KTK-BELT is trying to create the world's first 8,000-meter 'Vertical University,' which will stretch from the Koshi Tappu to Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the 3rd tallest peak in the world. The Vertical University seeks to safeguard 6,700 flowering plants of eastern Nepal and have farmers be the 'professors' teaching their indigenous knowledge to the new generation. The 'campuses'  or the Learning grounds will be open air land parcels at different elevations in the Himalayas in six different climatic zones, each of which safeguards different species and protects the natural heritage of Nepal.  

KTK-BELT is competing for the Earth Day Roadmap Challenge on Crowd Rise. They have managed to raise $48,000 so far and the competition closes on May 18 at 1:59 PM EST. If they can raise the most among the 60 competing organizations before this date, they would get a $100,000 bonus, which would go a long way in realizing the project. 

They are trying to quickly raise $150,000 for the following efforts. If they won, with the $250,000 total, they would create a seed bank of tropical trees, build an ornithology education center in Koshi Tappu, support 10 youth fellows and 100 farmers, as detailed here. 

What is powerful about this project is that if they win this competition, Nepal would be defining the global roadmap forward for protecting nature, mitigating climate change, and creating nature-based economies through their proven 'Learning Grounds' model.

I would appreciate if you could donate and share this with your network through email,  Facebook, viber or whattsapp

To boost their effort they are organizing a fundraising concert here in Boston on the 15th of May at Thunder Road Live Music club and restaurant in Somerville in collaboration with Jatra Nepal (https://www.facebook.com/events/1872195273050133/ ) where Nepali artists- Hemanta Rana and Rohit John Chetri will be performing. All proceedings from the event will be donated to the project. Your donation of 30$ or more to their Crowd Rise campaign will get you a free entry to this event upon showing the receipt at the door. 

KTK-BELT is also doing a 'One tree at a time Campaign' where they will protect one heritage tree in the Vertical University in your honor or in memory of the person of your choosing for every $100 donation.

Thank you in advance for your support. Please share this mail with your friends and family to make this campaign effort a great success.