|
.
ECON Introduction in Brief:
Eco-friendly Nepal (ECON) is voluntary
a non-political, non-sectarian, non-governmental, non-profit making, humanitarian charitable organization
based in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, initiated in 2004 and
established in January 2005.
ECON aims to promote
sustainable development in the Himalayan (mountain) regions of Nepal
through the identification, testing and exchange of ecotourism knowledge
with a multidisciplinary staffs 3 professionals, ECON is a focal point
for awareness, training applied research, project development and
project implementation on a wide range of ecotourism issues that the
local governments and people of this Himalayan range face.
Most activities will carried
out by or through collaborating international organizations, ecotourism
based national organizations, local governments, individuals (national
and foreigners), local social organizations, and clubs. ECON provides
for Himalayan people perspectives and exchange of information and
experience along with access to knowledge on ecotourism.
Concept on
ECON Founded:
Every year nearly half a
million tourists visit Nepal. About a quarter go trekking in the
Himalaya (Mountains). These trekkers are concentrated in a few
relatively small areas. Such as Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions.
Many tourists are not well informed about Nepalese cultural values, nor
of the sensitivity of the natural environment. They are not aware of the
consequences of their activities. ECON's primary goal is to educate
tourists and tourism professionals about how to minimize the negative
impact of tourism. Existing problems such as deforestation, habitat
destruction and waste accumulation can quickly be pushes to crisis level
by the added pressure of tourist numbers. It can reasonably be estimated
that trekkers alone produce well over 100000 kilos of waste each year in
the Himalayas of Nepal. Such a flood of tourists also threatens to
overwhelm indigenous cultures, substituting local values and customs for
foreign ones.
Well meaning, but largely
naive travelers can contribute to the breakdown of Nepalese culture.
Both tourists and Nepalese are concerning economic and environmental
values and expectations.
|
