Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park lies to the northeast of Kathmandu. The park was gazetted in July 1976. It covers an area of 1,148 sq. km. of Himalayan ecological zone.
The park includes the upper catchment areas of the Dudh Kosi and Bhote Kosi Rivers. The park is largely composed of the rugged terrain and gorges of the high Himalayas ranging from 2,845m at Monju to the top of the world, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848m above sea level. Other peaks above 6,000m are Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pumori.
UNESCO listed the park as a World Heritage Site in 1979 for its unique natural, cultural and landscape characteristics.

CLIMATE
During the autumn months of October and November, the weather is pleasant but colder at night. During the winter months of December through February the weather is cold. Daytime temperatures do not exceed 5° Celsius. During this time, the area receives occasional heavy snowfall. During spring season the days are warmer. From June to September monsoon rains make travel difficult.

FLORA
The vegetation at the lower elevations is dominated by pine and hemlock forests. Above 3,500m, the forest is dominated with silver fir, birch, rhododendron, and juniper trees. Various rhododendron show their brilliant colors in spring and monsoon. The tree line is at 4,500m, where birch gives way to juniper and rhododendron scrubs

FAUNA
Large mammals commonly seen in the park are the Himalayan tahr and Musk deer. Others include the Himalayan Black Bear, Common Langur, Jackal, Weasels, Marten, and the Himalayan Mousehare (Pika). The park provides habitat for over 118 species of birds. The most common ones are the Impeyan pheasant (Danphe), Blood pheasant, Redbilled chough, and Yellow-billed chough.

GLACIERS
Within the park, glaciers of various sizes can be found at the head of the Khumbu Valley. The biggest ones are the Khumbu, Lhotse, Imja, Ngozumba, and Nangpa glaciers. Most Himalayan glaciers are 2 - 3 miles long and are in retreat.

SHERPA CULTURE
About 3,500 Sherpa people reside in various settlements within the park. The Sherpa people originated in the eastern Tibetan Province of Kham. They left their original home in the late 1400s or early 1500s crossing over the Nangpa-La into Nepal. The Sherpa people follow the Nying-mapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The famous Tengboche and other monasteries are the common gathering place to celebrate religious festivals such as Dumje and Mani Rimdu.
The economy of the local Sherpa community has traditionally been agriculture, livestock herding, and trade with Tibet. Since the 1950s, mountaineering expeditions have attracted tourism in the region. The local economy is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT Normally accepted criteria for management of national parks have been substantially modified in the case of Sagarmatha in order to reconcile the requirements of the resident Sherpa population with those of conservation objectives and to accommodate special demands made on the area by tourism and mountaineering. Objectives outlined in the management plan seek to ensure the protection of wildlife, water and soil resources, not only because of the park's national and international significance but also to safeguard the interests of the resident Sherpa population, as well as the many other people in Nepal and India whose welfare is affected by the condition of the Dudh Kosi catchment. At the same time, every effort is required to enable the Sherpas to determine their own lifestyle and progress, while insulating their cultural and religious heritage from the adverse impacts of tourism and mountaineering. Park regulations do not apply to the 63 settlements within the park.
Two strict nature protection areas have been identified in the south of the park, to be managed as undisturbed areas free from human interference .Laws are enforced with military assistance An integrated strategy for achieving self-sufficiency in resources and nature conservation has been developed Various recommendations are being implemented. A Park Advisory Committee, consisting of local leaders, village elders, head lamas and park authority representatives, was re-established in 1987 and has been instrumental in achieving more cooperation and support for the park The importance of tourism in the local economy has also encouraged Sherpas to assist in protecting the area The Shinga nawa - a system of forest guardians traditionally responsible for controlling use of forest resources - has been reinstated. Duties of the nawas include prevention of greenwood cutting, protection of plantations and reporting of wildlife poaching. Nawas are authorised to prosecute and collect limited penalties from violators of the forest protection rules, and to use the fines for community purposes Indigenous plant nurseries have been established at Namche Bazar and Trashinga: seedlings are used to re-establish forest on hill slopes near Namche Bazar, Phortse and Khumjung
The Himalayan Trust, established by Sir Edmund Hillary, has sponsored several school, hospital and bridge construction projects. In 1982 the Trust purchased and removed the 400 goats in the park in an effort to protect the mountain vegetation Goats were banned from the park the following year Several steps have been taken to help meet the energy needs of increasing numbers of tourists, including regulations regarding firewood collection, reafforestation and increased use of kerosene. The Namche Hydroelectric scheme provides 27kW of electricity to local houses and lodges, and has proven to be cost effective and useful in reducing firewood scarcity
MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS The loss of forest cover in the region began some 500 years ago, with the arrival of the first settlers. Destruction rapidly accelerated following the influx of Tibetan refugees during 1959-1961 and the large-scale growth of trekking and mountaineering from 1963 onwards. Increased affluence from tourism has also resulted in greater ecological degradation. In line with the custom of many ethnic Nepalese groups, acquired wealth in a Sherpa family is generally invested in additional livestock whichconsequently leads to overgrazing of high mountain pastures around villages. Heavy pressure from tourism and mountaineering expeditions has placed large demands on natural resources and introduced problems with waste disposal. Demand for construction timber and firewood, another result of visitor pressure, has impoverished the forests to an alarming degree; consequent soil erosion has made reafforestation difficult, pastures at lower altitudes are being overgrazed and water is becoming unfit for drinking .An assessment of landscape change using repeat photography, however, indicates that most forests in the Namche-Kunde-Khumjung region appear to be relatively unchanged, although juniper woodlands have been thinned in the period 1962-1984. Attempts are being made to encourage Sherpas and military personnel to use paraffin (kerosene) for fuel rather than wood, but lack of funds for purchasing the paraffin has so far prevented this Diminishing habitat is adversely affecting some species of wildlife. The traditional culture of the Sherpas is being changed due to foreign influences, but perhaps with better social integrity than nearly any other tribal group known to the modern world.

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