REFORESTATION PROGRAMME

With the growth of tourism and interest in mountaineering activities in the Mount Everest region from early 1970s have put great pressure on the local forest as it was the only source for firewood for energy available for local people as well as foreigners. As a consequence, local forest rapidly began to disappear before the Sagarmatha National Park was introduced in the Everest area in 1976 by the government of Nepal.

The Himalayan Trust has been supporting the National Park with reforestation programme. The Trust has established 3 nurseries which produce more than 80,000 to 100,000 seedlings of local origin trees. The seedling are planted in the area chosen by the decision of the Park Officials, local community and the Trust forestry staff in order to avoid inconvenience of grazing for the domesticated animals. Many of the area planted with seedlings from 1984 visually became forest with the efficient and careful management of these areas by our forest staff with the support of the Park officials.

The long-term objective of the programme is to promote management of the forests and shrub lands of the Sagramatha National Park area to provide stable soils, desirable habitats for local fauna and flora, and sustainable production of forest products essential for the survival of the local people.