Conservation

Nepal is one of the fifth poorest countries in the world with a per capita cash income of £125/US $200. 86% of the population are subsistence farmers who live on small, terraced, family farms. 49% live below the poverty line, based on calories not cash. Rugged mountains cover 85% of the land and travel through the hill regions is only possible on foot. Many areas lack even basic facilities like clean water, elementary education and medical facilities. Life expectancy and literacy is low; child mortality and the incidence of disease is high. TB and gastro-enteritis are the biggest killers. What is remarkable is the fortitude of the people who are renowned for their friendliness despite a very low standard of living and quality of life.

To pay for development projects Nepal requires foreign cash and much of this earned through tourism; the benefits of tourism should not be overlooked when considering its potentially harmful effects. Even without tourism, Nepal would continue to develop and change, adopting Western technology (mostly from other Asian countries). The erosion and degradation of natural resources (land, water, forest, air) is mainly the result of a rapidly increasing population which cannot afford expensive conservation policies. Small scale development projects at community level are often the most effective for conservation.

Nevertheless, even though the effect of trekking tourism is small (about 80,000 people per year), it is the responsibility of every trekker and trekking agency to reduce the impact on a fragile environment. We always use kerosene on camping treks for cooking and heating water, except where there is a supply of dead wood not required by the local people. Our staff are trained to dispose of rubbish in the most suitable way. Much of the media reports of litter on the trails have been exaggerated but every trekker can help by using tea shop litter bins or the camp litter basket. Latrine tents are provided in camps but whenever possible public latrines are used. For camping treks most foods is supplied from Kathmandu except for vegetables and occasionally meat; bulk purchase of local food would inflate prices for local people.

The other way in which we aim to help directly is through the Everest Marathon Fund, a UK registered charity number 1005422. The Everest Marathon is held every 2 years; the runners raise sponsorship which is donated to the fund together with any profit from race organisation. We do not run our own projects but support organisations which already have projects and staff in place. All work at grass roots to improve the health and education of the rural population of Nepal.