cheat_training_group Update from Nepal-from Jonathan

Hi Ashley & Tom,

I'm in Kathmandu, settling in-in, working a cool urban environment improvement project for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) a regional multi lateral bank much like the World Bank) and the United Nations Development & Environment Programs, as a Senior Technical Advisor/ Specialist.

Yesterday, I made a presentation on how by developing & improving urban services, we can (urban managers and community development groups) can improve the condition of the surface & groundwater. I used the Ko"si River Basin" where the city I'm working on is located, as ou might recall the "Sunkosi River",  which I'm sure you've heard of, is heavily rafted & paddled, is located in that river basin.

It seems there's little consciousness re: the relationship between urban management, water, drainage, waste water, drainage and solid waste drainage management and watershed management. ground and surface water quality, for example: the river/environmental quality near the city and downstream effects of pollution. Jenn, Sandrine, Randy, Graham or anyone else, especially some of you Civil Engineers and Environment types in the group,  if you have some cool examples of these issues you might want to share, please email them to me ASAP, I've been mostly drawing on personal and past professional experience(s(, somewhat jet lagged and therefore perhaps not remembering everything I've learned. New ideas, concepts and inspiration are most welcome.  I'm not ne to Nepal, having lived, worked and climbed here previously, and although there's been exponential growth, little has changed re: urban and environmental issues.   

Since Nepal's major income source is now tourism with much textile development (which uses toxic dyes that pollute the water resources), a major growing sector of tourism now includes river outfitting/adventures. The presentation, depicted the concept that better urban service(s) management is better/crucial for the entire population, especially for woman's & infant health and overall environment & health conditions/economic benefits/sustained if increased revenue participation, public and private participation and land use planning which has been up 'til now, ad hoc.  The city management people and the community (stakeholders) seemed to understand and accept these ideas. Now, the trick will be to get something done that that makes a significant difference, in urban management and Community Driven Development Practices.

I hope you all are enjoying the rivers and the mountains. I'm hiking each morning, up in the foothills outside of Kathmandu, which are very beautiful and reminicent of past experience, waiting to fly out before and after my past climbing expeditions.

I miss you guys & wish I was on the UY training, many thanks for all your support this Spring & throughout our spring kayak training!!

I hope this email makes some sense, as I'm writing on my I Phone...