Nepal's renowned cyclist Pushkar Shah has joined hands with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to promote environmentally responsible tourism in the Himalayas.
Shah, who has travelled across 150 countries all over the world, will undertake his latest journey across the country's Great Himalaya Trail as part of WWF's Green Hiker Campaign.
"I will in the best possible way help spread the message of the Green Hiker Campaign and responsible tourism wherever I go," Shah said.
Presenting a bicycle to Shah in capital Kathmandu today, Nepalese Tourism Minister Ram Kumar Shrestha said the campaign had government's full support.
"The government will support the initiative taken by Shah in promoting mountain tourism and protecting environment," Shrestha said.
Talking about the campaign, Ghana S Gurung, Conservation Program Director of WWF Nepal said: "Himalayas, which is Nepal's biggest tourist attraction, is also one of the hardest hit in terms of climate change."
"The Green Hiker campaign and this partnership with Pushkar Shah seek to create greater environmental awareness so that people can enjoy nature while ensuring that its pristineness is protected," he added.
The journey which began a month ago will continue for two more week and end in Taplejung district in eastern Nepal.
Shah has been travelling across the world for the past fifteen years to spread the message of world peace.
