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Ed's
contribution to the establishment of
Sagarmatha National Park and World Heritage Area
From
Bruce Jefferies
23
January 2008
There
is no doubt that the work of Ed's Himalayan Trust in relation
to health, education and practical things such as bridges
and water supplies were, and still are, key elements of
the HT program which provide ongoing support to Sherpa communities
in the Khumbu
Less
talked about, in fact hardly mentioned in the media but
arguably of equal significance and importance, was Eds influence
and guiding hand during the establishment of Sagarmatha
(Mt. Everest) National Park and World Heritage Area.
An
early suggestion for establishing this iconic place as a
national park came from Louise Hillary in one of her books.
In 1973 the Government of Nepal announced their in-principle
decision to establish the park and in 1974 an appraisal
mission from New Zealand which included Bing Lucas, Sir
Ed's climbing companion Norman Hardy and Ross Hodder undertook
a mission to evaluate the feasibility for establishing the
national park. I still have this report!
1975
saw a commitment from the New Zealand Government (undoubtedly
with Eds guidance) to provide assistance to help set up
the park.
Over
the following years, with support from their wives and families,
several people provided park management and forestry advice.
I spent more than 5 years living and working in Nepal and
have returned several times with Marg and friends.
Following
the disastrous fire at Tengboche in 1989 I was with Ed at
the site. Without hesitation Ed offered the Rimpoche support
and an assurance that the Gompa would be rebuilt. No conditions
- no if or buts - it would be rebuild! As you all know it
bloody well was!
Ed
visited us on many occasions to discuss the work we were
doing and to share his perspectives. I was aware that he
had reservations about some aspects of the way the park
was being managed by the government but his willingness
to listen and provide support for the conservation efforts
that were being made were boundless. The statement made
by one prominent Sherpa to him about the establishment of
the national park in relation to proposed restrictions on
forest use did not help. This suggested that Ed had brought
sugar to them in one hand, referring to health and education
projects, and was now throwing salt in their eyes with the
other, referring to the restrictions that the Nepalese Government
was phasing in to manage forests and grazing lands.
I
reflect each time I return to Khumbu on what the area would
be like if the hard choices had not been made! SNP is not
a perfect example but it's pretty good and surely a better
place than it would have been without the leadership Ed
provided at a time when protected areas and conservation
were seen as a negative force - not unlike our own experiences
in NZ I guess!
Conservation activities in Nepal were supported by educational
opportunities in New Zealand and a small International Ranger
Training facility at Turangi helped Nepalese with English
language and to gain knowledge of a wide range of practical
protected area management skills. The Sherpa's who participated
in this scheme were handpicked by Sir Ed and Turangi was
a precursor to their entrance to Lincoln University where,
under Dr Pat Devlin, many students including some who are
here today (Lhakpa Norbu and Ang Rita) became internationally
recognized and prominent conservation professionals.
In
2006 Marg rewrote the Sagarmatha National Park Handbook
- Highest Heritage (an earlier hand book had been produced
in 1985). Eds foreword summarizes his perspectives on Sagarmatha
National Park as well as his lifelong commitment to the
Sherpa people.
A
couple of extracts are relevant:
Fifty years ago I walked through the valleys of Khumbu as
a member of a reconnaissance expedition that had been charged
with the task to explore the southern side and a possible
route to the summit of Everest. The memory of those first
views of the marvelous scenery, abundant wildlife, rich
forest and shrub-lands and, above all, the awe-inspiring
mountains and incredible hospitality of the Sherpa's, have
remained with me. Today's trekkers and mountaineers still
enjoy these same things, which have drawn me back to Khumbu
time and time again since then.
As
with the rest of our planet much has changed in that time.
The tiny summer settlements, of only a few basic shelters
where the Sherpa's stayed while their cattle grazed the
high pastures in summer, now sprout large lodges to accommodate
the thousands of visitors who come to Khumbu each year.
The idea that some of us shared, to try and protect the
special natural and cultural values of the Khumbu, led to
the formation of Sagarmatha National Park in 1976, and its
inclusion in 1979 on the World Heritage List. This has done
much to preserve the forests and ecosystems of these fragile
areas. As a World Heritage Site, Sagarmatha National Park
still needs constant protection to preserve the values for
which it was set aside, and all who visit need to be aware
of this. Only by understanding those values can we truly
appreciate them.
Thanks Ed for your leadership, friendship and blunt pragmatic
guidance!
Manaaki Whenua, Manaaki Tangata, Haere whakamua
Care for the land, Care for the people, Go forward.
--Bruce
Jefferies
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