Conservation Issues
Conservation grants and volunteer labor have helped the AAC complete projects both large and small in climbing areas throughout the world. The projects we have funded and coordinated are too numerous to list, but the following are some of the major successes of our conservation program in recent years:
Helped Roger Robinson, a long-time AAC member and NPS ranger at Denali National Park, develop, test and purchase "Clean Mountain Cans" that are now required for transporting human waste off of high camp on Mount McKinley. AAC conservation grants of more than $7,350 provided the majority of funding to develop this program, which was awarded the "2002 Alaska Excellence Award" by the NPS as the most significant contribution to resource stewardship in the Alaska Region. [Photo: Self-portrait of Roger Robinson and a pile of CMCs at the 14,200-foot ranger camp. Photo copyright Roger Robinson/NPS.
Khumbu Alpine Conservation and Restoration Project – October 29, 2004 In May of 2003 the American Alpine Club provided $21,600 in seed money to launch a five year project, “Community-based Conservation and Restoration of the Everest Alpine”, in Nepal. The pilot program in the Khumbu is expected to set a precedent for similar projects in affected alpine regions throughout the mountain world, including the Andes and East African Highlands, within the near future. The project aims to reduce or eliminate the removal of soil-binding juniper shrubs and cushion plants in the fragile alpine areas by changing local behaviors regarding harvesting, providing financial incentives for use of alternate fuels, building shelters for porters in the major trekking villages, constructing exclosures in priority areas to facilitate more rapid growth of vegetation, and educating tourists about the need to protect and restore fragile alpine zones. In May, 2004, the National Geographic Society's Conservation Trust awarded the project with a grant of $19,505.00. In addition, individual trekkers in the Khumbu have provided generous support. There has been substantial progress and success to date:
In 2003/ 2004 Workshops, facilitated by TMI under the leadership of Ang Rita Sherpa, began the process of developing a 5-year strategic plan as well as actions that could be implemented immediately. Participants included local residents, lodge operators, porters, guides, and merchants. Women’s participation was especially high (more than half of the 25 participants). • In an effort to reduce the negative impact of tourism, a local committee known as Khumbu Alpine Conservation Council (KACC) has been formed. The KACC has done more in 3 months than has been achieved in the last 30 years to address the problems of environmental degradation within the Everest alpine region.
The Council has banned the harvesting of all shrub juniper for fuel, agricultural, and incense purposes, representing an estimated savings this year already of more than 2000 doko baskets of juniper, the equivalent of 200,000 lb of fuel wood and/or whole hillsides of alpine shrub. All lodges are using kerosene, and the kerosene depot is up and running with 10,000 liters of kerosene and 100 stoves available for rent, and the porter shelter in Lobuche is finished providing a warm place and cooking facilities for 40 porters.
Established several signboards along the trekking route to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak base camp to make people aware of the ban and the availability of Kerosene.
Co-financed with Nepali conservation groups and the Pangboche Youth Club the construction of a new bridge near Pheriche, as part of a trail improvement component
Priority activities in 2005 that will need funding include: Introduce and test alternative energy sources to supplement Kerosene; construct a new porter shelter in Chhukung; construct cattle proof exclosures on hills above Dingboche; develop educational programs for tourists and local people on the need to protect and restore fragile alpine lands; evaluate conditions in the Gokyo and Thami valleys. You can help by making a tax-deductible contribution part of your trekking or climbing adventure in the Khumbu. Click on this link to find out more about the project and how to make a donation: http://www.mountain.org/work/resedu/resedu02.cfm.
Funded the development and printing of the Yosemite "Big Wall" brochure that covers safety and conservation practices for big wall climbing in Yosemite. The brochure has been updated several times and is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Korean.
Co-hosted with five other outdoor-related organization the first-ever National Mountain Conference in 2000, a three-day conference that highlighted the threats facing the world's mountains and developed a critical issues list for future action. The summary contains a complete report of the conference speakers and accomplishments.
Published "Gentle Expeditions: A Guide to Environmentally Sound Mountain Travel" by Bob McConnell. This concise handbook explains the problems generated by climbers, then explains how to plan and pull off an environmentally proactive expedition. Available for $10 from http://www.mountaineersbooks.org.
Established the Scott Fischer Memorial Conservation Fund in 1996 to help support environmentally proactive expedition to the greater ranges.
Provided a grant to the 1990 Everest Environmental Expedition that cleaned up one ton of debris from base camp on the Tibetan side of Everest.
Sponsored and funded a 1995 cleanup of the Nose route on El Capitan by Eve Tallman and students from Prescott College.
Established the David Brower Conservation Award in 1991 to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of mountain conservation. The award is named after David Brower, a leading American climber and the most prominent conservationist in the post-World War II period.