Annapurna Conservation Area Project Research Articles

Community Participation in Conservation and Development: A Case of Sikles Village in Annapurna Region

Conservation of nature and biodiversity, together with livelihood maintenance and socioeconomic advancement of the local community, has always been a contested issue. This paper attempts to analyze the nature and extent of community participation in the conservation and development programs in Sikles Village of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) region and assess role of such community participation in the livelihood of the local people. The research used a mixed method. The primary data were collected through a household survey and interviews. The samples were selected from five clusters of Sikles Village. In total, 83 households were chosen as samples for the survey. In addition, interviews were also taken with selected representatives of the Conservation Area Management Committee (CAMC) and villagers. The conservation and development programs launched by ACAP in Sikles Village are carried out with the participation of the local people. The CAMC facilitates the process of community participation and it is compatible with the indigenous practices of the local community. However, the participation of the community is mostly at the implementation stage. The research shows that the decisive role is still limited to the village elites present in the CAMC and the experts of ACAP. Moreover, the formation of CAMC is exclusionary from caste/ethnicity and gender perspective. The people whose livelihood strategies are agriculture and animal husbandry are benefited from the conservation initiatives of ACAP.

The Trans-Himalayan Livelihood: Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism Development in Upper Mustang, Nepal

The people, places, and livelihoods of the Himalayan regions in Nepal are great attractions to tourists for multiple activities. However, mountain livelihood as tourist product has been little attention. This paper aims to present the Loba livelihood of the Upper Mustang, a trans-Himalayan region of Nepal as an intangible heritage, where the Government of Nepal began high-yielding tourism in 1992. Similarly, it focuses on opportunities and challenges of tourism development in the Upper Mustang. The paper is based on anthropological fieldwork conducted for the PhD, at Tribhuvan University, Nepal. The qualitative data were collected by applying observation and interview methods. The quantitative data were collected by Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Lo-manthang, and Jomsom. The important observable tourist goods in the study area include scenic desert-like natural surroundings, sacred sites, Himalayan festivals, rituals, local organic food items, and high altitude agricultural and pastoral practices. Similarly, the visitors are amazed and attracted by these tangible as well as intangible cultural heritages of Loba. The heritage includes the “mud-walled city of Lo-manthang”, medieval monasteries, palaces, and cave dwellings. The Loba livelihood is unique and a great attraction to domestic as well as international tourists for those who have no opportunity to experience a similar livelihood elsewhere. According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Lo-manthang Unit Office records 52559 (1992-2019) foreign tourists visited Upper Mustang, which is increasing by 144 tourists per year. This study contributes to the local, provincial, and federal governments to plan further development of tourism in the Himalayan region.

Is the tradition of honey gathering a hindrance to the development of beekeeping in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (Nepal)?

La cueillette du miel de l’abeille geante de l’Himalaya, Apis laboriosa, dans les montagnes de l’Annapurna (Nepal) est l’objet de nombreux reportages et documentaires. Suspendus dans le vide, de courageux cueilleurs recoltent de gigantesques rayons de cire a l’aide de longues tiges de bambou. Ces images font le tour du monde pour montrer les hauts lieux de cueillette, les falaises de Bhujung. Chaque annee, des centaines de touristes viennent assister au spectacle en plein air. Dans ce village, il n’est pas rare non plus de voir des ruches troncs accrochees sous des toits ou des loges creusees pour les abeilles dans des facades de maison. Plus generalement, dans les regions rurales du Nepal, l’elevage de l’abeille asiatique, Apis cerana, est couramment pratique. Lorsque son apiculture s’inscrit dans une logique commerciale, elle implique cependant un investissement financier et des connaissances techniques qui peuvent etre un frein a son developpement. Dans le village de Bhujung, les habitants ne semblent pas prets a s’engager dans cette voie et cela independamment des elements evoques precedemment. A travers les entretiens individuels que nous avons conduits sur place, nous ont ete decrites des pratiques tres codifiees ou se melent les conceptions religieuses locales et la fierte d’appartenir a une identite, celles de l’ethnie Gurung. Notre etude montre comment des pratiques sociales et culturelles associees aux abeilles sauvages ou domestiques influencent l’apiculture locale ; et pourquoi les habitants s’appuient sur des connaissances et des pratiques qui sont celles de chasseurs-cueilleurs de miel et non celles d’eleveurs d’abeilles.

