Episode notes
At the dizzying heights of the Himalayan grasslands, where the air is thin and life clings to every scrap of earth, a collector, bent over, spends hours scanning the earth. He is not looking for precious stones or metals, but for something far more valuable: “Himalayan gold.” It is not a mineral, but Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an amazing hybrid of a mushroom and a caterpillar, the cost of which on the world market may exceed the cost of gold. This phenomenon is the clearest symbol of Nepal’s hidden economic potential. The country’s unique biodiversity, from alpine meadows to the tropical forests of the Terai, is not just a natural heritage to be protected, but a vibrant economic resource that can become the basis for innovation and global business.
Nepal today stands at a crossroads. On the one hand, the ...