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

Aubriot, Olivia; Faulon, Marie; Sacareau, Isabelle; Puschiasis, Ornella; Jacquemet, Etienne; Smadja, Joëlle; André‐Lamat, Véronique; Céline, Abadia; Muller, Alix

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-17-00080.1

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…An in-depth assessment of precipitation in the Khumbu region in the central Himalaya ( Figure 1) highlights some key vulnerabilities, as up to 56% of the domestic water supply for the more than 6,000 residents comes from rainwater, 4 and locals and tourists alike suffer from precipitation extremes resulting in impassable and washed-out trails. 18 Existing understanding identifies that precipitation across this region is subject to considerable temporal variability, with 70%-80% of annual totals falling during the summer monsoon period of June-September, [19][20][21] when precipitation mostly falls at night. [22][23][24][25][26][27] Ouyang et al 28 report 50%-60% of annual precipitation falling during the monsoon in the Yadong Valley in the central Himalaya of China, with an afternoon peak in precipitation timing at higher elevations (>3,500 m above sea level Locations of precipitation data sources (filled squares, circles, and triangles) in the context of topography (shading), glacierized area (aqua shading), forest cover (green), and main trekking route to Everest Base Camp (dashes).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precipitation Characteristics and Moisture Source Regions on Mt. Everest in the Khumbu, Nepal

et al. 2020

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Precipitation Characteristics and Moisture Source Regions on Mt. Everest in the Khumbu, Nepal

et al. 2020

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“…More than climatic variations, changes in water use over the past decades are due to a growing need for tourism and for domestic purposes. Regarding the future of accessible water resources, this does not seem to be threatened in terms of quantity, even if seasonal pressures should lead to a better water management, especially during the high season of tourism activities (Aubriot et al, 2019). However, water quality could evolve in a worrisome direction.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All these territorial and economic mutations have led to profound changes in water resources, increasing needs previously limited to domestic (drinking water, cooking, personal hygiene), agricultural (irrigation of barley), and religious purposes (waterdriven prayer wheels, water spirit shrine) (Aubriot et al, 2019). Water is taken directly from springs or small streams flowing through the settlements or channeled by pipes to houses, since large rivers are not the primary source of water for villagers (McDowell et al, 2012).…”

Section: Water Resources For Local Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Headwater Flow Geochemistry of Mount Everest (Upper Dudh Koshi River, Nepal)

et al. 2020

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The aim of this work, conducted in the upper valley of the Khumbu on the southern part of Mount Everest, is to approach in parallel three topics: (i) the dynamics of the water geochemistry, major ions and trace elements; (ii) the stable water isotopes of precipitation and rivers; and (iii) the water uses by the inhabitants. As in most mountain environments, the Khumbu area is threatened by climate change, which impacts the cryosphere and consequently the people and the landscapes. Moreover, changes in water use are also related to new needs stemming from tourism, which strongly affect local livelihood. For the first two topics, new results are presented. They provide details on the global chemical quality of the river water and show how certain elements are seasonally influenced and how other elements allow us to distinguish the water origins within the study zone. Beside the use of stable isotopes to determine mainly the origin of the water flow in the rivers, the isotopic patterns confirm the double climatic influence of the westerly fluxes in the winter season and of the Asian monsoon in the summer season. Regarding water use, the study does not conclude on the potability of the water resource, because microbiologic and organic components have not been investigated; however it confirms that the chemical quality is good. In conclusion, we attempt to predict the future of the geochemistry patterns submitted to the double pressure of climate change and the surge in tourism.

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“…During the consultation, the concurrent and growing problems of freshwater supply, water contamination, and human waste management were also highlighted as priorities by stakeholders. All 3 represent chronic problems that have been exacerbated by contemporary increases in tourist and lodge numbers, as well as by the lack of expertise and resources to adequately deal with them (see Aubriot et al 2020;Manfredi et al 2010). In recent years, changing weather patterns in Khumbu have had an impact upon traditional freshwater sources, especially springs (McDowell et al 2013).…”

Section: Community Consultationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Byers

Gustafsson²,

Shrestha

et al. 2020

Mountain Research and Development

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Solid waste management is one of the most challenging issues for authorities in the Mt Everest region of Nepal, exacerbated in recent years by the rapid and continued growth of tourism. Open and unsightly landfills in the vicinity of villages along the main trekking routes are creating serious public health and environmental concerns, primarily because of their routine burning, resultant release of toxic chemicals, and contamination of groundwater supplies. Following 2 community consultations held in Namche Bazaar and Kathmandu in July 2019, a sustainable solid waste management plan was developed by the authors at the expressed request of local stakeholders. Based upon a collaborative approach, the plan proposes the implementation of a 4-point waste management process: (1) routine segregation of waste type at its source by lodges and home owners, (2) collection of recyclable waste from lodges and households and/or transfer of waste by lodges themselves to environmental stations, (3) transfer of all segregated waste to material recovery facilities for preprocessing and packaging, and (4) transfer of preprocessed materials to Lukla airport for transportation to Kathmandu and/or other recycling facilities. In January 2020, the plan was formally presented to local authorities, who, at the time of writing, are considering available options for its implementation. It is suggested that progress toward the sustainable management of solid waste in Khumbu be closely monitored in the coming years, as success here could provide working models for other heavily visited regions throughout the high mountain world.

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

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Precipitation Characteristics and Moisture Source Regions on Mt. Everest in the Khumbu, Nepal

Precipitation Characteristics and Moisture Source Regions on Mt. Everest in the Khumbu, Nepal

Headwater Flow Geochemistry of Mount Everest (Upper Dudh Koshi River, Nepal)

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

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