Making sense of conservation behaviours in Mustang, Nepal

Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) have been undertaken in many countries due to expectations of their supporting both natural resource sustainability and livelihoods. However, they have been challenged by critics over the years, who claim that conservation goals take precedence over local development in practice, thereby worsening the vulnerability of resource-dependent people. Nonetheless, one ICDP implemented in Nepal, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), has been largely regarded by researchers and practitioners as an ICDP success case. Under the authority of a conservation-oriented NGO, ACAP, the ICDP engages local communities participatory for resource management. One community within ACAP has been found to have a substantial timber surplus that satisfies conservation goals, but could also become a sizeable and sustainable source of income for local development. We interrogate the rules and practices of timber management in this community to explore the why behind this practice, discussing how modes of environmental governance aimed at producing behaviors to manage natural resources in particular ways (‘environmentalists’) feature in the seemingly conservation-oriented de jure rules and de facto practices and in authority relations in and around the community.

Relationship between Social Carrying Capacity and Tourism Carrying Capacity: A Case of Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

The paper aims to examine the relationship between social carrying capacity and tourism carrying capacity in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), Nepal (along the popular Annapurna Base Camp Trail). Carrying Capacity is a key indicator in assessing the sustainable tourism development at a given place. The study used Survey Research Design to obtain information from tourist and local residents. From the research, it was evident that the visitors were highly satisfied with the tourism activities, along with conservation and development activities at ACA. Similarly, local residents were satisfied with the development of tourism in ACA, yet they perceived crowding, and congestion, cultural degradation as some impending challenges in the near future. Social Carrying Capacity in the ACA has not exceed its threshold, even though this popular trekking destination has been witnessing robust growth in the number of tourist in the region post armed-conflict (1997-2007). Hypothesis test result indicate that the relationship between dependent variable [Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC)] and independent variable [Social Carrying Capacity (SCC)] has a positive correlation. Adequate and appropriate management intervention by the Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)/Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) there has been well-planned and sustained tourism growth in the region.

Through the eyes of Asa; the role of integrated conservation development programs in Ghandruk, Nepal

AbstractThe Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is growing in popularity as Nepal’s largest protected area. The National Trust for Nature Conservation uses the sustained revenue generation from the tourism industry to implement Integrated Conservation Development Programs (ICDP). These programs focus on promoting participatory interaction with the local villages of the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) in an attempt to develop them into sovereign and self-sustaining communities. When ACAP was first established in Ghandruk to control the rapid rate of deforestation caused by increases in population and tourism, the development efforts and empowerment activities were targeted toward hotel owners. This served to marginalize the farmers and communities unrelated to the tourism industry. This study’s purpose is to examine the impact that the tourism industry has in promoting ‘people oriented’ conservation and the attitudes of Ghandruk’s marginalized populations towards ACAP’s ICDP developments, with a focus on conservation awareness. Information was gathered through semi-structured and unstructured interviews with ACAP officials, local management committee staff and marginalized populations of women and Dalits. This information was used to focus on understanding how ACAP has incorporated participation of marginal groups in Ghandruk into conservation programs. Ultimately the felling of trees for guesthouse construction resulting in the loss of natural habitat for apex predators, the absence of scientific research, and the disregard for the environmentally oriented marginal groups of Northwestern Ghandruk has placed an emphasis on tourism based development that overshadows the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
 Keywords: Development studies, natural resources and conservation, natural resources management policy.

