Mountains and other landscapes, an incredible wealth
It's hard to talk about Nepal without mentioning its majestic peaks, the highest in the world. A trek in the Annapurnas is considered one of the most beautiful expeditions of any region, the trip of a lifetime. Hikers discover landscapes of tropical valleys, rhododendron forests and terraced fields, all before coming face to face with the splendour of the Himalayan massif. Hikers often aim to get as close as possible to the 8,850-metre Everest! A journey to the roof of the world, where the peaks never leave their immaculate garb. In this country, which may still seem mysterious to the general public, it's also worth mentioning the diversity of its landscapes, because yes, mountains aren't the only elements of nature that make Nepal a sanctuary of biodiversity. Since 1973, the Nepalese government has set up a network of 20 protected areas. These include 3 wildlife reserves, 1 hunting reserve, 6 conservation areas and no fewer than 10 national parks. These include the unmissable Chitwan National Park, with its luxuriant jungle that is home to hundreds of different plant species and wild mammals such as elephants, macaques, leopard hyenas, Bengal tigers and Asian rhinoceroses. In the extension of the Indian plains, another national park is less well known than the one mentioned above, but just as splendid: Bardia National Park. Although the road to Nepal's second-largest protected area is long and often winding, it too has its share of surprises in store, with verdant landscapes, waterways and the presence of 640 animal species unaccustomed to living alongside humans.
Beyond the postcard, ecological issues are very present
The first problem is deforestation. Forests cover 30% of Nepal's surface area, and rural populations depend on them for building, heating and growing livestock. In 1957, the Nepalese authorities nationalized the forest, and rural populations saw their rights restricted. As a result, they began to cut down trees wherever they could in order to turn the forest into cultivable land and thus declare themselves the owners. As a result, between 1950 and 1986, over 100,000 hectares of forest disappeared and were transformed into agricultural land in the Terai region alone. Secondly, global warming. A major global issue for the 21st century, Nepal is no exception to the scientific community's fears. The mountainous Hindu-Kush-Himalaya region, considered the planet's third pole, could see its glaciers melt by 2100 due to global warming, and rising temperatures are also causing increasingly harsh monsoons, with episodes of torrential rain taking hundreds of human lives with them. Finally, plastic is still too abundant and used where it could be dispensed with. As a result, every year, nearly three tonnes of garbage are collected by volunteers in the Khumbu region. Tourists and locals alike are still too little aware of the need to preserve an extremely sensitive environment.
Concrete solutions to stop environmental degradation
When it comes to deforestation, the Nepalese authorities have not been idle. Following the nationalization of the forest in the 1950s, they even went back to create the "National Forest Plan" in the 1970s, followed by the "Forest Act" in 1993. The aim was to transfer forest management to local communities and Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). The aim was to reconcile the needs of rural populations with regard to the forest, while at the same time protecting it. Today, Nepal's forests are doing better, but we must beware of the development needs of a country that remains very poor, and whose need to build infrastructures could once again have harmful consequences for forested areas.
The ecological transition is also the order of the day in Nepal, and local initiatives are being launched, particularly to meet electricity needs. Although 14 of the world's largest rivers have their source in the Himalayan mountains and could supply the entire country, the territory continues to buy fossil fuels from India and China. The mountains make it difficult to build a power grid. Fortunately, initiatives are being encouraged, notably with the creation by the government in 1996 of the Center for the Promotion of Alternative Energy, which aims to finance local hydropower projects. Following COP21 in Paris in 2015, a renewable energy program for disadvantaged countries was launched. Funds have thus been released worldwide to fit out solar home systems, photovoltaic panels and hydraulic motors.
As far as tourism and waste management are concerned, it's worth noting that many agencies offering treks in Nepal offer ecotourism packages. Staying with local people and raising awareness of nature are now part of the objectives of many tourism operators. As for the scourge of plastic, the government has decided to ban single-use plastics and certain plastic bottles in the Khumbu region from January 2020.
