20th Foundation Day of Himalayan Environment Trust
DR. ANDREAS SCHILD GETS EDMUND HILLARY AWARD
The first Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Environment Award, instituted by the Himalayan Environment was conferred on Dr Andreas Schild presently Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development based in
Kathmandu. The glittering ceremony took place at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation Headquarters in New Delhi on 14 Oct, 2008, the 20th Foundation Day of the Himalayan Environment Trust.
Dr. Schild was the Executive Director of Inter Cooperation from 1988 to 2000 during which period the organization saw considerable growth and expanded in thematic coverage. Born in Switzerland in 1944, Dr. Schild has over 30 years experience in designing, planning, execution and monitoring of cooperation programmes mainly in sustainable natural resources management with partner institutions all over the world. Starting in 1968, he has worked in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal with outstanding performances. His mother tongue is German but he can also speak French, English, Spanish, Italian, Nepali and Russian. During his 30 years of highly active association with numerous environmental projects in several countries he has had made an outstanding contribution towards the cause of environment and development.
Dr. R.K Pachauri, the Chief Guest, assumed his current responsibilities as the Chief Executive of TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) in 1982, first as Director and, since April 2001, as Director-General. TERI does original research and provides knowledge in the areas of energy, environment, forestry, biotechnology, and the conservation of natural resources to governments, institutions, and corporate organizations worldwide. In April 2002, Dr Pachauri was elected the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988 (Re-elected in September 2008). IPCC along with former Vice President Al Gore has been awarded the “Nobel Peace Prize” for the year 2007. He has been active in several international forums dealing with the subject of climate change and its policy dimensions.
He was conferred with the “Padma Vibhushan”, second highest civilian award, for his services in the field of science and engineering in January 2008 by the President of India.
To acknowledge his immense contributions to the field of environment, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in January 2001. He was also bestowed the “Officier De La Légion D’Honneur” by the Government of France in 2006.
Dr. R. K. Pachauri released the HET official publication 'call of the mountain' and then delivered the Keynote Address on ‘Climate Change and the Development of Mountain Areas’. According to Dr. Pachauri the development of mountain areas in India has suffered in recent times from neglect as well as faulty policies that have created serious ecological problems which in turn are leading to severe constraints in bringing about sustainable development of these regions and enhancing the welfare of the people dependant on them. These actions have also had an impact on the ecosystems that exist in the mountain areas. While a wide range of these ecosystems have suffered serious degradation and damage, today a much more profound challenge exists for those who are responsible for the management of mountain ecosystems and the development of communities living there. This is essentially on account of human induced climate change which, on the basis of observations now available is becoming a serious threat, and likely to become even more serious in the future. If we study the northern range of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush mountains, the rapid rate at which the glaciers are melting and the mass balance of these bodies of ice is being reduced poses two sets of problems. In the immediate future there is the possibility of landslides, mudslides, and damage to ecosystems, but in the long run with the reduction in mass balance of glaciers the likelihood exists of reduced flow in the rivers flowing across the northern part of the subcontinent, which has serious implications for about 500 million people dependant on water in these river systems.
Dr. Karan Singh who presided over the function paid a rich tribute to late Sir Edmund Hillary, Captain M.S. Kohli, Maurice Herzog, Sir Chris Bonington, Reinhold Messener and Junko Tabei, the Founders of HET, for not only arresting the growing degradation of the Himalayan areas but for spreading awareness about the problems of Himalayan environment all over the world. Dr. Karan Singh that he was privileged of being associated with the Himalayan Environment Trust from its very inception as Advisor. Dr. Karan Singh stated that Himalayas are not merely a geographical feature, they are civilisational legacies regardless of the religion the people in this region may follow. They are the true world heritage. To us in India, on the one hand they represent and support the vast human habitation and on the other, they have this special spiritual dimension.
Others who spoke during the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of the Himalayan Environment Trust included Dr. Durgesh Mansingh, Mr. Rupert Holoborow and Mr. Bernd Muetzelburg – Envoys of Nepal, New Zealand and Germany, Major HPS Ahluwalia, President IMF, Sushil Gupta, Chairman Gangotri Conservation Project and trustee of HET and J.C. Kala, former Director General Forests, Govt. of India.
The Chairman of the Trust, Captain M.S. Kohli traced the history of the Himalayan Environment during the past two decades which has resulted in saving the Himalayas. Captain Kohli said that 20 years ago they took up the threat of degradation and deforestation of the Himalayan areas with great determination and success. The HET, though Sir Edmund Hillary is no more with us, will now take up the challenge of global warming and shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers with the same vigour.
