Dear Colleagues, Researchers, Partners, Journalists, and Institutions,
We are pleased to share with you the EvK2CNR Annual Report 2025, a publication that captures the essence of an extraordinary year for our Association. With great pride, we present the projects, research activities, missions, institutional meetings, events, and initiatives that have seen the participation of EvK2CNR and its staff at both national and international levels.
Message from the President
"With the publication of this Annual Report, I wish to share with you the summary of another intense and significant year for our Association. 2025 was a year of science, cooperation, and awareness-raising, which further confirmed that investing in research and the sustainable development of mountains is not a choice, but an urgent necessity for the entire planet."
Agostino Da Polenza
President, EvK2CNR Association
Message from the International Projects Coordinator
"This year's achievements demonstrate the power of collaboration—from the Spantik Lab expedition in the Karakoram to the modernization of the Pyramid Observatory, from ecological surveys in Sagarmatha National Park to capacity building with our Pakistani partners. Each project represents our commitment to translating scientific knowledge into concrete action for mountain communities and ecosystems."
Francesca Da Polenza
EvK2CNR International Projects Coordinator
2025 at a Glance: Key Highlights
A Landmark Year for the Pyramid Observatory
EvK2CNR and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) signed a pivotal five-year Operational Convention for the Pyramid International Laboratory-Observatory, ensuring its role as a global benchmark for climate research in the Himalayas. The agreement includes a major technical-architectural regeneration project for this unique facility at 5,050 meters on Mount Everest.
Spantik Lab: A New Mountain Laboratory in the Karakoram
The Spantik Lab project transformed the Chogo Lungma Glacier into an open-air laboratory for climate study. The July 2025 expedition deployed state-of-the-art monitoring technologies—including autonomous weather stations, the ARES atmospheric station, and drone-based surveys—to investigate the "Karakoram anomaly" and its implications for water security in Pakistan.
High-Altitude Guides Course: A Milestone for Pakistan
Twenty-eight Pakistani climbers successfully completed a two-year advanced training program to become certified High-Altitude Guides, coordinated by EvK2CNR in collaboration with Italian Alpine Rescue and Guides. The graduation ceremony, honored by the presence of Sirbaz Khan—the first Pakistani to summit all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen—represents a thirty-year journey toward sustainable mountain tourism.
Water for Development: Strengthening Climate Resilience
The Water for Development project, funded by AICS, achieved significant progress in Gilgit-Baltistan: glacier melt modeling for the Hunza Basin, establishment of water quality laboratories, detection of microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems, and ecotourism development in the Thalley Valley. Training programs empowered local institutions, students, and communities with geospatial technologies and sustainable practices.
Ecological Research in Sagarmatha National Park
A 15-year reassessment of predator-prey dynamics in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park was conducted, focusing on the endangered snow leopard and its primary prey, the Himalayan tahr. The mission, led by Prof. Sandro Lovari, provides essential data for evidence-based conservation management.
Indoor Air Pollution Study in Thalley Valley
A preliminary health study revealed alarming indoor carbon monoxide levels in mountain communities—exceeding WHO guidelines by 2-3 times—with a 17.4% prevalence of COPD, highlighting an urgent public health priority for high-altitude regions.
Global Recognition and Institutional Engagement
Explore the Full Report
The EvK2CNR Annual Report 2025 provides comprehensive coverage of:
We extend our deepest gratitude to all our collaborators, researchers, institutional partners, and supporters in Italy and around the world. Your dedication makes our work possible.
Together, among the mountains, for the mountains.
Warm regards,
The EvK2CNR Team