The true accessibility of mountaineering: The case of the High Himalaya

Each year, hiking, trekking and mountain climbing, broadly defined as mountaineering, are becoming more popular. Among the key factors determining a travel destination in recent years is the level of tourist accessibility. To improve the current level of tourist accessibility, it is necessary to know all the factors that may affect it. This paper focuses on the true accessibility of mountaineering and presents a conceptual framework for assessing it. Access to places for mountaineering is more complicated than for simple tourist destinations that only require the availability of transport and in situ services. For mountaineering, true accessibility consists two factors: (1) destination accessibility (the transport system and in situ services) and (2) real access, which includes such factors as social, economic, weather and psychophysical environments, as well as the presence of mountaineering activities, all of which can have a positive or negative influence on the opportunity to engage in a given pursuit. This means the conditions must be such that real contact with the tourist attraction can take place. Examples of current accessibility conditions in the Himalaya are used to illustrate all part of the conceptual framework. A more comprehensive understanding of the different aspects of mountaineering accessibility offers important insight for tourists planning mountaineering activities and local mountain communities developing supporting infrastructure and services. M A N A G E M E N T I M P L I C A T I O N SThe comprehensive conceptual framework of mountaineering accessibility presented in this article offers an important tool for:●authorities and/or residents of mountain communities to assess their local conditions and make informed choices about their own future: they may facilitate accessibility for mountaineering (e.g., Annapurna Conservation Area Project) or remain in isolation from this kind of activity (e.g., Bhutan);●mountaineers, whose improved understanding of accessibility will increase their chances of a successful summit bids and help improve the safety of their trips.

English

Integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) have recently been criticized for their ignorance of community heterogeneity, mismatch between project output and expectations, and lack of connection between conservation and development initiatives. Using Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) as an example this paper examined how perceived benefits from one ICDP varied between stakeholder groups and how local resources were allocated. Data collection for this research was conducted through 96 interviews with three groups, that is, ICDP staff, local management committee members, and marginalized peoples. Results showed that the programs introduced by ACAP and their resource allocations were not perceived as having a fair and equitable impact across all households, community, and regions within the protected area. Moreover, there was a perceived discrepancy between ACAP allocation of resources in certain sectors, local residents’ expectations from ACAP and outcomes of the funding, that is, conservation vs. tourism. Future research is suggested for collecting more data from additional residents, communities and with other ICDPs. Key words: Annapurna conservation area, conservation, development, integrated conservation and development project, marginal groups.

Climate Change and Its Effect on Water Resources: A Case Study in Annapurna Conservation Area Project (Acap)

This paper is about the impact of climate change on the water resources. Mainly it has focused on the consequences of climate change in the people of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) area. Both the qualitative and quantitative approach of study was conducted. The data’s through survey questionnaire and interview were collected in different places of ACAP area. The main essence of this study is to explore the overall aspects of water resources and its impact on the people that are using the resources. It has tried to find the problems faced by the people on water resources, sources of water resources, pattern of rainfall and how the people are coping with those consequences. The main source of water is lakes; pipelines and river.60% of the respondents have said that there is change in water resources which is caused by environmental changes, climate change and drying of water resources. Also it has the reasons on how the water quality and quantity are differed from the past 25 years. The main essence of this study is to explore the overall aspects of water resources and its impact on the people that are using the resources. Finally it has tried to observe how the people are taking climate change and its impact on water resources and the climatic hazards that are increased from the last 25 years. More specifically, the climatic hazards on water resources were observed. If we see the findings of the study it clarifies that the water resources are not sufficient. It shows that 50% of the people have faced climate warming over last 25 years. 60% have observed the increase of climatic hazards, among them, 54% said it is flood. So the study shows that 50% of the people have observed the impact of climate change in water resources.

Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Strategy on Rural Tourism Area: A Case of Mount Annapurna Trekking Route

Tourism is one of the major industries in Nepal and rural tourism is an emerging dimension in the country. This paper explores the energy consumption and emission pattern up to 2030 in the commercial sector (Hotel and Lodge) of rural tourism and conservation area. Trekking route of Mount Annapurna base camp (4130 meter) was considered for study. From the household survey of study area total energy consumption in the commercial sector was 5,560 GJ (36.26 GJ/HH) in 2014. Fuel wood was the major source of energy contributing 70.06% share on total energy and electricity contributes shares of only 13.67%. This shows high dependence on traditional fuels, which result in the degradation of forest engendering the imbalance in fragile ecosystem of conservation area. This study uses Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System (LEAP) modeling framework to analyze three scenarios of energy system development. First one is the business as usual scenario based on the historical trend and government plans and policies. Second is the clean kitchen scenario where efficient end use technologies are introduced in demand side and the third one is low carbon scenario where clean and renewable energy sources are introduced in supply side. It is found that under business as usual scenario the energy consumption was 5560 GJ and GHG emission was 27.3 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2014 and they are expected to increase by 2.26% and 1.8% respectively from 2014 to 2030. The clean kitchen scenario and low carbon scenario analyzed in this study has a significant reduction in energy consumption by 14 percent and 54.5 percent respectively in year 2030. The cumulative energy saving equivalent to the electricity saving value accounts for NRs 213 million and NRs 811.2 million at current price of electricity of Nepal. The average cumulative fuel wood saving was found to be 307 metric tons (1.8 tons per HH) for clean kitchen scenario and 1063 metric tons (6.25 tons per HH) for the low carbon scenario. The model output shows emission reduction of 2.24 percent for the clean kitchen scenario and 44.7 percent in low carbon scenario for the year 2030. Government of Nepal and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) should formulate and implement policies and strategic planning referring the assumption of clean kitchen and low carbon scenario to reduce dependency on fuel wood for protection of the fragile ecosystem of conservation area and to maintain eco-tourism.

Examining Marginalized Communities and Local Conservation Institutions: The Case of Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area

In developing countries, participatory conservation initiatives have been criticized for many reasons, mainly for excluding marginalized groups which have led to unequal benefits. Using concepts from the literature on participation, conservation, and political ecology, this research explored the participation of marginal groups, i.e., poor, women, lower caste, and landless, in management institutions in Nepal's Annapurna Conservation Area. Field work for this research was conducted through the use of interviews and participant observation during August-October 2010. Results show that although marginal groups were involved in local management institutions, their representation was minimal and had not led to meaningful participation or empowerment to influence the decisions being made in conservation and development programs. Our study findings indicate that the involvement of marginal groups in local initiatives is complex and influenced by several factors. The study concludes that the Annapurna Conservation Area Project needs to re-orient its conservation projects by adopting a more inclusive form of participation and move beyond the quota system.

Using remote sensing and GIS to investigate the impacts of tourism on forest cover in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Tourism is Nepal's largest industry, giving people in rural areas an alternative to subsistence farming. Tourism can have an impact on the forest cover of a region as trees provide firewood for cooking and heating and timber for building accommodation. In 1986 the Annapurna Conservation Area Project was established to ensure that tourism was managed more sustainably, which includes minimising its impact on the forest cover. This study assesses the impacts of tourism on the forest cover in the Annapurna region by comparing Landsat images from 1999 to 2011. This was achieved through spectral classification of different land cover and by assessing the change in forest cover in relation to increasing distances from tourism villages. A major problem with remote sensing in mountainous regions such as Nepal is shadow caused by the relief. This issue was addressed by only assessing areas which were free from shadow, which in effect meant a sample was used rather than the whole study region. The results indicate that there has been an 8 percent reduction in overall forest extent, but this change varies by region. In the northern, drier regions there has been a net increase in forest cover, while in the southern regions there has been a net reduction in forests. The influence of tourism facilities on forest is also variable. Around each of the tourism villages sampled there was a general trend of forest removal decreasing as the distance from each village increased, which indicates tourism does have a negative impact on forests. However, there was an opposite trend in the northern villages that were well inside the conservation area.

