The Himalayas protect us, why can’t we return the favour?
The mountain range is a source of life for millions, but factors such as unregulated development and climate change are threatening its delicate ecosystem
Bangladeshi mountaineer Babar Ali successfully summited Mount Everest in May this year.
During his trek, he observed gradual ice melt in the Everest Base Camp area and noted numerous glacial lakes around the Khumbu region – an area which was entirely covered by glaciers just a decade ago.
"The Himalayas, including Mount Everest, are not receiving the protection they deserve. Glaciers are continually melting, forming lakes and exposing rocks beneath the ice," Babar Ali told The Business Standard.
"While some waste management exists up to Everest Base Camp, it is almost non-existent at the higher camps. During my trek, I saw numerous empty oxygen cylinders, torn tents and various waste scattered around," he added.
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The Himalayas serve as a natural barrier between the Tibetan Plateau to the north and the alluvial plains of the Indian subcontinent to the south
In the Mount Everest region, the number of trekkers is rising in Sagarmatha National Park, the gateway to the Himalayas from Nepal. Sushma Rana, a senior conservation officer in Sagarmatha National Park, told TBS, "More than 55,000 trekkers and climbers annually visit this national park. Of these, some 400 to 500 climbers attempt to summit Everest every year. But there are no bindings for trekking?
"The glaciers I saw on my journey from Everest Base Camp to the summit have significantly melted. Various changes were noticeable during the trek from Lukla Airport to Base Camp. Areas once covered in regular snowfall are now dry, with exposed rocks and sand due to glacier melt," said Babar Ali.
Home to the world's tallest mountains, the range of Asia's vast mountain system boasts over 110 peaks that soar above 7,300 metres. Among these peaks is Mount Everest, the tallest in the world, standing at 8,848 metres.
The towering peaks of the Himalayas reach into the zone of perpetual snow, but the ice levels are steadily receding with each passing day.
In May, I visited Everest Base Camp in Nepal as part of the Himalayan Climate Boot Camp 2024, supported by the Nepal Forum of Science Journalists. I witnessed the impact of climate issues and observed the livelihoods of the people living in the Himalayan region
The majestic Himalayas, often referred to as the "roof of the world," stand tall as a natural fortress, shielding us from harsh weather conditions, regulating the climate and providing vital resources such as fresh water.
Not just physical protection, but the Himalayas also offer spiritual inspiration and cultural significance to the people who live in its shadow.
However, unregulated development, deforestation, mining and infrastructure projects scar the pristine landscapes, disrupt delicate ecosystems and threaten the survival of countless species.
The rivers that flow from the Himalayas – the lifelines for millions of people across South Asia – are being polluted with industrial waste and plastic, choking the biodiversity that depends on them.
Another major threat is climate change accelerating the melting of glaciers that feed into major rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus.
These glaciers are shrinking at an alarming rate due to global warming, leading to an increased risk of floods in the short term and water shortages in the long term for the communities that rely on these rivers.
The pressure of unchecked tourism is also straining the Himalayan region. While tourism provides economic benefits, it often comes with the cost of environmental degradation from litter left behind on trekking routes to pollution in once-pristine lakes.
This, combined with overgrazing and deforestation for agriculture, leads to soil erosion and landslides, further destabilising the fragile mountain environment.
"Global warming poses a serious threat to the Himalayas. We are now seeing exposed rock in areas that were once covered in snow. Over the past 20 years, I have noticed significant changes in Everest and its surrounding areas, with snow disappearing rapidly," Kami Rita Sherpa, a renowned Nepali climbing guide told TBS.
Rita Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest for the 30th time this year, breaking his record for the most successful ascents of the world's highest peak. "If we do not address this issue seriously, our mountains will soon become rocky hills," he added.
Lack of regulation for trekking
In the Mount Everest region, the number of trekkers is rising in Sagarmatha National Park, the gateway to the Himalayas from Nepal.
This park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 1,148 square kilometres, encompasses Everest and seven other peaks within its boundaries and buffer zone.
The high-altitude area features several glaciers and glacial lakes, including the Khumbu Glacier, the world's highest glacier, extending over 15 kilometres.
"More than 55,000 trekkers and climbers annually visit this national park. Of these, some 400 to 500 climbers attempt to summit Everest every year. But there are no bindings for trekking," Sushma Rana, a senior conservation officer in Sagarmatha National Park, told TBS.
She said, "Tourism in this area is concentrated into six months of the year: from March to May and September to November. We aim to address the climate impact by focusing on nature conservation and striving to create a carbon-free footprint while pursuing development."
