The Mt. Qomolangma (also known as Mt.Everest in western countries) is the highest mountain in the world. It lies on the border of China and Nepal. It ends in Tingri County of Tibet Autonomous Region in the north. It's covered with snow all year around. The 'roof of the world' is the 'sanctuary' for all mountaineers all over the world and summiting it is the long-cherished wish in their lives. Mt.Qomolangma became one of the first group of mountains opened to the public under the authorization of State Council since the Open and Reform policy carried out in 1980.
The ecological environment around Mt.Qomolangma is very fragile. Lives are struggling for survival here. Some plants will disappear permanently once they are destroyed, which will cause the whole biological chain around Mt.Qomolangma cut off. Hence, Tibet Autonomous Region has taken a series of measures to keep this miracle and pure land and better protect the unique and fragile ecological environment around the area.
Mt.Qomolangma National Nature Reserve
There are topless mountains in Mt.Qomolangma area and magnificent gorges and glaciers. The Zham channel, situated in the southern Nylam County to the west of Mt.Qomolangma, has a lowest altitude of 1,776 meters, 7,000 meters difference in between with the 8844.43m Mt.Qomolangma. There is tropical jungle in the channel. The large fall forms special solid climate on the snow land plateau. Scientists, tourists and pilgrims are all attracted by the unique look of plateau, vertical ecological system, various kinds of wildlife, rich snow land folk culture. Mt.Qomolangma area has very important value for ecology, biology, geology and environment science research, according to the material provided by Mt.Qomolangma Nature Reserve Administration Office.
To protect the environment around the Mt.Qomolangma area, a nature reserve was authorized and founded in November, 1988 by Tibet Autonomous Region People's Government. It was proved to be national nature reserve by State Council in 1994 and listed as world ecosphere reserve area in 2005.
The reserve covers an area of 33,819 square kilometers with a population of 82,000 people. The area is divided into core protection area, buffer area and development area. The average altitude is 4,200 meters. There are rich living resources in the area with 2,348 high class plants, 270 animal breeds. Snow leopard is set to be the symbol animal of the area. There IS also a vast volume of tropical plants fossils and animals fossils found in the area.
Despite of shortage of staff, fund and old equipments, the reserve administration office manages to protect the breeds, natural and human cultural relics as well as typical ecological system in the area. In high population density area, the office keeps the balance between natural environment protection and social development for sustainable development. Meanwhile the office has stopped the illegal hunting and lumbering by helping rural people explorer better business opportunities. There are also communities’ development projects involving natural resources publicity and protection, ecological tourism development, agricultural facilities improvement, drinking water for human and livestock improvement and training programs. 'National parks (nature reserves) have special administration staff in other countries, while farmers and herdsmen work together with local government officials to protect Mt.Qomolangma nature reserve in China. They take dominant effect in protection.' Said Doctor Tyler, world famous expert of public sanitary science. He has worked in China and other 60 developing countries for years.
Garbage collection movement
Garbage has been left on the roof of the world since the first footprint of human left on Mt.Qomolangma in 1912. In recent years, the number of mountaineers to Mt.Qomolangma is increasing rapidly. Many of them are lack of consciousness of environment protection and left garbage due to weight reduction and exhausted physical condition when they off the mountain. It has become a potential threat of ecological environment around Mt.Qomolangma area.
Hence, Tibet Autonomous Region has set up a series of strict regulations to fully control and reduce the garbage left on the mountains. There are limitations specifically made for climbing Mt.Qomolangma since 2006. In addition, education work stations have been built for environment protection to call for all mountaineers bring garbage out of camps and leave the garbage to staff to treatment.
There are also cleaning work carried out for remaining garbage on the mountain since 1996. Areas below 6,500 meters of altitude have been cleaned up. Two dustbins have been placed in the Base Camp on the mountain. A Mt.Qomolangma Environment Protection Team was formed in 2006, it arranges clean up activity once a year on Mt.Qomolangma along the travel route on the mountain.
A campaign 'The Third Pole of the Earth Mt.Qomolangma Movement' has started since 2004. It is a long term comprehensive movement which is carried for environment protection, education and mountaineering around Mt.Qomolangma. It has been taken for four years to date and will be last to 2008 for the Beijing Olympic Games flame seed capture that to be held on the Mt.Qomolangma.
