The Resilient Mountains
Snow Leopards & Mountain Communities
Artwork & Poetry Contest 2021
The past year and a half have been difficult as the worldwide pandemic has brought challenges globally. Nothing and no one has gone unaffected. Lives and livelihoods have been threatened as the world shut down, particularly for mountain communities who in addition to the raising of livestock depend a great deal on ecotourism as a source of income.
As the world waits for normalcy, the mission of conservationists and environmentalists cannot. Their work must continue as the threats to the environment, climate, and biodiversity remain.
We are so proud of our associates and partners in the field and their teams who have persevered, bringing much needed food and supplies to communities that were cut off due to shut-downs and quarantine. They have continued to plan, conduct training and educational classes and activities virtually, and when and where they could, have reached out to continue their work in person with mountain communities who are the stewards of the ecosystem.
To the people who live in the high mountains of Asia, the snow leopard has long been a source of spiritual power and strength and of continuity – a guardian over its domain. It has also been a symbol of the resilience of a species that survives despite the extreme challenges of its environment. This year our art and poetry contest will honor both the snow leopard and the members of the mountain communities who share its home and their resilience despite adversity.
