NMA at Paris Climate Conference - COP21
The 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP 21) is being held in Paris from 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015 with participation of around 40,000 participants, including country delegates, observers and civil society members. This conference is crucial to find a universal, legally binding agreement to effectively mitigate climate change and boost the transition towards resilient, low-carbon societies and economies.

The UIAA was involved with experts and the international mountain platform Mountain Partnership into the elaboration, at the international level, of a "Declaration on Mountain and Climate Change for COP 21”. The aim of the Declaration is to have mountains and current challenges linked to climate change recognized in the negotiations of the COP 21. The Declaration will be circulated to international organizations to be signed and to States, to be promoted and supported in the negotiation sessions.

We are happy to share with you that Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal was able to establish its presence at COP21 through the representation of our president, Ang Tshering Sherpa and Honorary Member of UIAA also participated in the conference. He carried the voices of the mountain communities and conveyed the message of growing vulnerability of mountain inhabitants as a result of melting Himalayas in his address at the conference event, press meet and the conference booth.

Participation in 'Solidarity Walk for the Survival of Tourism'- 4 Dec
Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) organized a procession with the slogan 'Solidarity Walk for the Survival of Tourism' on 4 December 2015.In the organized procession different private sectors, tourism related organizations actively took part. Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) also participated in it, which ended up at Basantapur, all way starting from Sanchaya Kosh Bhawan

Stay order released by the Supreme Court in favor of NMA- 9 Dec
The Supreme Court issued stay order on 8 Dec on the decision of Government of Nepal regarding the withdrawal of authority of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to issue climbing permits for 27 mountains.

Government of Nepal authorized NMA on 18 January 1978 to issue permits for 18 peaks between 5,587 meter to 6,654 meter in the Manang, Annapurna, Langtang and Khumbu area. On 16 Sep 2002, NMA was shouldered upon the responsibility by Government of Nepal to issue mountaineering permits to 15 more new peaks to climbers and mountaineers. These peaks are also known as the NMA Climbing Peaks. After the decision of government to waive royalty for the mountains below 5800m, currently NMA is issuing permits for 27 mountains. The cabinet decision taken on 9 Oct 2015 cancelled its authority to issue climbing permits and since then, it was issued by Department of Tourism.

The stay order released by the respected Supreme Court on 8 Dec instructed Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation not to follow the cabinet decision of 9 Oct 2015, which paved the way for NMA to issue climbing permits again.

Mountain Festival 2015-11 Dec
On the occasion of international Mountain Day, Nepal Mountaineering Association organized II Mountain Festival on 11th December, 2015. During the Festival NMA organized a half-day seminar at International Mountain Museum. The seminar's theme was centered on this year's International Mountain day slogan "Promoting Mountain Products for better livelihoods." Dr. Jit Narayan Shah from Institute of Foresty presented on theme "Kutki" : A medicinal Plants and its opportunities in Nepal. Ms Neeru Thapa from Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) also gave her presentation on topic "Tourism and Development Case Study of Tea Garden in Lwang." Similarly Mr. Prem Gurung, a local entrepreneur and Mr. Avinash Jha from ASK Foundation put forward their presentation on theme "Prospects of Macadamia nuts in Nepal" and "ICT to improve livelihood of Mountain Community" respectively.

Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF, 2015)
13th Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF, 2015) was organized from 10 to 14 December 2015. NMA sponsored the first prize of 1500$ to "Tashi & The Monk (India/UK)" - the winner of the international category at Kathmandu International Film Festival. NMA President , Mr Ang Tshering Sherpa gave away prize to the winner.