Altogether 18 four-metre long panels were displayed near the main entrance of the IUCN World Conservation Congress at the Barcelona Convention Centre, 4-15 October 2008. Our aim, as always, was to raise awareness on the impact of climate change on the high Himalayan mountains. The exhibition had an information point where technical publications, brochures, flyers and other documents were distributed. At the info point visitors were able to relax and sit down, chat and meet the ICIMOD staff, as well as the photographer Alton Byers who flew in from the United States to be part of the event.

Feedback on the exhibition was overwhelmingly positive. People of all ages loved the big panorama photos, and were captivated by the stories of the Himalayan people. Some stayed for a long time, thoroughly reading the captions and comparing the old and new photographs. Many national and international journalists also took time to visit. All in all an estimated 8000 people - IUCN congress participants and local Barcelona people – visited the exhibition.

Climate change is very much on everybody’s agenda. The Himalaya – Changing Landscapes photo exhibition has started to attract global attention from environmental and development organisations, government bodies, international media and potential new sponsors. ICIMOD is delighted about this international support and to see that our work is being recognised in many new parts of the world. On 14 October 2008 Andreas Schild, the Director General of ICIMOD, received the first ever Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Environment Award for outstanding lifetime contribution to the cause of the Himalayan Environment.

The exhibition will now move to Kathmandu where it will be part of ICIMOD's 25th anniversary celebrations 1 – 8 December 2008.