Eco-tourism in Nepal
Nepal, a small landlocked country, has an area of 147,181km2 (0.3% of Asia) and lies
between two giant nations- China in the north and India in the south, east and west. Nepal
has very typical topography which is occupied by 83% mountains and hills and 17% plain
or lowland (CBS, 2006), which is also known as Terai that is very fertile and feeds the
whole country. The plain also has some popular wildlife sanctuaries and culturally
significant places like the birth place of Lord Buddha.
The population of Nepal is about 27 million (CBS, 2006) that mainly derives from Indo-
Aryan and Mongol race (Thapa, 2005). The country, after being republic, has been
declared as secular in religion. However, still Hinduism and Buddhism are two key
religions which have great impact in the social and cultural fabric of the country.
Currently, for administrative purposes, the nation is divided into 5 development regions,
14 zones, 75 districts, but upcoming constitution may bring great change in this division.
Although Nepal is tiny in its size, it has vast diversity in its topography with great climatic
variations (from tropical to tundra), and diversified natural ecosystems, biological and
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social settings. Since long ago, due to the fascinating majestic Himalayas, breath-taking
natural beauty and enchanting cultural heritage, Nepal has been a destination centre for
tourists from of all over the world.
Nepal’s protected areas are vast repositories of priceless biodiversity, which includes 863
species of birds, about 640 species of butterflies, 6500 species of flowering plants, 175
mammal species and other important plants species and herbs of medicinal use (DNPWC,
2009). Nepal’s protected areas, which include nine National Parks, three wildlife reserves,
three conservation areas and many buffer zones and hunting reserves are the prime sources
of tourist attraction in the country. The total area of the protected area occupies 28999km2,
19.70 percent and 50 percent visitors come to visit protected areas and it is also believed
that 60 percent tourists’ activities related with ecotourism (DNPWC, 2008). According to
the annual report of DNPWC 2007-2008, total of 265082 tourists visited in different
protected areas and the revenue collected was 1.6 million US dollar (DNPWC, 2009).
The aforementioned trend towards mass tourism in Nepal is starting to produce adverse
impacts in socio- cultural and environmental realm of the host destinations. Thus it is very
crucial time to take action against these impacts by promoting and practising ecotourism as
responsible tourism in the main tourism sites of the country. Realizing these sentiments,
Nepalese government and other tourism authorities have introduced various environmental
and ecotourism projects have been involving in the protected areas of the country. The
main motives of all projects are to preserve unique ecosystem with valuable and
endangered flora and fauna and cultural heritages that are regarded as main constituents of
ecotourism. The following paragraphs are the brief account of major protected areas of the
country:
Nepal, a small landlocked country, has an area of 147,181km2 (0.3% of Asia) and lies
between two giant nations- China in the north and India in the south, east and west. Nepal
has very typical topography which is occupied by 83% mountains and hills and 17% plain
or lowland (CBS, 2006), which is also known as Terai that is very fertile and feeds the
whole country. The plain also has some popular wildlife sanctuaries and culturally
significant places like the birth place of Lord Buddha.
The population of Nepal is about 27 million (CBS, 2006) that mainly derives from Indo-
Aryan and Mongol race (Thapa, 2005). The country, after being republic, has been
declared as secular in religion. However, still Hinduism and Buddhism are two key
religions which have great impact in the social and cultural fabric of the country.
Currently, for administrative purposes, the nation is divided into 5 development regions,
14 zones, 75 districts, but upcoming constitution may bring great change in this division.
Although Nepal is tiny in its size, it has vast diversity in its topography with great climatic
variations (from tropical to tundra), and diversified natural ecosystems, biological and
27
social settings. Since long ago, due to the fascinating majestic Himalayas, breath-taking
natural beauty and enchanting cultural heritage, Nepal has been a destination centre for
tourists from of all over the world.
Nepal’s protected areas are vast repositories of priceless biodiversity, which includes 863
species of birds, about 640 species of butterflies, 6500 species of flowering plants, 175
mammal species and other important plants species and herbs of medicinal use (DNPWC,
2009). Nepal’s protected areas, which include nine National Parks, three wildlife reserves,
three conservation areas and many buffer zones and hunting reserves are the prime sources
of tourist attraction in the country. The total area of the protected area occupies 28999km2,
19.70 percent and 50 percent visitors come to visit protected areas and it is also believed
that 60 percent tourists’ activities related with ecotourism (DNPWC, 2008). According to
the annual report of DNPWC 2007-2008, total of 265082 tourists visited in different
protected areas and the revenue collected was 1.6 million US dollar (DNPWC, 2009).
The aforementioned trend towards mass tourism in Nepal is starting to produce adverse
impacts in socio- cultural and environmental realm of the host destinations. Thus it is very
crucial time to take action against these impacts by promoting and practising ecotourism as
responsible tourism in the main tourism sites of the country. Realizing these sentiments,
Nepalese government and other tourism authorities have introduced various environmental
and ecotourism projects have been involving in the protected areas of the country. The
main motives of all projects are to preserve unique ecosystem with valuable and
endangered flora and fauna and cultural heritages that are regarded as main constituents of
ecotourism. The following paragraphs are the brief account of major protected areas of the
country:
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