We all Nepali take pride that our country is rich in enchanting natural beauties including snowcapped mountain range, lakes, rivers, gorges and many more. And these resources have always helped in strengthening the national economy through use and passive values. But are those resources getting justice?
The range of highest peaks of the worlds including the highest one in the world Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) gives our identity around the globe. This highest peak having an altitude of 8848m above sea level lures many mountaineers' as well capable climbers who want to ascend it for creating a record and fulfilling their desire. There are two main climbing routes, one approaching the summit from the southeast in Nepal (known as the standard route) and the other from the north in Tibet. There are four camps set up between the base camp at 17,380 ft and the 29,035 ft. summit. More than 4000 climbers have scaled Sagarmatha since 1953 and about 700 climbers and guides spend around two months in the slopes of Sagarmatha every climbing season. Ascending the highest mountain definitely is not an easy task it carries a lot of risk. And those mountaineers can't take this risk alone. Along with them there are professional guides, equipments, sufficient Oxygen and Food supplies. While the 4 camps are provided equipments and enough essential supplies, there are no. And as one can't take toilet with them, the mountaineering teams dig holes in the snow and use it for defecation. This has piled up human wastes around the four camps for many years. Such acts have polluted the pristine mountain and it also can cause epidemic.
Nepal government has imposed rules regarding the garbage's such that each climber has to bring 18 pounds of trash to the base camp strictly otherwise have to pay 4000$ as fine despite of that trashes are left. The amount of trash is based on the amount estimated to be discarded (inclusive of oxygen bottles and other garbage's) by the climber along the route. While the regulations aren?t able to tackle with the trashes properly it doesn?t address the human waste at all.
Sagarmatha is our pride and identity we should not let it fall. Hope the concerned authority comes up with strict policy regarding effective disposal of the human as well as other wastes in the Sagarmatha area. And climbers will also gift it with its natural status but not those artificial wastes. Lastly to everyone for any natural site that gives you tremendous pleasure just at its one glance, leave no traces of yours, spoil no beauty of it but return back what you have taken there.
References:- http://time.com/3729709/everest-human-waste-nepal/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everest
http://www.chinatourguide.com/tibet/mt.everest.html
7 Comments
That is so interesting!!
Posted 06-03-2015 10:47
@Arushi Firstly thank you so much for describing nepal in such a beautiful way.I must admit that i didnt do it well here in this report. :3
Yeah,you are right there must be provisions regarding where shall the benefits/income go and it must be definitely spent on conservation of those resources.
And talking about visitors,i think it's beacause of the ignorant behaviour.
Hope to see some positive changes soon.
Thanks for going through. :)
Posted 05-03-2015 10:12
@Samuel While on one hand Global warming has adversely affected the mountain Bio-diversity,these little carelessness are also having great negative impact to them.
Thanks for going through. :)
Posted 05-03-2015 10:02
@Bindu di yeah dii,no policy about human waste management and the policy that exists hasnt been able in effective diposal of other wastes too.It's really a tragic thing to know.
Hope that we can see soon,effective policies that will be implemented strictly for the good of our pristine mountains and leave them the way they used to be. :)
Posted 05-03-2015 09:56
Incredible variety of ecosystems, the greatest mountain range on earth, thick tropical jungles, teeming with a wealth of wildlife, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys-all make Nepal a paradise on earth especially the virgin and majestic Himalayas . But you are right in wondering Are these magnificent resources getting proper attention or justice in terms of cleanliness , maintenance? Definitely not currently.
Infact with so much of income from tourism , Nepal should put aside some fixed % of it towards maintenance of these resources. Having said that , it's also the responsibility of tourists to be mindful of their waste disposal when they are visiting such beautiful places(if not in general)
Posted 05-03-2015 04:01
That's nice GHGs are gradually becoming a nuisance to our lives. We need to be aware of these happenings.thanks a lot Ambassador.....keep it up....
Posted 04-03-2015 21:17
Yeah sister, Mount Everest is a matter of pride to every citizens of Nepal. Time and again voices are raised against pollution in these peaks, as a result government has implemented some stri ct rules too. But like you mentioned, there isn't any policy for human wastes management. Hopefully the concerned authority takes action soon if responsible youth like us raise our voice.
Thank you for sharing report about the status of Nepal's pride i.e. Himalayas :)
Posted 04-03-2015 19:57