Geomorphic Processes, Rock Quality and Solid Waste Management—Examples from the Mt. Everest Region of Nepal

Abstract

Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ) in the Everest region in Nepal is among the most popular destinations for trekking tourism in Nepal. The dramatic growth of the tourism industry has increased pressures on the environment and the National Park is heavily affected by the rapidly growing waste issue. Besides, major mass movements play an important role in the Himalaya and have been observed in SNPBZ. Also, seasonal monsoon floods, debris flows, rock falls, landslides and the creation of glacial lake outburst floods are frequently occurring in the region. This paper explores the reciprocal interactions between the geo-environment and solid waste management in Everest's SNPBZ. Therefore, geological characteristics and geomorphological processes, especially the two large rockslides in Lukla and Khumjung, as well as their consequences for rock quality, climatic and hydrologic conditions, are analyzed and simultaneously connected to the rapidly growing tourism-induced waste issue. Rockslide material shows high porosity and permeability. Thus, we argue that rockslide facies are particularly vulnerable to contamination by waste water and washed out agricultural fertilizers, which pose threats to the population especially in Namche Bazaar but probably also in Lukla. Also, the landfill sites are often affected by geomorphological processes and may consequently contaminate surface and ground water. Results highlight that regional infrastructure planning of landfill sites often collides with the natural features of the geo-environment and often causes harm to human health and the environment. The implications of the results can be applied to similar areas (such as Marsyandi Valley, Kali Gandaki Valley) with special geological characteristics and rapidly growing waste issues.

Landslides and other damage to buildings and infrastructures following the April–May 2015 earthquake sequence, Solukhumbu District, Eastern Nepal

“…However, massive heterogeneous rockslide deposits, still undated, produced upstream river valley damming, hence controlling the nature of valley fills, such as lacustrine deposits (Ghat) and associated prograding gravel deposits (Chuserma). All these late Quaternary formations were later dissected, hence forming stepped gravelly sandy river terraces and debris fans (Goetz et al, 2015;Posch et al, 2015). Such large mass wasting material and its related deposits are estimated to represent volumes of >10 8 m 3 covering an area of c. 5.5 km 2 (Goetz et al, 2015), with a particularly marked thickness (>150-300 m) close to Ghat and Cheplung (Fig.…”

A Sustainable Solid Waste Management Plan for Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal

“…Within the SNPBZ, the growing presence of these landfills (Figures 1, 2) poses a serious health and safety concern for humans and livestock alike (Rogers and Aitchison 1998;Posch et al 2015). In addition to being visually unsightly, landfills pose serious public health issues and environmental hazards because of the routine burning of waste materials, release of toxic chemicals, and contamination of local and downstream groundwater supplies .…”

“…Most solid waste deposited in landfills is composed primarily of tin, steel, or aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, and other plastic goods (Figure 3). Electronic waste such as batteries, computer parts, and old household appliances is increasingly found in the landfills, as is medical waste in the vicinity of health clinics (Posch et al 2015;Maharjan and Gustafsson 2019;Faulon and Sacareau 2020). Local lodge owners and waste management organizations have treated this waste as ''burnable garbage'' since around 2010, as other options were either absent or perceived to be too costly.…”

Waste Management in Selected National Parks: A Review

“…This impact is also caused by tourism (Wei et al, 2013). These activities bring many positive but also many negative effects to the country (Posch et al, 2015). The negative effects are related with the increase of waste, which contributes to the degradation of the natural environment.…”