister for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh said on the occasion. A workshop is being organised by ICIMOD at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED) in Almora, Uttarakhand, India on April 11-13, 2010 to facilitate development of compatibility of approaches in information generation and analysis and use of standard protocols for the project. The project, proposes, in collaboration with UNEP and other partners, to engage regional, national, local partners and other stakeholders in India, Nepal, and China, in attempting to establish a transboundary cultural and biodiversity conservation landscape 'the Mt Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL)' in its first phase, which will run for 18 months. The involved Institutions from the Indian side - G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development (GBPIHED; Lead Institute); Wildlife Institute of India (WII; Partner Institute) and Forest Department Uttarakhand (Partner Organization), with their wide ranging expertise and skills, are well suited to execute the project activities in the target landscape in the Indian part. The nodal institution from Nepal is Ministry of Forests, and the nodal institution from China is the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The target Landscape; which spans widely over the southwestern portions of Tibetan Autonomous Region of China (TAR), and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal is highly diverse and environmentally fragile. It represents a sacred geography significant to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, and around the globe.

Source:http://www.netindia123.com/showdetails.asp?id=1481941&cat=India&head=India%2C +China%2C+Nepal+launch+conservation+project+of+Mt+Kailash+region 2point6billion.com

China, India, Nepal Agree to Mount Kailash Preservation Framework

Apr. 19 – China, India, and Nepal have agreed on a framework regarding the conservation and preservation of the Mount Kailash region, a symbolic and sacred area in the Himalayas that touches all three countries.

The international project, titled “Mount Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative: Developing a Transboundary Framework for Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Greater Mount Kailash Region of Nepal, India and China,” is lead by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMD), but will include the Wildlife Institute of India, the Forest Department of Uttarakhand, the Nepalese Ministry of Forests, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, and the United Nations Environment Program. Representatives from the aforementioned agencies met in Almora, India last week to discuss how to best preserve the fragile environment.

Mount Kailash itself is a peak in the Gangdisê Mountains considered a sacred and holy place in five of the world’s religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Ayyavazhi, and the Bön. It is particularly unique in that, at 6,638 meters, it remains one of the most significant peaks in the world that has yet to be stepped on by man. Considered the abode of Buddha Demchok in Buddhism and Lord Shiva in Hinduism, the summit at Mount Kailash is off limits and no attempt to climb the mountain has been recorded.

Every year, thousands of pilgrims travel to the region to circumambulate Mount Kailash; clockwise for Hindus and Buddhists, and counterclockwise for believers of Jainism, Ayyavashi, and Bön. Travelling the 32 miles around the mountain is believed to bring good fortune, but it must be done on foot, pony, or yak.

“This is a first of its kind trans-boundary project in the region. It is hoped that this would set the tone for more trans-boundary collaboration between countries in the region on science, culture and capacity building in the greater Himalayan region,” said Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh. http://www.2point6billion.com/news/2010/04/19/china-india-nepal-agree-to-mount-kailash- preservation-framework-5379.html ZeeNews.com

India, Nepal, China to jointly conserve Greater Mt Kailash

New Delhi: India, China and Nepal have joined hands to develop a common conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan for the fragile Greater Mount Kailash region.

This is a first step towards developing a regional cooperation framework for this transboundary region linked to the sacred mountain, also known as Kang Rinpoche, Gangrenboqi Feng, and Kailasa Parvata, a statement from the Environment Ministry said here.

The joint conservation framework was proposed at the first regional workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED).

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative (KSLCI) focuses on developing a transboundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development.

The landscape includes the southwestern portions of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and adjacent Himalayan regions in India and Nepal. It is among the most- culturally and ecologically diverse and fragile areas in the world and has sacred significance particularly in Asia.

ICIMOD will prepare a regional landscape map, and synthesise the feasibility report, policy and enabling environment report, conservation strategy, and environmental monitoring plan, all of which will be fed into the regional cooperation framework, the statement added.

PTI

http://www.zeenews.com/news620402.html India Blooms.com

India, China, Nepal agree on Kailash preservation

Dehradun, Apr 19 (BINS) India, China and Nepal have decided to come together on a common framework for developing a conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan for the greater Mount Kailash region in the Himalayas.

This is a first step towards developing a regional cooperation framework for this trans-boundary region linked to the sacred mountain also known as Kang Rinpoche, Gangrenboqi Feng, Kailash Sacred Landscape and Kailasa Parvata.

The Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh welcomed the development by saying, “The project has great geostrategic implications; It shows a new approach to trans-border co-operation on environmental issues.”

The representatives of this three countries met at the First Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative held last week in Almora, Uttarakhand in north India.

The three day workshop was organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative (KSLCI) focuses on developing a trans-boundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development.

