Environmental Issues on Treks in Nepal

There are many detrimental effects caused by trekking. So it is a good idea to try to follow some basic guidelines to help the environment.
Trekking Gently in the Himalaya by Wendy Brewer Lama is a book that discusses the environment issues for Rs 30.

KEEP suggest eating dal bhat while trekking because it is healthy and takes little fuel to cook, therefore helping the environment.

There is a problem is plastic bottles and bags, as there is way to dispose of them in Nepal. It is believed that in one year over 200,000 plastic water bottles were disposed of in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Many people recommend using iodine to purify drinking water and not to drink bottled water. For some people this may be a problem as iodine makes the water taste really bad.

Toilet paper should be burned or carried out. Even better is to use the system of using water that is widely used in Nepal and India, and not use toilet paper at all.

It is important to not go to the bathroom near a stream or the local drink water source.
The depletion of the forest is becoming an increasing problem in Nepal. Trekking can help to not make this problem worst by staying in lodge that use kerosene, use solar-heated hot water, and fuel efficient wood stoves.

Ordering dal bhat or ordering the same preparations can save on cooking fuel. If you are on a package trek, you should insist that kerosene or propane is used for cooking.

If possible you should carry out litter that can not be burned, such as batteries, plastic bottles and tin cans.

If possible use phosphate-free soap. You definitely should not rinse off into a stream or a water source.

If possible use a latrine. Do not go to the bathroom near a water sources and stool should be buried. Toilet paper should be burned and even better is to use water and not to use toilet paper at all.

Some people to contact in reference to environmental issues are:

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation
PO Box 3712, Jawlakhel, Patan
(526-571; fax 526-570)

Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA)
PO Box 49444, Thamel, Kathmandu
(262-746; email hra@aidpost.mos.com.np)

Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP)
PO Box 9178, Thamel, Kathmandu
(259-275; email: tours@keeps.wlink.com.np)

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides