Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Nepal

The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) in Western Nepal is Nepal’s first and largest conservation area, covering over 7600 sq. km. Since the first trekker came to the Annapurna area in 1957, the annual number of trekkers has increased enormously, reaching almost 50,000 by 1995. Tourists demand more than the area can sustain, compounding the pre-existing problems of a growing local population, including deforestation, species loss, pollution, waste disposal and energy consumption/depletion.

Under the aegis of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, ACAP was launched in 1986. The project embraces a multiple land-use principle that combines environmental protection with sustainable community development. Traditional subsistence activities are woven into a framework of sound resource management, supplemented by small scale conservation, development and alternative energy programs to minimize the negative impacts of tourism and enhance the local standard of living.

ACAP’s grassroots philosophy involves local people in all aspects of conservation and development. It encourages local people’s participatory involvement in the management of natural resources and community development activities.

ACAP’s activities include:

Resource Conservation: forest and wildlife management activities; soil and water conservation; training for local nursery workers, forest guards and leaders; promotion of alternative energy and fuel efficient technologies

Community Development: repair, improvement and construction of schools, day care centres, bridges and trails; health and sanitation, health clinics and family planning, toilet and rubbish pit construction; programs for women, youth groups and those economically and socially deprived; agroforestry and agriculture extension through training and seed and seedling distribution

Tourism Management: formation of local Lodge Management Committees; training courses for trekking guides and hotel and lodge managers/operators; eco-camp site development; information posts, visitor centres, brochure and publicity materials; search and rescue

Conservation Education and Extension Program: conservation education classes in schools and conservation awareness camps; village clean up campaigns; natural history museum, visitor information services, educational materials development and environmental resource library; study tours and training for villagers; Conservation Education and Outdoor Conservation Education Centres

TRAS, with the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has been funding ACAP since 1986.

Photos from ACAP

Alternative Energy

Biogas container outside a villager's home. This is filled with manure, the gas from which is piped into the home for use as fuel.

Cooking with biogas fuel. The gas stove is fueled by the gas from the biogas container outside the house. This significantly decreases the use of wood for fuel and is cost effective for families.

Eco-Trekking

ACAP has established and maintains eco-trekking routes and policies.

Forestry

Seedlings are grown in tree nurseries until they are ready for planting on denuded hillsides or in community forest plantations.

Replanted hillside.

Trail Maintenance

Villagers maintain and rebuild trails that connect villages.

Organic Farming Techniques

ACAP staff and villagers use organic techniques for growing vegetables. For example, 'manure tea', steeping in the pool, is used as an organic fertilizer.

Increased Nutrition

Families grow nutritious vegetables in "kitchen gardens" using seedlings from ACAP's organic vegetable nurseries.

Women's Programs and Leadership

Women's literacy program and income generation initiative (weaving).

Women's Groups in villages play a key role in decision making.