[FLOOD REPORT] Why Tibetan stewardship of the plateau is necessary—and urgent
[FLOOD REPORT] Why Tibetan stewardship of the plateau is necessary—and urgent
- Sat, Sep 12 2026 at 10:02 AM
Dear Mark,
In China’s view, the Tibetan plateau is simply a resource to be conquered, dominated, exploited, and developed with no thought for the environment.
Last month’s mudslide on the Nepal-Tibet border showed the limits of that approach—with tragic loss of life as a result.
In our latest report, we outline how the recent Nepal-Tibet floods underscored the urgent need for Tibetan stewardship of the plateau. While the world debates whether this disaster was caused by climate change or a geological event, there is no doubt that China’s reckless development on Tibet’s fragile environment has destabilized the ecosystem and raised the probability of more frequent and severe disasters. And families in Nepal, Tibet and China suffer the consequences.
Our research shows how China’s occupation of Tibet led to the imposition of an ideology rooted in the Maoist slogan rending shangtian: “human determination can conquer nature.” In this view, Tibet’s difficult terrain is seen as a frontier to be subdued and exploited. That justified the CCP’s ongoing relentless infrastructure push across the Tibetan highlands, including highways, hundreds of hydropower dams, mining facilities and urban sprawl.
In contrast, harmony with nature is at the core of Tibetan culture. For centuries, Tibetan nomads and farmers recognized the importance of environmental stewardship, cultivating a symbiotic relationship with Tibet’s geography and resources.
As we saw in the wake of these tragic floods, the Himalayas hold extremely powerful forces of nature. And while Tibetans seek to live and work on the land in a sustainable way, China develops the plateau with no thought of the risks.
In their efforts to harness Tibet’s resources, China is shifting the Earth itself. Mountain tunneling and hydropower dam construction increase the risk of landslides, glacier collapse, and floods. They are leaving lasting marks on the landscape—and the Tibetans who inhabit it.
But traditional Tibetan methods of stewarding the land offer a sustainable—and urgently needed—alternative. By treating water and other resources as sacred spaces, and practicing nomadic farming, Tibetan pastoral nomads maintained the delicate balance of the plateau for centuries. If we want to protect the plateau and its people, we must incorporate Tibetans’ approach to stewarding the land.
Sadly, these floods have not moved China to give up its plans. Just a few days after the flood, as the world was processing the shock of hundreds missing and dead, China announced that it is commencing operations on what will be the world’s tallest dam—right in the heart of Tibet.
With friends like you by our side, we are urgently pursuing the work to raise global awareness of the threats facing the Tibetan plateau.
I encourage you to read the report in full and join us in calling for Tibetans to be able to make their own decisions about the land they have stewarded for centuries—before disaster strikes again.
Thank you,
Ryan Fioresi
Executive DirectorP.S. There are still thousands of people in Nepal and Tibet suffering as a result of the catastrophic floods of August 26. And while the CCP’s lockdown on outside aid prevents us from transmitting financial support to the Tibet side of the disaster, we can help those affected on the Nepal side.
And know that ICT continues to call on Beijing to allow unfettered information and access to the disaster region so that Tibetan families receive the support and relief that they urgently deserve.
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