23 June 2008
Everest treks to be limited by China
(Daily Telegraph; Independent) Beijing is considering restricting the number of climbers allowed to attempt the Tibetan side of Everest (Tib: Chomolangma) from next year. The proposal is one of a series of measures ostensibly designed to tackle environmental degradation on the Tibetan plateau and in the Himalayas generally. The Tibetan environmental protection agency plans to carry out a six month-long campaign to clear rubbish and wants to restrict access to Everest and clean up the northern foothills. Beijing recently paved a road to Base Camp in order to accommodate the Olympic torch, against the wishes of international conservationists, who say most of the rubbish that has accumulated on Everest is cosmetic and not a major problem, though the fact that climbers tear up the local shrub juniper to make fires is worrying because it can lead to soil erosion. The road and Base Camp have become a source of considerable revenue for the tourist industry