Acknowledgement

We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Sunil Khanal for providing us the opportunity to
research about Khaptad National Park and the changes that it has brought to social, economic
and environmental aspects that has been found in this area due to the increased tourism.

In the same way, we would like to thank Ms.Saguna Shah for helping and guiding us
throughout because without her help and support it would not have been successful. We would
also like to thank all our classmates who helped us directly or indirectly to complete this report.
And most of all, we being the team members would also like to thank each other for all the hard
work and cooperation during all this time in successful completion of this report.

And of course, we shall not forget to thank our parents who have always been there to motivate
us for the hard work and who helped us financially to complete this report.
Table of contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Various Challenges of Khaptad National Park . 2
2.1. Social Challenges 2
2.2. Positive Impacts .
2.2.1. XXX .
2.2.2. XXX .
2.3. Negative Impacts ..
2.3.1. Child labor .
2.3.2. Political Instability.
2.3.3. Illegal activities and disturbance....
2.4. Solution to overcome Social Challenges
3. Economic Challenges .
3.1. Positive Impacts .
3.1.1. Entry fee
3.1.2. Medicinal herbs .
3.2. Negative Impacts .
3.2.1. Limited Infrastructure
3.2.2. Lack of Investment
3.3. Solution to overcome Economic Challenges .
4. Environment Challenges
4.1. Positive Impacts .
4.1.1. Preservation of wildlife
4.1.2. Conservation of surrounding
4.2. Negative Impacts
4.2.1. Solid waste and environmental degradation .
4.2.2. Depletion of natural resources ..
4.3. Solution to overcome Environment Challenges ..
5. Sustainable Approach .
5.1. Use of local product
5.2. Afforestation
6. Conclusion

7. Recommendation ..

8. Reference
1. Introduction
Unites Nations World Trade Organization (UNWTO) describes tourism as The activities of
persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than
one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes. (Ugurlu, 2010)

Nepal is the ideal destination for individuals who value an experience that is authentic and
mesmerizing. Nepal offers everything to everyone from nature lovers to trekkers and also to
the adventure seekers which helps to discover and give a unique experience. Nepal is famous
for daring and adventurous activities like mountain biking, bungee jumping, rock climbing
and mountain climbing, trekking, hiking, bird watching, mountain flights, paragliding,
exploring the waterways by raft and jungle safaris especially in the Terai region. Khaptad
National Park is one of the ideal destination for the people who love wildlife and trekking
activities. (Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, 2012)

Khaptad National Park, covering 22,500 hectares (225 sq.km) of land is located in the Far-
Western Development Region, at a nautical distance of 446 km from Kathmandu. The area
spreads across Bajahang, Doti, Bajura and Achham districts under seti zone. It was declared
as a national park in 1984 A.D. It was name after Khaptad Baba (Late Swami
Sachchidananda) who moved in the area in 1940s. Khaptad National Park has extensive
grassland interspersed with oak and coniferous forests, shrupperies and buggy areas. Khaptad
provides a beautiful view of snow peaks such as Saipal and Apimountain.The core area of
Khaptad holds the the religious places and the Ashram of Khaptad Swami. Besides,the park
also includes the other important places like Trebeni, Shahashralinga, Khaptaddaha (3,050m)
and Ganesh temple. The altitudes of the park ranges from 1420m to 3300m. (Pandey, 2008)

About 270 types of birds, 20 types of shrubs, 30 different plants, 50 herbs, 20 varieties of
butterflies and various types of wild animal have been recorded inside the
park.(Shrestha,2008)

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2. Various Challenges of Khaptad National Park
Although Khaptad national park is suitable, ideal and the most sought after destination for
tourists coming to Nepal, it has negligible visitors. This is because of the drawbacks and
challenges it has in terms of socio- political issues. Some of the major challenges have been
listed below.

2.1 Social Challenges

2.2 Positive Impacts

2.3 Negative Impacts

2.3.1 Child labor

Hosts give a lot of importance to the tourist in the hope of getting something back and that is in
terms of money. Children are encouraged to go to the park and collect rare and expensive
medicinal herbs such as Panchaaule and Vishjara found in Khaptad National Park. As parents are
using their children as a source of income and children are forced not to go to school for certain
period of time because they can collect herbs so that parents can sell those to the visitors and
make money out of it.

2.3.2 Political Instability

Even with Khaptad areas strong natural and cultural comparative advantage in tourism, it is
lacking behind to make a positive impact on tourism industry because of political instability and
disturbance. The development work are not running smoothly and rapidly so that they are not
getting any infrastructure development to compete with other tourism product of the country in
attracting more tourist in the Khaptad areas and its surroundings. (Tourism Strategic Plan For
Khaptad Area,2009-2018)( surname of the author, year of publication)

2.3.3 Illegal activities and Disturbances

With increasing rate of threatened and endangered species and lack of funds for research and
management in Khaptad national park, illegal activities like hunting, animal smugglings has
increased in the past decades. (Dr.Tej Kumar Shrestha,2003). Every year, starting May till July,
the park open its door for cattle herders and it is during that period the smugglers become
active.(The Kathmandu Post,2016)(online newspaper citation)

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2.4 Solutions to overcome social challenges
Recruitment of skilled manpower has been implemented. The security has lightened in order to
control and prevent illegal activities within the national park. Women, disadvantages groups and
local community will be encouraged to participate in the tourism development activities through
rural tourism development. Private sector participation has been enhanced to develop human
resources ( Kumar and Majupuria, 2006).

