HMI Celebrated International Mountains Day and Flagged Off Mountain to Ocean Cleanliness Drive

On the occasion of International Mountains Day 2020, HMI launched Kanchenjunga National Park Cleanliness Campaign and Andaman & Nicobar Cleanliness Campaign named as M2O – Mountain to Ocean. The expedition was flagged off today by legendary mountaineer and HMI Ex. Chief Instructor Shri Kushang Sherpa in a simple ceremony held at HMI. Five-time Everest summitter and a recipient of Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, Shri Sherpa has credentials to climb Mount Everest from three sides including the most difficult Khangsung Face. After the flag off ceremony he individually interacted with sixty trainees undergoing Disaster Rescue Response Course being conducted under the aegis of HMI. Besides sharing his vast mountaineering experience, he also encouraged them to take the course seriously.

The existence and continuity of HMI and lives of people working here depends on mountains. Therefore, at HMI we consider it as our primary duty to protect the mountains and its ecology & environment. The Institute is taking a Mountain Cleaning Expedition to West Sikkim Himalayas from 15 to 25 Dec 2020. The 20 member’s team will carry out cleaning drive in and around the Kanchenjunga National Park and bring down the garbage for proper disposal. During the same period, under the aegis of HMI, a group of volunteers from Andaman & Nicobar Islands will carry out beach cleaning drive at Port Blair. This team will also trek to the highest point in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and carry on the cleaning drive there also.
Mountain Day has been started so that we can embrace the wonder and magic of the mountains around us. On this day, we appreciate all of the world’s mountains and its contribution to life on earth. It is also a good day to take some time to reflect on those who have lost their lives while attempting to do dangerous mountain climbing and pay tribute to them.
Mountain biodiversity is the theme of this year’s International Mountains Day. Mountains are home to 15% of the world’s population and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Of the 20 plant species that supply 80% of the world’s food, six originated and have been diversified in mountains. More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life.

Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation. As the global climate continues to rise, mountain people face even greater challenges to survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplied downstream for millions of people. This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures. The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare year 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains. The first International Mountains Day was celebrated the following year, 2003. Since then Mountains Day is being observed every year to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life on earth.

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of ecosystems, species and genetic resources, and mountains have many endemic varieties. The differentiated topography in terms of altitude, slope and exposure in mountains offers opportunities to grow a variety of high-value crops, horticulture, livestock and forest species.

Climate change, unsustainable farming practices, commercial mining, logging and poaching, unplanned and irresponsible tourism all exact a heavy toll on mountain biodiversity. In addition, land use and land cover change, and natural disasters, accelerate biodiversity loss and contribute to creating fragile environment for mountain communities. By launching a mountain cleaning expedition HMI is only trying to ignite the awareness amongst the mass whose lives are directly affected by the conditions of mountains & its glaciers. We are hopeful that this effort will yield positive results.

Source: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute – HMI