Abstract-Soil quality management helps to maintain biological productivity; air and water quality; and human habitation and health. As improper land management can deteriorate soil function, the evaluation of soil quality for different land use is necessary. To evaluate soil quality for different land use types in the Panchase area, soil quality index was computed on the basis of the soil management assessment framework. Protected forest has the highest soil quality index (0.95) followed by community forest (0.91), pasture (0.88), khet (0.81), and bari (0.79). Available phosphorus and soil organic carbon play major roles in making significant differences in the SQI among the different land use types. Less anthropogenic impact and vegetation in forest land result in better soil quality, whereas attempts to increase productivity in cultivated land degrade the soil quality. The proper application of fertilizer and giving priority to organic farming is recommended to improve soil quality.

No abstract

Community-based home stay is one of the growing rural tourism enterprises. It has been a strong support for fostering ecotourism around the globe by uplift ing the local community. The present study was carried in Amaltari Madhawarti Homestay in the Nawalpur District of Nepal. The main aim of this study was to assess the environmental impacts of community-based home stay tourism. Twenty-four houses running home stays and same number of houses without home stay operation were surveyed and representative of the management committee were interviewed in this study. Solid waste production in these 24 home stays was quantified. Proper awareness towards waste management reduces the threat to environmental purity. Further, the role of proper waste management, energy use, and water use becomes a great asset to develop a sound ecotourism around home stays. Socio-economic benefits were received by the home stay in the form of increased income and preserved culture. People were able to make money to upgrade their living standard from their culture, hospitality, foods, and costumes. This boost in the economy had reduced dependence on natural resources and increased forest area and movement of wild animals.

The Hindukush Himalayan region including Nepal, a country reliant on tourism, is particularly sensitive to climate change. However, there are considerable gaps in research regarding tourism and climate change in Nepal. The present research assesses the impact of climate change on tourism in the Manaslu Conservation Area of Nepal. Seventy-six households were interviewed followed by three focus group discussions and five key informant interviews. The empirical data collected at the site are complemented by secondary information on climate and tourism. Local people perceived that temperature and rainfall have been increasing in the study site as a result of climate change. In response to gradually warming temperature and decreasing snowfall, there seems an urgent need for tourism promotional activities in the study area. This would spread the tourist base and increase foreign tourist expenditure in Nepal.

No abstract