3. Economic Challenges

3.1. Positive impacts

3.1.1. Entry Fee

People and community around Khaptad National Park has been gaining an increase in the
economy of its region through various tourism activities. For an example, when tourist from
SAARC counties come to the park, they are charging them Rs.1500 per person and for other
tourists Rs.3000 per person as an entry fee. Beside, those collect money are being utilized for
the welfare of the park itself, local communities and people around the park. (Ethic
Himalaya, 2012)

3.1.2 Medicinal Herbs

Due to climatic variations and vegetation, khaptad National Park has flourish with diverse
flora and has been a treasure home for growth of plant resources especially medicinal herbs.
This has been the attraction for researchers, tourists, and other people. Beside, different
medicinal herbs are used by local people for various different purposes. Rural people residing
near the park area are greatly relying and are engaged in collecting medicinal herbs as they
sell and make money out of it. (Kunwar and duwadee, 2003)

3.2 Negative Impacts

3.2.1 Limited Infrastructure

Limited infrastructure including shortages of air seats, limited road accessibility, lower
quality roads, no availability of electricity, problem of drinking water are the reasons for the
less contribution from tourism to the local economy. (Tourism Resource Center,2008). The
roads are not well managed and it is difficult to walk down the steep hills as the roads are
slippery and dangerous. (The Himalayan Times, 2016). No provision of hotels (food and
lodging) around Khaptad National Park makes the life of tourists harder.Remoteness has
created further problem to have access to the project area

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3.2.2 Lack of investment
Another point for tourism to be behind in this region is lack of investment. Neither
government sector nor private sector are investing sufficient budget for the development of
the region. (New Business Age, 2016). There is lack of proper services and facilities to the
pilgrims and tourists including accommodation facilities. (Tourism Research Center, 2008)

3.3 Solution to overcome the Economic challenges

Local communities near protected area are involved in both the management and economic
benefit sharing of the area. The management of national park has been handover to non-
government organizations. The national park is receiving support from UNDP. Various
support programs like profit-making activities, development program benefiting the
community and local people are launched and funded by different international organization
like the United States Agency, the World Wildlife Fund.(Mary Cameron, 2005). Different
government and non-government organization are working there to promote and market the
area and to propagate the importance and value of Khaptad areas both at international and
national level. (Tourism resources center, 2008)

4. Environmental Challenges

4.1 Positive Impacts

4.1.1. Preservation of Wildlife

As number of tourists visiting the park has increased as compared to the last few years in this
area, the crime has been increased like illegal hunting, the wild animals and endangered flora
and fauna have started to be extinct. So, to minimize this problem Local conservation bodies
and their sub-communities have started regular monitoring of wildlife and wildlife related
illegal activities in their areas. (Pandey,2008)

4.1.2. Conservation of Surroundings

In order to attract more tourist special emphasis has been given given on overall
beautification and conservation of the surroundings, regular planting of trees and landscaping
are done to enhance aesthetics. Beside, these activities are keeping Khaptad away from
Natural calamities also. (Shrestha, 2008)

4.2. Negative Impacts

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 4.2.1. Solid waste and environmental degradation
The surrounding of Khaptad national park is affected by staying of local people near the park
areas which is creating problem of waste management that encourages tourist too. The local
people have been using the forest for their personal benefits. The cattle grazing have been
done at park areas which is destroying the protected flora at the national park. (Setikonalibeli,
2006)

4.2.2. Depletion of natural resources

As the place is very remote and does not have sufficient lodging facilities most of the visitor
do camping. As this is a very cold place, visitors often seek for firewood which directly or
indirectly contributes to deforestation. Due to these activities, extinct of endangered herbs,
shrubs and animal are also seen. (Shrestha, 2008)

4.3. Solutions to overcome Environmental Challenges

All countries have promulgated laws for protection and conservation of wildlife and
environment. Conservation education for the villagers in the parks surrounding district is
implemented as there was ignorance amongst the local people about environmental
degradation ( Inskipp, 1988). Different other important methods like awareness through
media and film shows lectures, seminars have been conducted to aware local people about
environmental conservation.( Kumar and majupuriya,2006)
http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/inskipp/1988_017.pdf

5. Sustainable approaches

5.1 Use of local products

Tourism entrepreneurs have been encouraged to use local products and services and help local
community to share maximum benefits from tourism. Use of local products and services is
helping to stop import leakages and encouraging local people produce more local products. It is
helping local community to uplift their quality of life.

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5.2 Afforestation
Afforestation and plantation programmes have been under taken in order to protect park from
deforestation and environmental degradation. Several scientific research have undertaken on the
areas rare and endangered flora and fauna. Afforestation office with the motto of Cut one,
plant one has been set up at the Khaptad national park. It will help to stop natural calamities
and make balance between environment and eco-system