Everest and Sagamartha national park

Question 1

basic facts

Answer 1

-over 37,000 tourists 2014
-home to 6000 sherpa people
-established national park in 1976
-UNESCO world heritage site 1976
-Active glaciated area with unique, fragile ecosystem

Question 2

tourism opportunities

Answer 2

-boosted local economy = increased living standards, health care, education, and infrastructure
-tourism industry mainly sherpas but more establishing businesses and migrant workers arriving

Question 3

tourism threats

Answer 3

-footpath erosion
-construction of illegal trails
-water pollution
-problems with waste disposal
-greater demand for forest products e.g. firewood
-increased demand for new hotels and lodges
-sherpa community and life change as they adapt to visitor demands

Question 4

problems on climbing everest

Answer 4

-two main routes are dangerously crowded during peak climbing season and badly polluted with rubbish, abandoned equipment, human waste
-more climbers so some mountaineers want tigther controls including = limited number of permits given to climbers annually, restricting group sizes to reduce dangerous traffic jams, especially at Hillary Step on southern ascent from Nepal, and insisting all guides are properly qualified and experienced

Question 5

climate change impacts

Answer 5

-2013 Uni of Milan researchers found some glaciers around Everest shrank 13% in last 50 years with snowline 180m higher = suggest with satellite and topographical imaging that glaciers disappear faster each year
-reduction in glacier size = affect farming and hydropower generation downstream
-glaciers retreat can lead to creation and growth of lakes damned by glacial debris
-avalanches and earthquakes can breach natural dams, causing floods

Question 6

natural events

Answer 6

• Glacial outburst floods = 1985 august flood, 10-15m high surge of water and debris to flood down Bonote Koshi and Dhudh Kosi river in nepal - these warnings increase in summer so possibly more floods and disruption fo settlements, irrigation systems and domestic water supplies

-avalanches = 25 April 2015 7.8 mag earthquake triggered avalanche on Everest, swept into base camp killing 22 people including 10 sherpas

Question 7

deforestation cause and effects

Answer 7

• use of firewood as main fuel
  -clearance to build roads
  -exposure to soil washing nutrients away
  -erosion of exposed soil
  -increased risk of landslides
  -farming = mudslides feared
• water cycle disruption
  -jobs

Question 8

stakeholders

Answer 8

-sherpas
-national gov
-UNESCO
-businesses
-NGO’s = Sagamartha Pollution Control Committee

Question 9

stakeholders role

Answer 9

gov agencies = National park 1976 and is managed by National Park and Wildife Conservation Office - buffer zone added in 2002 to enhance protection

world heritage site = prevents building there

locals = 6000 residents

Question 10

legislative framework protecting area

Answer 10

Unesco site since 1979 - world heritage site