Peruvian engineer César Augusto Portocarrero Rodríguez has been awarded this year's edition of Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal for his contribution in glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risk reduction and the implementation of projects to ensure equal access to hydrological resources in mountainous regions.

The award was handed over to Portocarrero at a function organised in Bouddha, kathmandu on the occassion of International Mountain Day.

Portocarrero has directed projects to mitigate danger of GLOF from numerous glacial lakes in the Andes, saving thousands of lives and many millions of dollars, and he is now sharing his expertise with members of the High Mountain Adaptation Partnership (HiMAP), including Nepal, Bhutan, and several Central Asian nations.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal was initiated in 2003 by unanimous resolution of the Namche Conference: Parks, People and Mountain Tourism. The Hillary Medal is awarded for remarkable service in the conservation of culture and nature in mountainous regions. It both recognizes Sir Edmund's life-long commitment to the welfare of mountain people and their environment and also encourages the continuing emulation of his example.

Nepali organisation Mountain Legacy has announced that Peruvian engineer César Augusto Portocarrero Rodríguez  will receive the Sir Edmund Hillary Mountain Legacy Medal in Kathmandu at 4pm on December 11, 2016. 

The presentation ceremony will be held at the Hotel Tibet International, in Boudhanath in conjunction with a celebration of International Mountain Day. 

Commenting on the selection of Portocarrero, Nepali organisation Mountain Legacy president Kumar P. Mainali stressed the link between mountain recreation and development work.