Nepal to cap climbers based on mountain carrying capacity under new 5-year Clean Himalaya Plan

KATHMANDU: The government has unveiled a new strategy to keep Nepal’s mountains clean by limiting the number of climbers based on each mountain’s carrying capacity, marking a major shift in the country’s mountaineering and adventure tourism policy.

Under a five-year action plan (2082/83–2086/87 BS) approved through a ministerial decision on Mangsir 28, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has decided that climbing permits will no longer be issued without restriction. The plan aims to address mounting concerns over waste accumulation, environmental degradation, and overcrowding on Everest and other high Himalayan peaks.

According to the action plan, the government will determine both the number of climbers and the permitted climbing period by assessing a mountain’s physical capacity, the short window of favorable weather, and the risks associated with congestion at high altitude. Legal and policy frameworks will be amended accordingly.

Officials say excessive permit issuance—particularly on Mount Everest—has strained overall management, increased environmental risks, and intensified waste-related challenges. To mitigate these risks, the government has introduced a comprehensive plan that tightens waste management rules, replaces refundable deposits with mandatory fees, expands the use of technology, prioritizes human resource development, and strictly regulates waste disposal in the Himalayas.

The ministry argues that the new plan has become necessary as commercial mountaineering has expanded rapidly since May 29, 1953, when New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first summited Everest. Since then, the number of climbers has risen steadily, leading to an increase in both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste across high-altitude regions.

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters and 28 mountain ranges, which serve as the source of more than 6,000 rivers and streams. The country also has 5,358 lakes, 2,232 glacial lakes, and 1,310 peaks above 6,000 meters. The Himalayas are not only the backbone of Nepal’s adventure tourism industry but also a vital freshwater reservoir supporting millions of people and ecosystems downstream.

However, the government warns that unmanaged waste—including human waste, dead bodies, plastic, cans, tents, oxygen cylinders, pouches, and other climbing gear—poses serious threats to fragile alpine ecosystems. Due to extreme cold, such waste remains preserved for decades, accumulating year after year.

The action plan also highlights the growing impact of climate change. According to ministry estimates, if current temperature trends continue, up to 36 percent of Himalayan snow could melt within this century, rising to 64 percent if carbon emissions remain unchanged. As glaciers retreat, old waste that had long been buried under ice is now re-emerging on the surface.

Veteran climber Appa Sherpa, who has summited Everest 21 times, has reported noticeable expansion of glacial lakes and melting glaciers, with old waste now visible at Camps II, III, and IV. Members of Everest clean-up campaigns say waste accumulation is particularly severe above the South Col and around Camp II. The ministry has also cited climbers’ accounts describing human remains scattered between the South Col and the Hillary Step.

To address these issues, the government will make waste management a mandatory part of pre-expedition briefings. Expedition leaders, team members, agencies, and liaison officers will be required to submit written commitments on clean mountain practices. Equipment used to fix routes to the summit must be brought back after expeditions conclude.

Climbers will be required to declare all items they carry at the departure point and re-declare returned items at designated exit points after completing their climbs. Failure to comply will invite penalties.

For Everest, an interim waste collection center will be established at Camp II. Each expedition and individual climber will be required to bring back a minimum quantity of waste, as specified by the Department of Tourism, and deposit it at Camp II. The objective is to prevent waste generation above Camp II and gradually reduce existing waste.

The plan also calls for stronger coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments, along with private agencies and other stakeholders. Temporary field units will be deployed at base camps of high-traffic mountains during peak seasons to conduct regular briefings, monitoring, and facilitation.

In a major policy change, the refundable waste deposit currently collected from climbers will be converted into a mandatory mountain sanitation fee. The revenue will be used for environmental protection and climber welfare funds through a clear legal framework.

All levels of government will now be required to allocate dedicated budgets for mountain clean-up activities. Annual campaigns will be conducted to manage legacy waste and human remains. Waste segregation, collection, and processing centers will be developed at or near base camps.

The government has also announced feasibility studies on the use of ropeways and drones to collect waste from areas above base camps. GPS tracking systems will be tested to identify the location of human remains, while trained ranger teams composed of experienced climbers will be deployed to monitor and manage waste and bodies above base camps.

Only biodegradable prayer flags, banners, and similar materials will be allowed in high-altitude areas. Non-biodegradable items must be brought back. The plan also includes third-party evaluations involving international experts to assess the actual waste situation in the Himalayas.

In the long term, the government aims to secure sustainable financing for Himalayan conservation by expanding access to international climate finance and loss-and-damage funds through climate diplomacy. A feasibility study on relocating Everest Base Camp has also been included in the plan, underscoring the scale of environmental pressure facing Nepal’s most iconic mountain.