ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to address the confusion brought about by a combination of lack of academic rigour in the early stages of the propagation of the myth of Himalayan environmental degradation, aid agency and news media carelessness, and the unsubstantiated basis for some of the policies of regional governments. Thompson and Warburton’s (1985a) response to the leading phrase of the chapter’s title (What are the facts?) has been introduced earlier. Nevertheless, even with the great increase in research across many disciplines and inter-disciplines since 1989, their own provocative response to the question remains relevant: ‘what would you like the facts to be?’