Trekking is open to anyone in Sagarmatha National Park, with no restrictions on the number of tourists. Despite multiple attempts by the Nepalese government to regulate the number of trekkers, no effective measures have been implemented to date.
In May of last season, social media showed a serpentine traffic jam on Mount Everest, where climbers in trekking suits and mountaineering boots struggled to reach the summit.
Video clips revealed a long line of climbers precariously positioned on a narrow strip of ice, waiting to ascend while those who had completed their climb attempted to descend.
Last spring season in 2023, the Nepalese government issued 454 permits to climb Mount Everest; and 17 deaths were reported. In 2024, it issued 403 permits for Everest; and at least 10 deaths have already been reported.
A paper in PLoS ONE in August 2020 highlighted a significant rise in Everest climbers, with the rate more than doubling.
Between 2010 and 2019, two-thirds of first-time climbers reached the summit, compared to less than one-third in the 1990s. Additionally, crowding near the summit has markedly increased in recent years.
While the Nepalese government is yet to decide on capping the number of climbers, Nepal's Supreme Court has stepped in.
In Namche Bazar, there are now over 200 lodges and hotels. Local Sherpas report that the number of accommodations has doubled in the past 15 years.
"This area is very busy now, but 20 years ago, it was not as crowded and there were fewer lodges and hotels," Lama Kazi Sherpa, a resident of Namche village and president of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) as well as chairperson of the buffer zone council, told TBS.
He added, "The growing interest from trekkers and tourists has led to an increase in waste. While we have installed large dustbins for waste collection, the region still lacks a proper waste processing and disposal system."
During the climbing season, Namche alone generates over 70,000 kg of waste. In 70 days, more than 36,000 kg of waste were collected from Mount Everest.
However, the Khumbu region lacks a wastewater or sewage treatment plant, Lama Kazi said.
Non-biodegradable waste is either burned or transported to Lukla and Kathmandu, while local villages use biodegradable waste as fertiliser for their farmlands, where millet and some vegetables are grown in the spring season, he added.
Farmers' woes
In the Everest trekking region, where the Indigenous Sherpa community resides, infrastructural development is rapidly increasing.
More lodges are being built, and air conditioning systems are becoming common.
This growth, however, is creating challenges for local farmers and their agricultural systems.
"There are now 14 hotels in this region, compared to just 3-5 some 10 years ago. We have power cables but we only have seven days to collect firewood, which we use throughout the season for heating and cooking. Gas is only used for cooking," Phurba Tsering Sherpa, who owns a trekking lodge in Tengboche and also grows potatoes and vegetables, told TBS.
He added, "The size of the potatoes is shrinking, and our yields are decreasing. We are also struggling with vegetable cultivation because the gardens are not receiving enough rainwater during the growing season."
Another farmer, Rana Bahadur Dhal from Namche Bazar, said, "During the potato growing season, there has been no snowfall, which has disrupted cultivation. We are also seeing a decrease in the size of carrots, radishes and other vegetables. Although we have water from a spring, there are no springs nearby, making cultivation difficult."
The Khumbu area's yak population has also been affected. Experts link the decline in yak population to climate change, noting that there has been a shift in the animal's breeding season over the past decade.
Yaks are highly adapted to extreme cold, capable of surviving temperatures as low as -40°C and thriving best when the average annual temperature is below 5°C and the average temperature in the hottest month is under 13°C.
A 2022 study, based on data from 478 meteorological stations across the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region between 1961 and 2015, found a significant decline in the frequency of extreme cold events. The study highlights that yak reproductive performance is closely linked to climate and seasonal conditions.
Shanker Raj Barsila, an associate professor at the Agriculture and Forestry University in Chitwan, Nepal, said that while the mating season used to be in June and July, it has now shifted to September.
He said, "The productivity and availability of forage, along with local weather conditions such as timely rainfall at the start of spring, are crucial factors."
"It is essential to regulate the number of trekkers and manage waste effectively. Greater national and international efforts are needed to protect the Himalayas. Regional governments must adopt policies that promote sustainable development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to climate change," Dr Tista Prasai Joshi, a senior scientist at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, told TBS.
Kaji Bista has spent a decade overseeing the largely abandoned Pyramid International Laboratory, located 5,050 metres beneath Mount Lobuche East.
Lab Manager Kaji Bista said, "Our research estimates that current thinning rates are nearing approximately two metres of glacier loss per year. The glacier has shifted from snowpack to ice, reducing its ability to reflect solar radiation, which accelerates melting and increases sublimation."
He works diligently to repair malfunctioning instruments, consulting with experts in Italy for guidance when needed. "This laboratory will soon be renovated and I look forward to furthering our research.
