 Nepal is a small landlocked country (in the central Himalayas between India and China) ◦ What does landlocked mean?

 Nepal is located in a subtropical climate zone but has a varied climate due to its varying altitudes. Lowest Point (Terai Plain) – 50m Highest Point (Mt Everest) – 8848m

 Nepal is divided into 3 landform regions: ◦ The plains region: 50m-900m ◦ The hills region: 900m-3000m ◦ The Himalayan region: 3000m-8848m  Using the “Flora and Fauna of Nepal” info sheet draw and annotated diagram of Nepal

 The hills region was formerly forested due to Nepal’s increasing population (and lack of land) the steep slopes have been terraced and are now farmed.  The land has been degraded due to pressure on the land. ◦ What does terraced mean?

 This is primarily an agriculture region.  Rice is the main crop (grown up to 2000m)  Other crops include: wheat (planted after the rice), mustard (for cooking oil), corn (grown up the hill) and potatoes (grown up to 4000m)

MustardPotato Corn WheatRice

 The average size of land is about half a hectare (5000 sq. metres)  Around half the farmers are tenants and are in debt to moneylenders and forced to farm on poor land  Many farmers clear their land to a 50 degree gradient (the government recommendation is 30 degrees)  This causes frequent landslides and deforestation is a problem. ◦ What is deforestation?

 Many former hill dwellers have migrated to Kathmandu (Nepal’s major city) ◦ Kathmandu: Population: – Elevation: 1300m  However, uneducated rural migrants find obtaining employment difficult and normally find “unskilled” jobs e.g. selling handicrafts, working in hotels (cooks, cleaners, waiters), day labourers for the wealthy or menial work in construction ◦ What are unskilled jobs?

 The increased urban population is putting pressure on the human and physical features of the environment ◦ What might be some examples of this?

 This is the main region for mountaineering and trekking in Asia  Mount Everest is locally known as Khumbu  People who live in this region are Sherpas ◦ Who are Sherpas?

 Khumbu consists of high altitude rock, ice and snow  Fewer than 1% can be farmed, but other land is suitable for pasture ◦ What does the term pasture mean?  Water is plentiful in this area  About 3000 Sherpas live here in eight villages and in seasonal settlements at altitudes between metres

 The air at these higher altitudes is thinner than at sea levels and contains less oxygen, this makes it harder to breath  Sherpas have adapted to this environment, they have a shorter and lighter physique and larger lungs and heart (that pumps more blood)

 Sherpas’ land is used for crops and livestock that can handle higher altitudes ◦ E.g. buckwheat, barley and potatoes  In summer Sherpas take their Yaks up to the summer pastures for grazing  Sherpas have also traded with people as far as northern India and Tibet

 The Mt Everest environment has some of the most spectacular alpine scenery in the world  The number of trekking expeditions that visit this region has increased  The Sherpas have adapted their lifestyle around tourism, many have tourism based jobs as guides, cooks or porters  Work is seasonal but many Sherpas have full time positions

 Many Sherpa homes are converted to lodges to cater for tourists  The increased income from tourism has helped Sherpas to maintain their traditional customs  Sherpas income orginally came from farming but in recent times it now comes primarily from tourism  This extra money has allowed for modern houses being constructed with electricity, TV, telephones and the internet

 The Nepalese Government has developed schools, better transport and a hydro-electric power station

 Sherpas use timber from the Himalayan forests for fuel in their cold climate, tourism has increased this demand  Concern by the Nepalese Government about deforestation has lead to the creation of the Sagarmartha National Park (1976)

 Originally the Sherpas resisted this attempt to conserve forest timber  In 1978 the government gave back management and control to the local Sherpas  The community responded by participating in a reafforestation program, the Nepalese Government has insisted on: ◦ Trekking and mountaineering parties being self- sufficient in fuel, not relying on local timber ◦ A ban on cutting of green timber for firewood around villages

 A form of community based ecotourism is currently being trialled where villagers are actively involved in natural and cultural heritage conservation  The government aims to minimise the impact of tourism while still maximising on the benefits  “Sacred Sites Trial to Khumbu” (2003) was an initiative launched aims to integrate conservation needs while spreading the benefits of tourism to the wider community