Cycling the Silk Road Project set for 2011--Brochure now available 

To promote value of Transboundary Conservation and Connectivity Conservation, our energetic and undaunted Mountains Network member Kate Harris and her cycling partner Mel Yule plan to travel by bicycle the length of Asia's Silk Route in 2011. Last year they cycled Marco Polo's route through western China. Now they are leveraging their Master's degrees and expertise in earth sciences, transboundary conservation, and sustainable development 

"... to inspire support for TBPAs and peace parks along the Silk Road and beyond. We also hope to inspire others to not only get outside and explore the mountains, but do what they can to conserve alpine ecosystems and cultures." 

You can see a map of their route and learn more about this valuable project plus ways to sponsor and support it at: www.cyclingsilk.com.

As they move along their route, scientists Kate and Mel will pause to study six existing or potential Transborder Protected Areas:

•  Alpi Marittime/Mercantour: Italy-France

• Caucasus Transboundary Protected Area: Russia-Georgia-Azerbaijan

• A proposed Transboundary Protected Area straddling Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

• A proposed Pamir/Marco Polo Sheep Transboundary Protected Area: China-Pakistan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan

• Western Tien Shan Project: Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan

• The proposed K2 Peace Park: China-Pakistan

• Sagarmatha/Qomolangma Transboundary Protected Area: Nepal-China

We look forward to their reports and updates about this fascinating journey!