From Yaks to Tourists: Sherpa Livelihood Adaptations in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal

An Evaluation of the Sagarmatha National Park Forestry Project (SNPFP), Khumbu, Nepal: A Community Stakeholder Approach

“…Initially, the Sherpa economy primarily depended on the trade with the Tibet; however, trade was greatly impacted by the border restrictions imposed by the Chinese in the late 1950s (Fuer-Haimendorf, 1975). Additionally, the gradual intervention of mountaineering and tourism seems to have cushioned many economic effects to the Sherpa people (Byers, 1987 (Coppock, 1978;Fuer-Haimendorf, 1984;Byers, 1987;Spoon, 2013). The growing tourism industry motivated development of quality hotels and lodges even in previously uninhabited areas.…”

“…The growing tourism industry motivated development of quality hotels and lodges even in previously uninhabited areas. A "traditional subsistence agriculture/long distance trade "has changed to a "transitional agriculture/service oriented" system which potentially depends on natural resources mainly in terms of deforestation to fulfill the need of fuel wood (Byers, 1987;Spoon, 2013).…”

“…Additionally, the introduction of 6,000 Tibetan refugees in the early 1960s accelerated environmental degradation at Khumbu along with the growth of tourism, and various other factors (Byers, 1987;Spoon, 2013). The anthropologist, Furer-Haimendrof, who pioneered studies of the Sherpa, noted that the forests of Khumbu were in very good condition until late 1950s as compared to the lower land where peasants of Brahmin, Newar, and Chhettri communities already degraded the forest resources (Furer-Haimendrof, 1964: 112).…”

“…Based on citations from the literature and personal communication with the local people of Khumbu, it was clear that Khumbu people applied indigenous conservation strategy by appointing Shingi nawas and Lotok nawas to fine villagers cutting greenwood or abusing village sanctioned land and forest under regulations (Sherpa, 1979;Byers, 1987;Spoon, 2013). However, the nationalization of forest land in 1957 discouraged the traditional regulatory system and encouraged forest removal in Khumbu.…”

Reconfiguration of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Everest Tourist Region of Solukhumbu, Nepal

“…Over the past 4 decades, research has focused on a variety of other issues that exacerbate resource conditions in addition to population growth. Key among them are a loss of or changes in historic livelihoods and local ecological knowledge due to a boom in tourism as well as further integration of local economies and lifestyles into global markets (Spoon and Sherpa 2008;Spoon 2011Spoon , 2013; and climate change and its consequences-rising temperatures and melting glaciers (Ericksson et al 2009;IPCC 2013), increasing glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) (Bajracharya et al 2007;Bajracharya and Mool 2009;Byers 2007;Khanal et al 2015), and threats to ecosystem services (Palomo 2017).…”