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"Our Conservation Journey": Nepal 1977-1979
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EditorRobin Mossman
Date1977-1979DescriptionIt was also during this period that the government , with significant encouragement from Sir Edmund Hillary, entered a bilateral agreement with the government of the Nepal to provide technical assistance for the establishment of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park - which later become a duel natural and cultural World Heritage site.
One of my roles involved the initial screening of the applications for this assignment - which I completed in record time. I went to see John Mazey (who had also been posted to Wellington) and the Director of National Parks - PHC (Bing) Lucas. They looked more than a little surprised when I informed them that there was only one suitable applicant - and you’re looking at him!
The job was working as an adviser to the Government of Nepal – this involved the initial work to establish Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park.
We lived in a village at 3500 metres – 10 days walk from the road. The doctor at Sir Edmund Hillary’s Hospital was an hour and a half walk away. It was a steep learning curve: living in a small village; education by correspondence; small airstrip; no water or electricity; poor communications; BJ away a lot.
The mountains of Sagarmatha National Park have to be some of the most spectacular on earth. There are however a range of impacts on the park that need to be actively managed.
There is concern amongst Sherpa communities that the demographics of this region are changing. Many hotels which were traditionally run by Sherpa families are now leased to other ethnic groups.
These groups lack the religious cultural and social attributes of local communities and simply regard the opportunity to operate a business enterprise as a commercial activity.
The impact of demographic changes are significant and perverse and of course relate negatively against the listing of the site as both a natural and cultural area.
Date1977-1979DescriptionIt was also during this period that the government , with significant encouragement from Sir Edmund Hillary, entered a bilateral agreement with the government of the Nepal to provide technical assistance for the establishment of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park - which later become a duel natural and cultural World Heritage site.One of my roles involved the initial screening of the applications for this assignment - which I completed in record time. I went to see John Mazey (who had also been posted to Wellington) and the Director of National Parks - PHC (Bing) Lucas. They looked more than a little surprised when I informed them that there was only one suitable applicant - and you’re looking at him!
The job was working as an adviser to the Government of Nepal – this involved the initial work to establish Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park.
We lived in a village at 3500 metres – 10 days walk from the road. The doctor at Sir Edmund Hillary’s Hospital was an hour and a half walk away. It was a steep learning curve: living in a small village; education by correspondence; small airstrip; no water or electricity; poor communications; BJ away a lot.
The mountains of Sagarmatha National Park have to be some of the most spectacular on earth. There are however a range of impacts on the park that need to be actively managed.
There is concern amongst Sherpa communities that the demographics of this region are changing. Many hotels which were traditionally run by Sherpa families are now leased to other ethnic groups.
These groups lack the religious cultural and social attributes of local communities and simply regard the opportunity to operate a business enterprise as a commercial activity.
The impact of demographic changes are significant and perverse and of course relate negatively against the listing of the site as both a natural and cultural area.
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CollectionFamily"Our Conservation Journey" by Bruce and Margaret JefferiesPlaceNepalInternational ParkSagarmāthā National Park
"Our Conservation Journey" by Bruce and Margaret JefferiesPlaceNepalInternational ParkSagarmāthā National Park
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"Our Conservation Journey": Nepal 1977-1979 (1977-1979). National Parks and Reserves Rangers Archive, accessed 21/03/2026, https://parkrangersnz.recollectcms.com/nodes/view/1316