The preparatory phase of 18 months started in August 2009 following consultations with governments and partners in China, India and Nepal.

This Initiative is the first pilot for implementation of ICIMOD’s ‘Trans-Himalayan Transects Programme’ which encompasses seven landscapes and four transects in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, and aims to focus and increase the effectiveness of research and development activities.

Development of the Regional Cooperation Framework for the Kailash Landscape is being facilitated by ICIMOD with support from UNEP.

The framework is being prepared based on the principles of participatory management, equity, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem approach, lessons- learned approach, and trans-boundary cooperation.

This first regional workshop had 35 participants representing 18 institutions and including senior government officials led by Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Government of Nepal, and senior officials from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, PR China.

Representatives of the lead partners – the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, India, and the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal – reported the progress of the feasibility assessment studies and the review of the policy and enabling environment.

The feasibility assessment included delineation of the target landscape by each of the countries following common agreed criteria, and the workshop finalised the landscape area.

Other topics in the feasibility included country-wise descriptions of the landscape, status of resources, culture and heritage sites, tourism/pilgrimage status and potentials, environmental degradation and cultural integrity, identification of priority areas.

Also included are community perception on biodiversity, cultural values and best- suited livelihood options, enabling environment assessment through policy review and finally the identification of gap areas.

All three countries will finalise their reports after these discussions.

ICIMOD will then prepare a regional landscape map, and synthesise the feasibility report, policy and enabling environment report, conservation strategy, and environmental monitoring plan, all of which will feed into the regional cooperation framework. http://www.indiablooms.com/EnvironmentDetailsPage/environmentDetails190410b.php Central Chronicle.com

Conserving Mount Kailash

Posted On Wednesday, April 21, 2010

With a view to safeguard the fragile environment of the Himalayas, India, Nepal and China have decided to join hands. The three nations announced common conservation strategy for the purpose. This is a good development as mankind is paying a high price for constantly neglecting the environment.

This is the first step towards developing a regional coordination framework for this transboundary region linked to the Greater Mount Kailash region, also known as Kang Rinpoche, Gangrenboqi Feng.

The Himalaya mountain ranges are 5,000 kms long and 50 kms wide. They touch Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. Among these is the world's highest mountain range- The Mount Everest which is at a height of 29,028 feet. In this rests India's holy of holy hills, the Greater Mount Kailash. On the base of this mountain is the Mansarovar lake. Maximum water of the world is in the form of ice at North Pole (Arctic), the South Pole (Antarctica) and in the Himalayas. The Himalayan glacier at Siachin, has been termed as the third pole as there is snow in excess here.

The effect of global warming is also being felt in the Himalayas. It's glaciers who are the source of many rivers have started sliding backward. About the Gangotri glacier it is said that it has slided 13 kms back.

Amidst these concerns, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development organised a workshop. The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation initiative focuses on developing a transboundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development. http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=33218 New Kerala.com

India, China, Nepal agree on Kailash preservation

Dehradun, Apr 19: India, China and Nepal have decided to come together on a common framework for developing a conservation strategy and environmental monitoring plan for the greater Mount Kailash region in the Himalayas.

The Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh welcomed the development by saying, "The project has great geostrategic implications; It shows a new approach to trans-border co-operation on environmental issues."

The representatives of this three countries met at the First Regional Workshop on the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative held last week in Almora, Uttarakhand in north India.

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative (KSLCI) focuses on developing a transboundary regional cooperation framework for conservation and sustainable development.

The preparatory phase of 18 months started in August 2009 following consultations with governments and partners in China, India and Nepal.

This Initiative is the first pilot for implementation of ICIMOD's 'Trans-Himalayan Transects Programme' which encompasses seven landscapes and four transects in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, and aims to focus and increase the effectiveness of research and development activities.

Development of the Regional Cooperation Framework for the Kailash Landscape is being facilitated by ICIMOD with support from UNEP.

The framework is expected to focus on trans-boundary biodiversity, and environmental and cultural conservation; scientific and technical cooperation; information exchange and sharing; and regional guidelines and policy mechanisms. The framework is being prepared based on the principles of participatory management, equity, sustainability, partnerships, ecosystem approach, lessons-learned approach, and trans-boundary cooperation.

Representatives of the lead partners - the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, India, and the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal - reported the progress of the feasibility assessment studies and the review of the policy and enabling environment.

The feasibility assessment included delineation of the target landscape by each of the countries following common agreed criteria, and the workshop finalised the landscape area.

Also included are community perception on biodiversity, cultural values and best-suited livelihood options, enabling environment assessment through policy review and finally the identification of gap areas.

All three countries will finalise their reports after these discussions.

--IBNS http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-92824.html