By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Apr. 7: Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) agreed to work jointly for the betterment of mountains and mountain environment.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to this effect on Tuesday.

President of NMA Santa Bir Lama and Director General of ICIMOD Dr. Pema Gyamtsho signed the MoU amid a function at ICIMOD Office, Lalitpur on Tuesday, according to a press statement of NMA.
Both the organisations will discuss further to finalise specific planning, read the press statement.
However, the organisations have finalised the five broad potential areas for collaboration.

Promotion of International Mountain Museum, Organising the programmes of mutual interest jointly, project development for capacity building and technology transfer, knowledge development and exchange of information and policy advocacy, coordination, networking and communication are the potential areas identified for collaboration.

Chief executive officer of NMA Kul Prasad Rai and strategic cooperation director of ICIMOD Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha are deputed as focal persons to discuss further planning.
‘‘We are very much thankful towards the DG Gyamtsho and ICIMOD family for creating an opportunity of working together for the betterment of Nepali mountains and mountain environment," President Lama said, ‘‘We are hopeful that this signing will be beneficial to all of us. This is the moment of pride. I want to assure ICIMOD that NMA will remain honest to this MoU."
DG Gyamtsho said that ICIMOD would remain committed to the implementation of the MoU.

‘‘We don’t need any scientific proof to see the mountains melting and affecting us adversely. So, we are trying to raise the issue nationally and internationally,’’ said Gyamtsho. ‘‘I believe that our collaboration will be fruitful in achieving our goals.’’

CEO Rai said, ‘‘We will focus on advocacy regarding the issues related to the mountains. We will work for mutual benefits.’’
‘‘This is a nice moment for all of us. We were waiting for this moment for long," Dr. Shrestha said, ‘‘We want to make people understand the situation and issues of mountains.’’