KATHMANDU, MARCH 23 A community-led initiative in Thame, Solukhumbu, has documented and validated eight elements of Sherpa living heritage as part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience following the 2024 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). The validation was completed during a two-day workshop held on March 21–22 in Thame, marking the final phase of support from UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF) to assess the impact of the disaster on the area's intangible cultural heritage. The process involved more than 30 local stakeholders, including women's groups and Indigenous youth, who participated in a series of workshops held in Thame and Kathmandu since November 2025. Experts, working alongside community members, finalized the documentation of key cultural practices and knowledge systems. According to UNESCO, the initiative aimed to ensure that identified heritage elements accurately reflect Sherpa culture while aligning with Nepal's Intangible Cultural Heritage (Inventory and Management) guidelines. Local stakeholders led the validation process to confirm authenticity and maintain community ownership. The documented elements include traditional food practices such as 'Tho', craftsmanship like 'Kshara', ecological knowledge systems such as 'Nawa and Dee', and cultural rituals and festivals including 'Dhubchoa', 'Mani Rildhup', 'Lhosar' and 'Lotok Bulo'. UNESCO Representative to Nepal Jaco du Toit said the process adhered to the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), ensuring that the Sherpa community retained ownership of its heritage. The initiative also seeks to support the inclusion of these elements in Nepal's national intangible cultural heritage inventory in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Participants highlighted that the 2024 GLOF had significant impacts on local heritage, infrastructure and livelihoods. Discussions during the workshop emphasised that traditional knowledge systems are not only vulnerable to climate-induced disasters but also play a critical role in disaster risk reduction and long-term sustainability. As part of the project's legacy, information boards showcasing the identified heritage elements have been installed in Thame and Lukla, serving as educational resources and promoting cultural awareness. Local youth involved in the process said the initiative helped bridge generational knowledge gaps and encouraged greater understanding and preservation of traditional practices. UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund, established in 2015, supports countries in protecting cultural heritage during crises and strengthening resilience against future disasters.