Barsha Rh Lekhi, a prominent figure at the nexus of climate change, biodiversity conservation, and indigenous rights, emphasizes that preserving communities extends beyond infrastructure to encompass shared worldviews, ceremonies, and cultural practices. With over seven years of experience working with UNESCO, UNDP, and indigenous organizations across Nepal and Asia, Lekhi has recently led research on the impact of glacial lake outburst floods on the living heritage of Thame in Nepal’s Khumbu region under UNESCO’s Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems Programme.

Lekhi’s journey bridges her early public recognition as Miss Nepal International 2016 and her current role advocating for indigenous communities and environmental policies. She credits the pageant platform for providing visibility and a voice to highlight issues often overlooked, particularly indigenous rights and environmental protection. However, she notes a shift in personal focus, moving away from pageantry toward deep engagement with indigenous elders, youth, and women, emphasizing listening and collaboration as essential in addressing climate-induced cultural crises.

Her advocacy is deeply rooted in personal and socio-political contexts. Coming from a family actively involved in Nepal’s indigenous rights movement, Lekhi observed firsthand the marginalization of indigenous perspectives in policymaking, despite these communities being disproportionately affected by climate change and biodiversity loss. The Miss Nepal platform offered an unconventional but visible avenue to bridge this gap by amplifying indigenous voices and challenging stereotypes associating beauty pageants solely with glamour.

Lekhi’s recent research highlights the intricate relationship between environmental disasters and cultural heritage loss. In 2024, a glacial lake outburst flood devastated Thame, a Sherpa village rich in living cultural heritage, damaging homes, monasteries, and sacred sites. This event exposed how climate change threatens not only physical landscapes but also intangible cultural knowledge passed through oral traditions and community practices. Conversations with affected residents revealed that what was lost extended beyond material damage to encompass memory, identity, and belonging.

A critical concern arising from such upheavals is the significant out-migration of youth from the Khumbu region. As younger generations move to urban centers or abroad for education and livelihoods, the transmission of cultural knowledge becomes increasingly fragile. Lekhi warns that without sustained youth engagement, the oral transmission critical to preserving indigenous heritage risks being severed entirely.

Through her extensive work with diverse indigenous groups, including the Tharu of the Tarai plains and the Sherpa in the Himalayas, Lekhi describes her understanding of identity as dynamic and evolving. She regards her Tharu heritage as both a source of pride and responsibility, driving her advocacy in policymaking forums where indigenous knowledge has historically been excluded. Her experience has broadened her sense of solidarity, shaping an identity that is simultaneously grounded in tradition and open to collective action.

Lekhi’s efforts underscore the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge within climate policy frameworks to address the cultural dimensions of environmental change, highlighting that resilience involves safeguarding both natural ecosystems and the cultural fabric that sustains communities.