• Kata offering to His Majesty the King and the Queen of Nepal by Mr. Gopal Bhattarai.

• Inauguration of the Conference by representatives of all participating countries: incense lit by Mr. Tsedam Sherpa, and butter candles lit by country representatives:
  • Australia: Beau Beza
  • Bhutan: Pema Gyamtsho
  • Canada: Brenda Platt
  • Germany: Peter Guggemos
  • India: Dan Singh Rana
  • Italy: Patricia Broggio
  • Japan: Kazuya Kurita
  • Nepal: Tshering Uthi Sherpa
  • The Netherlands: Sjoerd Nienhuys
  • New Zealand: Margaret Jefferies
  • South Africa: Ray Basson
  • Spain: Empar Alos
  • Sweden: Anders
  • UK: "Papa" Tony Freake
  • USA: Liz Padzernik
• Welcome, and introductory remarks by Seth Sicroff, Director, Bridges-PRTD, on behalf of the Namche Conference Organizing Committee

• Welcome by Mr. Gopal Bhattarai, Chief Warden of Sagarmatha National Park

• Welcome by Dr. Gabriel Campbell, Director General of ICIMOD

• Welcome by Mr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Environmental Specialist, Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme

• Message from His Holiness Ngawang Tenzin Zangbu, Head Lama of Tengboche Monastery, delivered by Sonam Gyelzen Sherpa, Chairman of the Buffer Zone Management Committee, Former Chairman of Namche VDC, and nephew of Tengboche Rinpoche

• presentation of a Tibetan prayer drum to Tengboche Rinpoche from Tehri Garhwal as a token of friendship among cultures, by Pratibha Naintani

• Welcome by Ang Purba, Chairman, Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee

• Welcome by Ang Dorje Sherpa, Namche Bazar entrepreneur and president of the Namche Youth Group

• Closing: butter candles moved into the Namche gompa; katas presented to NC participants by Head Lama of Namche gompa.

11:15 am – 12:30 pm: Visit to Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters. Address by Warden Gopal Bhattarai. Launching ceremony for Hands around Everest, new publication of The Mountain Institute and ICIMOD.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch break

2:00 – 3:45 pm: Session 1. State of the Park: Progress, Problems, and Opportunities in and around Sagarmatha Park. Round-table followed by group discussion. Dr. Dinesh Bhuju, Facilitator. (Venue: Hotel Namche)

1. Deforestation, Population and Sustainability. Dr. Khadga Basnet, Tribhuvan University; Kathmandu, Nepal
2. Let there be light! [The Phortse Community Project]. Mr. Tony (Papa) Freake, Phortse Project. UK.
3. An Approach to Monitoring and Assessing Ecosystem Health in the Khumbu Valley. Prof. Alberto Baroni, Dr. Gianumberto Caravello and Dr. Annamilvia Boselli; Italy
4. Natural Environment and People’s Living in the "World Heritage" Areas-Khumbu and Shinakami. Dr. Ichiro Imai; Japan
5. Sagarmatha National Park and Ecotourism: A Challenge. Mr. Ravi Sharma Aryal; Nepal.
6. SNP: A World Heritage Site in Danger or a Figment of Western Imagination? Mr. Bruce Jefferies and Mrs. Margaret Jefferies; New Zealand.

4:00 – 5:30 pm: Session 2. Sharing experiences: Global Perspectives on Local Issues. Small-group discussions:

• Session 2A. Communities and Mountain Tourism. Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Facilitator. (Venue: Hotel Namche)
  1. Sustainable Rural Tourism. Mingma Norbu Sherpa; Nepal.
  2. Curriculum Development at Boitekong, Volunteer Work and Tourism . Prof. Ray Basson, South Africa.
  3. Struggle for Community Based Conservation and Eco-tourism in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Dr. Sunil Kainthola, Mr. Dhan S. Rana and Ms. Pratibha Naithani: India.
  4. Mountaineering Producing Good-will Envoys for Nepal: Reflections from New Zealand and Japan. Dr. Krishna Hari Gautam; Japan.
• Session 2B. Natural Resources – Impacts and Management. Dr. Pema Gyamtcho, Facilitator. (Venue: Thamserku View Lodge)
  1. The Pyramid: A Unique Facility for High Altitude Research . Dr. Dinesh Bhuju, Royal Nepal Academy of Sciences and Technology: Nepal
  2. The Future of Livestock in the High Himalayan Region. Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, ICIMOD; Kathmandu, Nepal
  3. Impact of Cattle Treading on Hill Pasture. Dr. Tara Nath Pandey; Palmerston North, New Zealand
  4. Historical Research on Revegation in Alpine Region in Japan. Mr. Kazuya Kurita, Tokyo University of Agriculture; Japan.
  5. The Role of Local Communities in Natural Resource Management. Ms. Janita Gurung, Mr. Rajendra Gurung and Ms. Sugandha Gurung; WWF; Nepal.
  6. Garbage along the Mt. Everest Trek. Beau Beza, Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning; Victoria, Australia.

• 8 am: Leave Namche.
• 8:30 – 9:30 am: Visit SNP nursery in Phurte.
• 10:15am – 12:00 pm: Visit to Khumbu Bijuli headquarters in Thamo.
• 12-00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch in Thamo (daal-baht provided for registered participants; drinks and other items at individuals' expense).
• 1:00 – 2 pm: Return to Namche.

1. More Backpackers, Please. Dr. Seth Sicroff, Bridges-PRTD; Ithaca, NY, USA.
2. Tour Operators and Regulation. Dr. Irene Herremans; Canada.
3. Revisiting Eco-tourism in the High Altitude Region of the Himalayas: A Case Study. Alka Sabharwal, ICIMOD; Nepal.

5 – 6:15 pm: Session 4: Open Forum. Dialogue with SNP residents, tourists, and other stakeholders. Small-group discussion of points raised in the four sessions of the Asia-Pacific Mountain Network e-Consultations ("People, Park, and Mountain Tourism"; April 2-22). Discussion of proposals and recommendations in preparation for Session 6. (Venues: Namche Bakery and Thamserku View Lodge)

• Session 4A: Cultural and environmental impact of tourism
• Session 4B: Security issues relating to mountain tourism
• Session 4C: Park Management
• Session 4D: Marketing opportunities

1. Thermal Insulation; Beehive Stoves; Pakistan Stoves. Mr. Sjoerd Nienhuys, SNV; Kathmandu, Nepal.
2. Alternative Energy Systems Used in Nepal. Mr. Joseph Wenisch; Boulder, Colorado, USA.

3 – 4:30 pm: Namche Youth Group presentation (Venue: Namche Bakery).

5 – 6 pm: Session 6: Proposals and recommendations for the "Namche Consensus." (Venue: Namche Bakery)

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Farewell Party. (Venue: Thamserku View Lodge)