On Monday, April 1st, the Nature-Link Institute (N-L I) will begin the Gear for the Garhwal gear drive. N-L I is looking to accumulate used and donated
alpine travel gear which will be exclusively donated to the Mountain Shepherds Initiative (MSI) located in the high Himalaya of Northern India. As an international academic and
advocacy organization N-L I has an understanding of the desperate need that grassroots
organizations, such as MSI have staying afloat financially.
About MSI: MSI is a villager owned and operated ecotourism/guide organization located within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, considered one of the last great wilderness areas within the Himalaya. Owned and operated by 44 local youths certified through the Nehru
Institute of Mountaineering, the organization is at the forefront of the Nanda Devi Campaign which is dedicated to the cultural survival and sustainable livelihoods of the Bhotia villagers.
About N-L I: N-L I is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit international study abroad organization
accredited through the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation. N-L I has offered the 6-credit course within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve since 2005 and
during that time has built a special bond with the MSI organization. As a sustainable academic
adventure tourism organization N-L I believes in the possible advantages of helping MSI by donating used alpine travel gear. Once the gear is collected by N-L I it will be distributed to its field course students who will then hand-deliver the gear to the MSI organization.