KATHMANDU, JUNE 3 UNESCO has concluded a heritage safeguarding project documenting 10 elements of Sherpa intangible cultural heritage affected by the 2024 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Thame village of Solukhumbu. The project, supported by UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund, was formally concluded during a dissemination workshop held in Nagarkot on Monday. The initiative was launched after the August 16, 2024 GLOF severely affected Thame village within the Sagarmatha National Park World Heritage Site, threatening the indigenous Sherpa community's traditional practices and knowledge systems. More than 50 representatives from government agencies, indigenous communities and development partners participated in the workshop. According to UNESCO, the project documented 10 cultural elements linked to traditional food, craftsmanship, rituals, festivals and indigenous knowledge systems related to nature and disaster risk reduction. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Suresh Saras Shrestha, said a draft bill related to safeguarding Nepal's intangible cultural heritage has already been passed by the National Assembly and is expected to be endorsed by the House of Representatives during the winter session. UNESCO Nepal Representative Jaco du Toit said the project demonstrated how living heritage can contribute to climate resilience and disaster preparedness in mountain communities facing increasing climate risks. The workshop also presented a strategic action plan aimed at integrating indigenous knowledge systems into local disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation policies.