Rural Nepal is so traditional and underdeveloped, and yet potential for sustainable development is guaranteed given the wealth and diversity of agricultural and touristic resources. Main issue: the patent lack of infrastructures -- there are litterally no praticable roads, electric and phone grids outside Kathmandu valley -- has refrained economic and social development in the country-side. As a results, rural populations are left underpriviledged, with remote school access for children and most often no healthcare ... Beyond Peaks is working with NGOs and local entrepreneurs to implement most promising sustainable community development projects. The potential for locally-driven economic and social advances are huges, let s enable them!
Concepts:
# 1 -- Sustainable Development Concept with the NGO "Action High Land" for the sustainable development of the Lower Solukhumbu mountain regions. Opportunities lay in improved utilisation of touristic and farming resources. Investments: EUR 25,000 over 3 years
# 2 -- Sustainable Development Concept with the NGO "Banjang Conservation" for the sustainable development of the mountain region of Banjang in Western Nepal. Opportunities lay in new toursim and volonteering activities coupled with improved farming resources utilisation. Business plan tbd
# 3 -- Healthcare Concept with the NGO "Action High Land" to help improve healthcare facilities at the Karikhola hospital. Concretely: financial support to hire a doctor and provide medical supplies to the only hospital in the lower Solukhumbu area. Investments: EUR 10,000 per year
How Beyond Peaks helps :
Sustainability of mountain tourism and its impact on local communities and ecosystems is a topic of increasing importance, especially in depraved mountain regions. We aim to combine our mountaineering adventures with a sense of activism: To assess the ecologic, economic and social impacts of tourism on mountain communities and ecosystems; To extrapolate how sustainable development may improve ecologic, economic and social conditions; To support sustainable development projects led by local entrepreneurs.
Best Practices: Community Development in Nepal
The NGO "Kathmandu Environmental Education Project" (KEEP) is at the forefront for optimising tourism opportunities in Nepal. KEEP's Community Development Program began as an effort to maximise the benefits of toursim to the local communities.
The program aims to provide opportunity for international travelers, volunteers, or students to assist communities through development projects during their stay in villages.
Development projects include running small scale community projects as school renovations and educational projects, drinking water projects, setting up health camps, and environmental awareness activities.
In addition, cultural exchange ativities are when possible organised.
Besides working on projects, participants enjoy their stay with local host families as part of the Home Stay program.
The Nepal Tourism Board strongly support the programmes, taking the opportunities of activities to provide presentation about Nepal and its destinations as well as th role of NTB.
Resources:
* DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, 16.11.2009
* www.keepnepal.org
The program aims to provide opportunity for international travelers, volunteers, or students to assist communities through development projects during their stay in villages.
Development projects include running small scale community projects as school renovations and educational projects, drinking water projects, setting up health camps, and environmental awareness activities.
In addition, cultural exchange ativities are when possible organised.
Besides working on projects, participants enjoy their stay with local host families as part of the Home Stay program.
The Nepal Tourism Board strongly support the programmes, taking the opportunities of activities to provide presentation about Nepal and its destinations as well as th role of NTB.
Resources:
* DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, 16.11.2009
* www.keepnepal.org
Best Practices: Environmental Awareness in Nepal
The NGO "Kathmandu Environmentl Education Project" (KEEP) is at the forefront of disseminating information about tourism and its negative impact on Himalayan ecosystems. The Environmental Awareness Program, one of KEEP's key initiaitves, emphasizes educationof key stakeholders of the tourism industry about the environment, conservation, responsible tourism and tourism best practices.
As part of this program, KEEP runs video and slideshow presentations on various topics such as culture, trekking gently in the Himalayas, waste management, mountain safety, conservation, new tourism products, porter issues and campsite management.
In addition, clean-up campaigns are held every-years in partnership with Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), Sustainable Tourism Network (STN), Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)... These clean ups campaign were attended by the participants and instructors of KEEP's English language course (tourism professionals) as well as representatives of KMC, NRCT and STN, and the local communities.
Resources:
* DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, 16.11.09
* www.keepnepal.org
As part of this program, KEEP runs video and slideshow presentations on various topics such as culture, trekking gently in the Himalayas, waste management, mountain safety, conservation, new tourism products, porter issues and campsite management.
In addition, clean-up campaigns are held every-years in partnership with Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), Sustainable Tourism Network (STN), Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)... These clean ups campaign were attended by the participants and instructors of KEEP's English language course (tourism professionals) as well as representatives of KMC, NRCT and STN, and the local communities.
