{"id":1227,"date":"2016-04-19T18:06:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-19T18:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/77.104.136.202\/~mount694\/?page_id=1227"},"modified":"2019-03-12T14:23:41","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T14:23:41","slug":"himalaya","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mountain.org\/where-we-work\/himalaya\/","title":{"rendered":"Himalayas Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 30 Years in the Heart of the Himalayas.<\/h2>\r\n

NEWS:<\/strong> Our Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Program Recognized as “2019 Outstanding Practice in Agroecology”! <\/em><\/h4>\r\n

(Press release here.)<\/a><\/em><\/h4>\r\nThe Mountain Institute\u2019s programs in Asia started in the mid-1980\u2019s with the \u201cHeart of the Himalayas\u201d initiative. During this pioneering project we\u00a0established our signature, collaborative approach to community-based project design.\r\n\r\nTMI helped establish two protected areas: the Makalu-Barun National Park in Nepal and the Qomolangma (Mt. Everest) Nature Preserve in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This was achieved by working hand-in-hand with local, mountain communities and fostering trusting, productive relationships between these communities and park managers. Our community-based approach has since become the cornerstone of our regional programs.\r\n

Our broad impact over three decades has conserved fragile ecosystems, helped preserved ancient cultures and has fostered sustainable livelihoods in remote mountain communities. Highlights include producing the first Sherpa language dictionary, restoring Pangboche Monestary, and hosting international exchanges on climate change adaptation between Nepali and Peruvian scientists, communities and policy makers. In partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, we distributed more than 15,000 metric tons of food to food-scarce areas of western Nepal. TMI also helped establish more than 140 reforestation nurseries in Nepal, India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China along with more than 400 Community Forest User Groups in Nepal.<\/p>\r\n

Since the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, TMI has worked with local partners to provide immediate relief and long-term rebuilding of both structures and livelihoods in three of the highest, most remote and worst affected districts. At present, TMI-Himalayas’ largest initiative is the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) Program. \u00a0Since 2001 we have trained more than 18,000 farmers to cultivate, harvest and sell medicinal and aromatic plants in remote mountain districts of Nepal. This has helped\u00a0lift many farmers and their families out of poverty.<\/p>\r\n

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Program brochure here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n

Check out photo stories on our Exposure site.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Featured Projects<\/h2>\r\n\n
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\n\n Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Program, Nepal<\/a>\n \n \n <\/h3>\n \n
The Mountain Institute has worked with mountain farmers in remote areas of Nepal’s Himalayas since 2001, teaching them to cultivate and sell medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). These agro-enterprises enable farmers to earn more money and meet their families’ basic needs. This type of sustainable cultivation provides an alternative to destructive harvesting practices, protecting native plants and local forests. To date, we have trained more than 18,000 farmers in the districts of Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung and Sankhuwasabha in the Kanchenjunga region, Rasuwa and Dhading in the Langtang region and Humla in Western Nepal. This program was recognized as an “2019 Outstanding Practice in Agroecology.<\/a><\/strong>”

\n\nLink to full project description.<\/strong><\/a>\n
\n Link to new MAPs Program brochure<\/strong><\/a>.\n
\nCheck out our blog: “High Poverty: Medicinal Plants Offer Way Forward for Nepal’s Mountain Communities.”<\/strong><\/a>\n
\nLink to MAPs video.<\/strong><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n \n
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\n\n Scaling Up Mountain EbA in Nepal \n \n <\/h3>\n \n
Our Mountain EbA work continues in the Panchase area of western Nepal while we begin new projects in the Chilime watershed of central Nepal. By working as partners with remote communities that are especially vulnerable to climate change impacts, we’ll explore solutions and alternative livelihoods based on their local priorities. Our inclusive, participatory approach assures that the needs and voices of women, indigenous and socially-marginalized groups will be included and honored. As custodians of local natural resources, these groups are key to conserving mountain forests and watersheds. Their livelihoods depend on a healthy ecosystem. Link to Nepal Mountain EbA project<\/strong><\/a>, main page.\n

\nLearn about recent field trips to Gongang<\/a> and Tatopani<\/a> villages.<\/strong>\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n \n
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\n\n The Pragatishil Pahad Project (PPP) \n \n <\/h3>\n \n
TMI continued its post earthquake relief and rebuild efforts in 2016 through the Pragatishil Pahad (\u201cprogressive mountains\u201d) Project, known as PPP. The PPP assisted 2,000 households in the most remote mountain communities of Rasuwa, Dhading, Gorkha, and Sankhuwasabha districts. Our efforts helped them rebuild their lives and livelihoods through small-scale, rural micro-enterprises to improve their resilience to future shocks. Working in partnership with local NGOs and coordinating with local Disaster Relief Committees and government agencies, we helped communities to diversify their livelihood options, rebuild and rehabilitate earthquake affected areas and restore their cultural heritage and socio-cultural practices. A key part of this project involved expanding and integrating our Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) program in these remote areas. This enhances mountain communities’ ability to manage fallow and\/or degraded land which, in turn, protects biodiversity in commuinity forests. Check out our “Progressive Mountains” photo blog<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n \n
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\n \"Relief <\/div>\n \n
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\n\n Relief Work after Nepal Quakes<\/a>\n \n \n <\/h3>\n \n
A violent 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook the Himalayas on April 25, 2015, followed by more than 450 strong aftershocks. The earthquakes killed 9,000 people, injured more than 22,000, and destroyed nearly 900,000 public buildings and private homes. In the following days, the Association of International NGOs in Nepal mapped its members\u2019 activities\u2014an exercise that revealed that TMI was one of only a few NGOs operating in the highest and most remote northern Village Development Committees. In fact, TMI has worked in three of the worst affected areas of Rasuwa, Dhading, and Gorkha since 2009. This realization galvanized our commitment to assist these communities. TMI trustees, foundations and individuals around the globe generously supported our relief and rebuilding efforts. We began with immediate, small-scale, targeted relief to high-need communities. Next came an assessment of lives lost, property destroyed and the critical needs of survivors. Over the next four months, we delivered critical supplies such as solar batteries, boxes of tools, temporary toilet pans, sanitary packages for women, nutritious baby food, and recreational and school materials. We funded \u201cQuick Relief \u201c activities, such as rebuilding trails, wooden bridges, and drinking water systems, and we paid to transport donated food and other items to several remote villages. Learn more in our photo story: “Relief and Rebuild”<\/a><\/strong>.<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n\n<\/div>\n\r\n\r\n
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Past Projects<\/h2>\r\n\n\n
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