The Himalayan Stove Project Is Distributing 1,400 Clean, Efficient, Life-Transforming Cookstoves in Nepal

This is the first phase of a multi-year project.

News provided by

Sep 11, 2012, 08:40 ET

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Himalayan Stove Project believes in the conservation of nature, improving people's health and transforming the lives, of individuals, families and communities, one clean cookstove at a time.

The complete story of their inspiring and innovative program can be seen in the brief video on their website at:

http://www.himalayanstoveproject.org/

They are a US Based charity, which distributes free, clean-burning, highly efficient cookstoves in the Trans-Himalayan region.

These stoves burn "bio-mass" fuel - wood or dung – the same fuels now being used, BUT using up to 80% less fuel.

The health and lives of individuals, families and communities are transformed by lowering the levels of damaging indoor air pollution and reducing the hours of daily labor necessary to collect fuel.

Reducing deforestation and carbon output supports the environment. All this occurs because of the dramatic reduction in fuel consumption, while still providing the same cooking effect.

The Himalayan Stove Project is staffed totally by volunteers, who pay all their own expenses (including travel to Nepal), so overhead is minimal and virtually all contributions go to acquiring and delivering stoves (including payments into the local economy for necessary support services).

Their work in Nepal is facilitated by established local organizations; the "Himalayan Partners"; who have decades of experience, and long-standing, trusted, relationships with the communities they serve, including:

The Himalayan Trust (Sir Edmund Hillary's charitable foundation)
Community Action Nepal (charitable foundation founded by Doug Scott)
Lo Gyalpo Jigme Foundation – the charitable foundation of the former Royal Family of Mustang, guided by Jigme Bista
The Mountain Institute - active in the Himalayas since the mid 1980's, beginning with their "Heart of the Himalaya" initiative, guided in Nepal by Ang Rita Sherpa
T- Help Nepal - (Trans-Himalayan Environment and Livelihoods Programs, Nepal) – a highly regarded and effective Nepalese women's organization – women helping women!
"Off the Wall" Trekking – Ian Wall and team – decades of mountaineering and community service experience in Nepal

The Himalayan Stove Project has a rapidly growing, diverse, list of corporate, foundation and individual supporters (shown on their website) including the American Alpine Club, Outside Magazine, Glacier Works, MSR, 1% for The Planet, Global Rescue, Kobold Expedition Watches, Envirofit International and the Shell Foundation.

The mountaineering community has enthusiastically embraced their work – their board of advisors includes renowned Himalayan Mountaineers; Chris Bonington, Tom Hornbein, Doug Scott, Erik Weihenmayer and Jeff Evans.

Additional eminent Himalayan Mountaineers endorse their work, including Reinhold Messner, Conrad Anker, Dave Hahn, Jimmy Chin, Carlos Buhler, Simone Moro, Phil Powers, Mark Richey, Steve Swenson, Sandy Hill, Rebecca Stevens, Sherman Bull, Brad Bull, Chris Morris, Charley Mace, Michael Brown, Doug Beall, and many others.