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The global travel and tourism industry is becoming increasingly influenced by the need to protect the environment. For Nepal, where tourism is a major foreign exchange earner, this need has become even more acute. The Kingdom is popular for its Himalaya which lures many a soul into this land, to behold and to conquer. Thus, eco-trekking, among others, has been given the utmost priority since visitors given the behind more than their footprints in the mountains- they leave behind garbage. The people living in the mountains have also contributed towards its degeneration. Forests along the popular trekking routes have been subjected to great destruction as trees are being cut down for firewood. The ever increasing population and the rise in the number of trekkers and mountaineers have also led to an increase in the number of tea houses and lodges along popular trails. Ignorance and lack of facilities for proper disposal of waste have been a major factor in the environmental decline. If this countinues, not only will the forests disappear, the animals they shelter will also the people who live in these areas will also have to move out which might result in a dilution of their rich culture.
Thankfully, travelers to Nepal have not only shown concern about their impact on nature, but also a willingness to pay for its conservation- provided the fund is utilized directly for the protection of the einvironment. In response, the government of Nepal has initiated environmental education programs in the Everest and Langtang regions among the 14 National Parks and Conservation Areas in the Country, six of which lie in the Himalayan region. The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation has been funding the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAp) in the Annapurna region and Manaslu Ecotourism Project (MEP) in Manaslu. The Mountain Institute has been funding projects in the Barun National Park and the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area. Similarly, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is supporting the Northern Mountain Conservation Project in Dolpa and Dhorpatan as well as the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) in Kanchenjunga. The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICMOD) is also equally involved. Furthermore, the government has banned bottled drinks from the National Parks and Conservation Areas. Aluminum can left behind by trekkers are being recycled into pots and pans by local blacksmiths. Moreover, only 20 lodges per five years per conservation area are allowed to be built. And in order to maintain quality in the lodges, they are allowed to charge only fix rates as determined by the government. The projects are financed by entrance fees paid by visitors for National Parks and Conservation Areas. Since the Participation of the local people is a major factor in these projects they have been given various training regarding health and conservation of biodiversity. They have also been taught income generating activities like vegetable gardening and sewing. By empowering local people with appropriate financial assistance, the projects help the villagers not only in improving the quality of their lives but also in providing them alternatives to their traditional means of income which generally were connected to the surrounding forests. Nepal offers so much geographic ethnic and cultural diversity for visitors to enjoy. Therefore, visitors are in a position to play a significant part in the preservation. And though they have clearly been demonstrating their willingness to pay for the various conservation efforts in the country, that just might not prove to be sufficient. If they really care, they can, while on tour in the Himalaya region or, for that matter, to any part of the country, drive the concept of ecotourism well and truly home through sound environmental practices.
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