I think the biggest threat to the Himalayan region is tourism. The Himalayas are home to a culture of people and numerous species of plants and animals not found anywhere else in the world. As more and more people visit, more and more garbage is left behind. The residents become reliant on money from foreigners, and the whole cuture of their communities changes. This is not inherently a bad thing. After all, new communities and cultures form and grow as they interact with people different from them. In this case, I think it is important to allow these interactions while still protecting and maintaining those that currently exist. This will be a difficult balance, but I do think that it is possible.