Forest biodiversity gradients and the human impact in Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal

Patterns of biodiversity, environment and human impact were studied in 57 sample plots in an 1,178 ha forest area in a rural mountain area of Nepal that is administrated by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Alpha-, beta- and gamma-diversity was measured or estimated for six groups of organisms: trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs, polypores and mycorrhizal fungi, and the recorded patterns were correlated with a set of environmental variables. Human impact in terms of fuelwood collection, selective cutting and grazing was found to influence species diversity patterns in all organism groups. Species richness of trees, climbers and polypores at plot level (alpha-diversity) generally responded negatively to human impact, whereas species richness of herbs and shrubs showed a positive relation. Species turnover (beta-diversity), measured as length of the DCA first axis, was significantly correlated to distance to village for all species groups. This indicates that the human impact is very important for the biodiversity patterns in the study area, and that biodiversity connected to undisturbed forest habitats are potentially threatened in the area. The results are discussed in the context of practical conservation. A proposal for future management zones addressing protection of biodiversity without limiting the local use of the forest resource is put forward.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project: tourists as agents of development and environmental management in the high Himalaya?

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) strives to blend environmental and cultural conservation with economic development in the Nepali Himalayas. At the heart of ACAP's strategy, is a programme of sustainable tourism. This paper seeks to contribute to a broader assessment of ACAP's work. It focuses on the part one specific constituency ? foreign trekkers ? play in helping deliver the project's goals. Based on interviews conducted with western tourists in the region, this paper assesses the extent to which trekkers are engaged with the ACAP mission. The research found that, although foreign tourists, on the whole, acted in an environmentally responsible manner whilst enjoying their time in the Annapurna region, they were not particularly aware of the work that ACAP undertook. This paper suggests that if policy adjustments are made by ACAP, and awareness levels raised, then trekkers could play an increased role as agents for development and conservation in the high Himalaya.

Perceptions of environmental impacts of tourism: A case study at ACAP, Nepal

Tourism development and associated environmental impacts are evident in various regions of the world as communities struggle to find an optimal balance between economics and conservation. The growing pains of tourism development have usually fragmented local residents with respect to their perception of impacts and support for tourism. Empirical research has analyzed resident perception and attitudes towards tourism impacts but has largely focused on economic and socio-cultural impacts in mass tourism destinations and rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of environmental impacts of tourism between residents and managers within a protected area, i.e. Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Nepal. Data were collected on-site among local residents and managers. Environmental impacts of tourism were operationalized using 13 items on a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree to strongly disagree). Overall, on comparison of descriptive and statistical analyses, local residents were consistently more likely than managers to perceive fewer negative and greater positive impacts of tourism on the environment.

The importance of sensomotorical systems in biomechanics and orthopaedics

Each year, hiking, trekking and mountain climbing, broadly defined as mountaineering, are becoming more popular. Among the key factors determining a travel destination in recent years is the level of tourist accessibility. To improve the current level of tourist accessibility, it is necessary to know all the factors that may affect it. This paper focuses on the true accessibility of mountaineering and presents a conceptual framework for assessing it. Access to places for mountaineering is more complicated than for simple tourist destinations that only require the availability of transport and in situ services. For mountaineering, true accessibility consists two factors: (1) destination accessibility (the transport system and in situ services) and (2) real access, which includes such factors as social, economic, weather and psychophysical environments, as well as the presence of mountaineering activities, all of which can have a positive or negative influence on the opportunity to engage in a given pursuit. This means the conditions must be such that real contact with the tourist attraction can take place. Examples of current accessibility conditions in the Himalaya are used to illustrate all part of the conceptual framework. A more comprehensive understanding of the different aspects of mountaineering accessibility offers important insight for tourists planning mountaineering activities and local mountain communities developing supporting infrastructure and services.The comprehensive conceptual framework of mountaineering accessibility presented in this article offers an important tool for:●authorities and/or residents of mountain communities to assess their local conditions and make informed choices about their own future: they may facilitate accessibility for mountaineering (e.g., Annapurna Conservation Area Project) or remain in isolation from this kind of activity (e.g., Bhutan);●mountaineers, whose improved understanding of accessibility will increase their chances of a successful summit bids and help improve the safety of their trips.

