Sagarmatha National Park: new activities and new challenges for Ev-K2-Cnr
An exceptional number of researchers will be engaged in baseline studies and capacity building activities in the Sagarmatha National Park in September-October, 2007. The researchers, coordinated by Ev-K2-CNR, come mostly from Nepalese research centers and universities, such as the Tribhuvan University, founded in 1959 AD, the first university and the pioneer institute of higher education in Nepal, the Kathmandu University, a more recent public institution dedicated to maintain high standards of academic excellence, and Resources Himalaya, research institute operating as an independent think-tank on biodiversity conservation in the Himalaya region.
The majority of the researchers will be implementing activities within the umbrella of the HKKH Partnership Project, with the overall objective of investigating the relevant socio-ecosystem dynamics to support the development of capacities for systemic planning and management of mountain resources.
The researches will cover all the Sagarmatha National Park and its Buffer Zone, focusing, among others, on the following topics:
Solid waste management, visual and sound pollution
Ø Checking the reliability of existing data on solid waste and data collection techniques
Ø Preliminary proposal for improvement of the existing data collection on solid waste
Ø Analysis and proposal for possible improvement of the current solid waste management system
Ø Preliminary assessment of the noise and visual pollution
Energy Ø Preliminary assessment of the current Energy Demand and Supply situation
Ø Assessment of current hydropower scenario including current distribution network
Ø Preliminary assessment of alternative energy use and alternative energy potential
Ø Preliminary evaluation of hydrological potential
Ø Analysis of climate change effect on energy sector with the existing hydro-meteorological data
Forestry
Ø Forestry Fuel-wood demand & Impact on Forests
Ø Forest Diversity & Human Impact
Ø Impact of Climate Change on the Distribution of Vegetation in the Himalaya
Water quality Ø Preliminary assessment of the state of water quality in selected locations
Ø Discussion on the establishment of a number of water purification systems
Ø Discussion on the establishment of a small laboratory for water quality analysis
Each group will interact with communities and local stakeholders, with the intent of implementing capacity building activities and information campaigns. Among the numerous activities planned in this sense, it is worth signaling:
Ø The visit to Khumjung high school, funded in 1961 as the first major project of the Himalayan Trust, to present. where few researchers will present the activities of the HKKH Partnership Project, focusing on information campaign about solid waste management and use of alternative energies
Ø The meeting organized in partnership with the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, where all the community of the Khumbu, as well as the Chief Warden, representatives of the three Village Development Committees, of the Buffer Zone Committee, and the local Governmental authority of the Park will be invited to discuss about the possible establishment of water purification systems in a number of lodges in the valley
Ø The meeting that will take place in Namche Bazaar, where all the researchers will have the chance to meet and exchange experiences, information and impressions.
The groups will be coordinated by Ev-K2-CNR Field Officer Dr. Marcello Basani, who will be in the Park together with Ev-K2-CNR Technical Support Staff Sudeep Thakuri. Dr. Franco Salerno will also contribute to the overall coordination from the office in Italy.
These presence of such a number of local and international researchers in the Park represent an extraordinary event for the Park, and represents also a major achievement for Ev-K2-CNR and the HKKH Partnership Project.
In the next few months and in light of the results of these missions, local and international researchers will interact and network to complete a qualitative analysis of the socio-ecosystems of the Park and its Buffer Zone, and provide a robust platform for a more in-depth analysis, that will constitute a precious tool for managing mountain resources.
Marcello Basani