KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 6
A team of researchers from Switzerland and Nepal has been conducting historical research on the 1982 declaration of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) to understand the present context of the mountain ecosystem in Nepal.
A nine-member team led by Prof. Claude Hauser from the Université de Fribourg, Switzerland, held a series of discussions and field visits in Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Mt Everest region this week in an attempt to understand the 1982 UIAA charter, which highlighted critical thoughts including mountain environment protection and respect for mountain culture.
“On the sidelines of the 2026 general assembly of UIAA, our team, which includes research experts from Nepal and Switzerland, started carrying out historical research connecting the clauses of the 1982 declaration to the present context,” Prof. Hauser said.
In 1982, the UIAA’s Kathmandu declaration pointed out the need for effective protection of the mountain environment and landscape, as well as actions to reduce the negative impact of human activities on mountains.
“The 10-point declaration announced in Kathmandu in 1982 reflects that the mountain communities were fully aware of the importance of protecting the mountain environment and giving immediate attention, care and concern to the flora, fauna and natural resources in the Himalayan region,” the team leader further added. Still, the cultural heritage and the dignity of the local population are inviolable, while the use of appropriate technology for energy needs and the proper disposal of waste in the mountain areas are also matters of immediate concern today, he said.
“Mountains and Alps are rapidly changing and being threatened by global warming,” the historian said, adding that UIAA and other mountain stakeholders should act promptly to minimize the adverse impact of climate change on mountains and mountain communities. The Hauser-led team aims to document evidence and collect the thoughts of different stakeholders this year, while it will begin developing a documentary, ‘Back to Kathmandu.’ “Back to Kathmandu brings historical research into public life through a documentary and a travelling installation developed with mountain communities and cultural institutions,” Hauser added.
This first stage brought the team to the Pokhara-based International Mountain Museum around a shared task: listening to the people whose experiences can help us understand how relationships with mountain landscapes have changed. “Back to Kathmandu takes the 1982 Kathmandu Declaration as its starting point, and its call to protect mountain environments and respect local communities gives us a way to look at both past intentions and present concerns,” he said, explaining that the project also explores how people see, experience and protect mountain landscapes, through a documentary film and a travelling exhibition.
In Kathmandu, the team gathered interviews around the UIAA General Assembly, while in the Khumbu, the filming journey reached Namche to document local voices, according to Hauser. “The UIAA general assembly was also an excellent opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, strengthen international relationships, and celebrate our shared passion for mountaineering,” he added.
President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Phur Gelje Sherpa, said that the Back to Kathmandu project under the UIAA would certainly inspire stakeholders to help protect the mountain ecosystem. “This provides an important opportunity to discuss the challenges facing the Himalayan region and the global mountain environment, including climate change, increasing risks in high-altitude expeditions, the need for professional training and certification, and the importance of safety, sustainability and international cooperation,” Sherpa commented.