US Ambassador Celebrates Earth Day in Pokhara

April 22, 2009

Kathmandu:  Nancy J. Powell, the U.S. Ambassador to Nepal commemorated Earth Day by announcing winners of an Earth Day Essay Writing Competition at the Institute of Forestry in Pokhara. In addition to saluting winners of the competition, which was designed to encourage better English writing skills and to promote original and critical thinking in the arena of natural resources management, she also visited the American Corner, where she presented a set of commemorative Earth Day posters.

Earth Day, which originated in the United States in 1970, is now celebrated around the world every April 22. This year the U.S. Embassy sponsored an Earth Day essay competition to encourage students at the Institute of Forestry to improve their English language writing skills. Students were asked to write on one of the following contemporary policy issues facing the government of Nepal: How can the principle of payment for environmental services be applied to Nepal? How should natural resource policy be reflected in Nepal's new Constitution? How should social inclusion be reflected in natural resource management in Nepal?

During her remarks at the American Corner, Ambassador Powell commented on her recent trip to Upper Mustang, It was indeed one of the most beautiful areas I have seen in Nepal. Such beauty draws visitors from all over the world to Nepal and their presence inevitably brings pressures for change. So it is imperative that the local communities of Mustang and other areas visited by trekkers, and Nepal's leaders, think clearly about the nation's development goals and ensure that environmental and social concerns are adequately addressed."

Ambassador Powell continued, This is not just an issue for the far flung regions of Nepal it is also one that confronts Pokhara. Pokhara must balance increasing tourism with protection of the natural resources that attract so many tourists in the first place. We are committed to supporting Nepal's efforts to protect the environment and conserve its natural resources."