The HIMALAYA gets visitors in such volume that in several places, roads and campsites have become part of the landscape, wildlife has been chased away into areas away from their natural habitat and the food-chain and ecosystem have been seriously disrupted.

Whoever thought that the mighty mountains that form formidable frontiers would need protection? Now sustainable development and carrying capacity are some of the buzzwords doing the rounds in politically correct circles; and a substantial amount of funds and manpower is being made available for preserving the environment as a heritage for the future.

Trekking and Mountaineering Associations, Nature Conservationists and Tourism Boards need to regularly hold workshops, training programs, clean-up drives.

The aims must be to:-

• Train managers for sustainable tourism.
   
• Provide training and awareness in conservation and techniques for field and office staff of the trekking agencies.
   
• Burn all paper, like toilet paper, cigarette butts, non-plastic products. Do not use detergents and strong chemicals.
   
• Familiarize participants with cultural and natural heritage and its relation to the trekking business.
   
• Help Co-ordinate trekking staff and local community people, especially from the trekking regions and promote environmentally friendly trekking.
  
   

Human needs have to be balance with the environment on a sustainable basis by ensuring maximum community participation through a process which people are both the principal actors and beneficiaries. Tourists themselves also have to be educated on what effect they have on the place they have chosen to visit and this is no mean task.