Working Toward Sustainable Tourism
Highlander Guides and Porters and Tourism Department, GTA Lead the Charge for a Plastic-Free Maneybhanjyang on World Environment Day
Maneybhanjyang, June 5, 2025
The Society for Highlander Guides and Porters Welfare Association, in collaboration with the Tourism Department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), marked World Environment Day with a spirited rally and plantation drive, uniting the community in pursuit of a cleaner, greener future. Over 130 members, joined by dignitaries from local government, tourism, and environmental departments, gathered at the Sherpa Community Hall to pledge their commitment to a plastic-free Maneybhanjyang.
The event, which began at 9:00 AM, quickly evolved into a powerful movement as speakers emphasised the urgent need for environmental stewardship in this ecologically fragile region. The Society, one of the oldest and most active organisations in the area, reaffirmed its leading role in promoting sustainable tourism and preserving the Himalayan landscape.
Prominent attendees included:
-
Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa, Field Director, Department of Tourism, GTA
-
Range Officers from Tonglu Range and Singalila Wildlife Division
-
Officer-in-Charge, Sasastra Seema Bal, Sandakphu Region
-
Mr. Chandan Pradhan, President, Singalila Land Rover Welfare Association
-
Mr. Tashi Tshering Sherpa, President, Maneybhanjyang Football Club
-
The Pradhan of Sukhia Simana Gram Panchayat
-
Mr. Lawang Tshering Bhutia, President, Maneybhanjyang Development and Welfare Society
Dr. Dawa Gyalpo Sherpa praised the Society’s initiatives and proposed a new eco-friendly trekking route between Maneybhanjyang and Sandakphu, calling for collaboration with the forest department and local administration.
Following the speeches, participants marched through the streets, waving banners and chanting slogans to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The event concluded with a plantation drive, during which volunteers planted saplings along key routes—a lasting symbol of the community’s dedication to protecting nature.
This year’s World Environment Day was more than just a celebration—it was a bold declaration that even a small mountain village can lead the way toward a sustainable future.
Reported by:
Phu Tshering Sherpa
Society for Highlander Guides and Porters Welfare Association
Maneybhanjyang