Evaluation of Ecotourism: A Comparative Assessment in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal

Ecotourism has become an alternative approach for overcoming the problems of traditional tourism with the assumption that there will be minimum negative impacts and maximum benefits for the local people and their environment. This study offers a comparative evaluation of the perceptions of environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts between residents of a traditional tourism area and a recently created ecotourism area, both located within the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal. Data were collected on-site among local residents in both areas. Overall, this study concluded that residents of the ecotourism area perceived fewer negative and positive impacts (environmental, economic, socio-cultural) as a result of tourism than the residents of the traditional tourism area.

Human Development: The Role of Tourism Based NGOs in Nepal

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between tourism and non-government organisations (NGOs) through the relative contribution each potentially can make in attempting to tackle Nepal's relatively poor human development profile. Subsequently the paper provides an overview of Nepal's economic background, its level of human development, the growing emphasis placed upon community approaches, and the effects of tourism on the Nepalese economy and environment. The paper then discusses the potential for ‘non-government, tourism-funded community projects’ to improve human development. Particular reference will be made to the role of the ‘Annapurna Conservation Area Project’, which through the utilization of tourism revenue, has attempted to improve human development by the introduction of conservation management training and the development of human resource skills.

Sustainable tourism: a geographical perspective

1. Sustainable Tourism: An Introduction 2. Sustainable Tourism: Development and Protection of Cultural Heritage 3. Tourism and Sustainable Development: The Global-Local Nexus 4. Tourism and the Environment: From Economic Restructuring to Shared Responsibility 5. Come Share Our Culture: Sustainable Tourism and Indigenous Peoples 6. Incorporating Values into Cumulative Effects Assessment: Limits of Acceptable Change and Other Tools for Tourism-Recreation Analysis 7. The Environmental History and Politics of Sustainable Tourism Development 8. Trends in the Pacific Asia Ecotourism Market 9. Ecotourism: Viable Route to Rural Development? 10. Curry County Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism Project 11. Recreational Publish Transport Initiatives in Rural Britain as Sustainable Tourism 12. Efforts at Ecotourism Development on the Lower North Shore of Quebec, Canada 13. Development in Nepal: The Annapurna Conservation Area Project 14. Sustainable Tourism Development and Local Government in New Zealand 15. Sustainable Urban Tourism 16. The Geography of Sustainable Tourism: Endings and Beginnings

Sustainable tourism, protected areas and livelihood needs of local communities in developing countries

SUMMARY During the last two decades, extensive networks of protected areas in many developing countries have stimulated growth in protected area-based tourism. As protected area tourism occurs in isolated and remote rural regions, it is often assumed that such regions will experience stimulation of economic activities induced by tourism from which local people will be able to derive tangible benefits. Evidence suggests that this is rarely the case. Indeed, in the majority of protected areas, benefits have hardly reached the local community which bears the heaviest burden of protected area management. When a protected area is established and opened for tourism, it is often outsiders who rush in to siphon-off a major portion of the tourism income generated locally. Nevertheless, there are some pioneering approaches such as CAMPFIRE (Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) which have attempted to fulfil livelihood needs of local communities using benefits derived from wildlife or nature-based tourism. Both projects emphasize a people-centred, participatory democratic approach. Citing various examples from developing countries, this paper discusses the dependent nature of tourism in general, impact of protected area tourism on local livelihoods, and some constraints and opportunities for the long-term viability of protected areas.