Resources:
* DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, 16.11.09
* www.keepnepal.org
On sustainability of Nepalese-Himalayan Trekking and Climbing
In the 50 years since Nepal opened its borders to outsiders, tourism has brought many benefits, in terms of wealth generation, employement opportunities, infrastructure, healthcare, education and transport, creating a level of social mobility that would have been unthinkable in the past. Many Nepalis who own trekking companies today worked as porters themselves 20 years ago.
Now over 450,000 tourists visit the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal every year. Nepal faces several social and environemental issues as a result of, or at least coumpounded by tourists' actions and expectations. Some negative effects of tourism are also clear to see: Begging is widspread; litter chokes mountain trails -Trekkers in Nepal leave behind an estimated 100 tonnes of unrecyclable water bottles every year-; new hotels and lodges are built at an unprecedented rate; forests are vanishing as lodge owners collect ever more firewood to keep trekkers supplied with warm showers and hot meals...
There is endless discussion among travellers about the most environmentally and culturally sensitive way to travel. What is certain is that making a positive contributuion is as much about the way travellers behave as the money they spend. A number of Gov and non-gov organisations are addressing the topics of sustainable development in Nepal. Among these:
* the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) aims to help minimize the negative influences of tourism by advocating and promoting "minimum impact trekking";
* the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP) aims to develop new community-based environmentl and cultural tourism projects in rural areas
* also, a number of treeking agencies use the proceeds from their trips to support charitable projects around nepal, and many travellers also undertake sponsored treks and climbing expeditions in Nepal to raise money for specific charities and projects.
DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, spoke to me about how trekkers and mountaineers can minimise their footprint in Nepal. Here are his tipps on environmental issues:
* Stay at lodges that use alternative fuels for cooking;
* Don't make campfires and only take showers if the water is solar heated;
* Leave all non-bidegradable items at home and carry out anything you do bring in;
* Avoid drinks or foods in plastic wrappers, bottles and tins, and purify your own drinking water with iodine;
* Use biodegradable soaps for washing and take your batteries home for proper disposal;
and his tipps on social issues regarding porters:
* Provide porters with a fair wage;
* Do ot overload your porters, and provide adequate clothing;
* Ensure that the trek organiser takes care of its porters and provides them with medical and life insurance
Organisations and Resources on Responsible Tourism in Nepal-Himalaya:
* Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP): www.keepnepal.org
* Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP): www.welcome2nepal.com.cn/index-2.htm
* Trekking Gently in the Himalaya, Wendy Brewer Lama - essential tips for trekkers!
* World Expeditions: www.worldexpeditions.net / 'responsible travel' links
* Tourism Concern: www. tourismconcern.org.uk
Now over 450,000 tourists visit the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal every year. Nepal faces several social and environemental issues as a result of, or at least coumpounded by tourists' actions and expectations. Some negative effects of tourism are also clear to see: Begging is widspread; litter chokes mountain trails -Trekkers in Nepal leave behind an estimated 100 tonnes of unrecyclable water bottles every year-; new hotels and lodges are built at an unprecedented rate; forests are vanishing as lodge owners collect ever more firewood to keep trekkers supplied with warm showers and hot meals...
There is endless discussion among travellers about the most environmentally and culturally sensitive way to travel. What is certain is that making a positive contributuion is as much about the way travellers behave as the money they spend. A number of Gov and non-gov organisations are addressing the topics of sustainable development in Nepal. Among these:
* the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) aims to help minimize the negative influences of tourism by advocating and promoting "minimum impact trekking";
* the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP) aims to develop new community-based environmentl and cultural tourism projects in rural areas
* also, a number of treeking agencies use the proceeds from their trips to support charitable projects around nepal, and many travellers also undertake sponsored treks and climbing expeditions in Nepal to raise money for specific charities and projects.
DB Gurung, Director of KEEP, spoke to me about how trekkers and mountaineers can minimise their footprint in Nepal. Here are his tipps on environmental issues:
* Stay at lodges that use alternative fuels for cooking;
* Don't make campfires and only take showers if the water is solar heated;
* Leave all non-bidegradable items at home and carry out anything you do bring in;
* Avoid drinks or foods in plastic wrappers, bottles and tins, and purify your own drinking water with iodine;
* Use biodegradable soaps for washing and take your batteries home for proper disposal;
and his tipps on social issues regarding porters:
* Provide porters with a fair wage;
* Do ot overload your porters, and provide adequate clothing;
* Ensure that the trek organiser takes care of its porters and provides them with medical and life insurance
Organisations and Resources on Responsible Tourism in Nepal-Himalaya:
* Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP): www.keepnepal.org
* Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP): www.welcome2nepal.com.cn/index-2.htm
* Trekking Gently in the Himalaya, Wendy Brewer Lama - essential tips for trekkers!
* World Expeditions: www.worldexpeditions.net / 'responsible travel' links
* Tourism Concern: www. tourismconcern.org.uk
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