Subject: Tourism and deforestation
From: fkroger@coho.halcyon.com (Frank F Kroger)
Date: 8 Feb 96
> I, too, have trekked in the Annapurna
.....
> Well, I did not
> see much very kerosene being burned. It was mostly wood
> fires for cooking and water heating.
As far as I know ACAP supports the use of kerosene in an active way only in the route leading to Annapurna sanctuary, this is why you probably saw NO kerosend being used whatsoever on the Annap. Circuit.
>This includes Thorong Phedi where wood has to be hauled up from the
>Manang region since it is below the tree line.
As far as I know the firewood used at Thorun Phedi is shrubbery gathered from the hills around there. But wherever it comes from, responsible trekkers will avoid purchasing theproducts of the bakery at T.P. The oven uses up a lot of wood.
> I think that the permit cost should subsidize kerosene
> costs for tea houses. It would also offer employment to
> porters and/or mule teams for transporting the fuel. I see
> good cause for banning the use of firewood for cooking or
> water heating.
That is a good idea. I would also urge trekkers to forego hot showers and to be thoughtful in ordering food, ie ordering at the same time and ordering the same food as others at the lodge, which will reduce the amount of wood needed.
The only exception to foregoing hot showers is if the water is heated by pipes through the stove, but I have only seen this at one lodge in Chaumrikarkha (excuse my spelling) just below Lukla, it is the lodge with the solar collector on the roof, which by the way charges a 12v battery that supplies enough electricity for small bulbs which are adequate to read by.
The pipes through the stove system basically captures heat which would otherwise go up the chimney or into the room, so it heats water without any extra fuel being burned for that.
Cold washing won't kill you and on the Annapurna circuit there are several spots with hots springs, the best and hottest being at Tato Pani
(transl=Hot Water).
Frank
*Frank Kroger, fkroger@halcyon.com, (volunteer) Seattle WA US ** World Neighbors: Strengthening the capacity of *** marginalized communities to meet their basic needs.
**** "LOCAL PEOPLE ARE THE EXPERTS" http://www.halcyon.com/fkroger/wn.html
From: pdpucci@execpc.com (Phil Pucci)
Date: 7 Feb 96
I, too, have trekked in the Annapurna (both the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Base Camp treks) in 1994.
Before arriving, my impressions (based on what I read in several travel guides like Lonely Planet) were that ACAP was very successful in its conservation efforts. It is supposedly responsible for reforestation efforts in the Annapurnaregion, construction of solar heated showers, and encouraging the use of kerosene. Well, I did not see much very kerosene being burned. It was mostly wood fires for cooking and water heating. This includes Thorong Phedi where wood has to be hauled up from the Manang region since it is below the tree line.
I think that the permit cost should subsidize kerosene costs for tea houses. It would also offer employment to porters and/or mule teams for transporting the fuel. I see good cause for banning the use of firewood for cooking or water heating.
In article <4f7avb$auj$2@mhade.production.compuserve.com>, Ed Douglas <100422.2554@CompuServe.COM> wrote:
Without having the time to launch into what would
>be a 5,000 word dissertation, I was struck while in ACAP
>headquarters in Ghandruk(?) at how trekkers were being made to feel
>guilty about their activities, that they were responsible in a major
>way for environmental degradation in the area. However, despite
>seeing locals using wood where they were supposed to be using
>kerosene, I thought the Annapurna area to be well managed and in a
>sustainable way.
<snip>
> Tourists do
>have an effect on the Nepali environment but so do the Nepali people
>themselves. Just look at the population statistics over the last 40
>years. There is the real problem. I am not against educating
>trekkers and tourists -- it's obvioiusly important -- but taking
>responsibilty for our actions and policies is not just a lesson for
>Western cultures.
--
Phil Pucci pdpucci@execpc.com Milwaukee, WI USA
GeoLinks International ...the Telecommuting Specialists(tm)
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