Submit your Article

Rara Lake, the largest water body in Nepal, known for its natural beauty, is facing growing encroachment due to an increase in vegetation around its shores.

This rapid spread of vegetation is affecting the lake's pristine environment and its ecological balance.

Nanda Singh Rokaya, a teacher from Murma in Chhayanath Municipality, believes that the growing vegetation around the lake is damaging its ecosystem.

He noted that the once-clear, radiant blue waters and the fresh atmosphere of the lake are now being overshadowed by the overgrowth of plants.

"The lake's water was much clearer when I was young. These days, it has started to smell as well," he said.

While the Rara National Park Office acknowledges the importance of cleaning the lake, a lack of sufficient resources and budget has hindered efforts to address the issue.

Despite this, the office remains committed to preserving the lake's beauty and essence. Mahesh Neupane, the Senior Conservation Officer at the park, mentioned that a cleanup campaign is planned for the western part of the lake, including Nijar and other areas.

The campaign is expected to be launched soon. Experts have recommended that the authorities take a strategic, planned approach to control the spread of vegetation, clean the lake area, and protect the region's biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

Langtang, Nepal’s third most popular tourist destination, attracts thousands of domestic and international trekkers annually. However, locals have not been able to get much benefit from tourism—a major source of revenue for Nepal—due to inadequate government investment in infrastructure.

Tourist hotspots like Langtang, Gosainkunda, and settlements on the Tamang Heritage Trail see a high influx of visitors. According to Langtang National Park, it mobilized Rs 41.05m from entry fees from 32,597 tourists in fiscal year 2023/24. Likewise, it collected Rs 3.42m as royalty from forest products and Rs 51,017 as fine. In 2022/23, a total of 30,159 tourists visited the national park, contributing Rs 42.47m to the state coffers, according to Ganesh Prasad Adhikari, the information officer at the Dhunche-based Langtang National Park Office. 

Langtang National Park charges Rs 100 for Nepali visitors, Rs 1,500 for SAARC nationals, and Rs 3,000 for other foreign tourists. However, local tourism entrepreneurs argue that the revenue collected is not reinvested sufficiently into infrastructure development.  

Subba Lama, proprietor of Hotel Red Panda in Chandanbari, said tourism destinations in the Langtang region lack proper amenities. “Despite its religious and tourism significance, the Gosainkunda trail lacks comprehensive development plans. Even a tourist information centre has not been established. Above Chandanbari, internet access is almost non-existent. How can we ensure convenience for tourists without proper communication facilities?” he questioned.  

Entrepreneurs also criticize the government for neglecting emergency rescue services and tourist information centres which are essential for enhancing the visitor experience.

Revenue generated from tourists is deposited with the federal government and later shared with provincial and local governments. Although all three tiers of the government are collecting taxes, the collected revenue has not been channeled for the development of areas from where it is collected.

Davasidar Waiba, Ward Chair of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality-6, said that providing only basic facilities is not enough. “Additional amenities like well-maintained trails, tourist information centres, and other infrastructures are vital,” he added.

Local representatives and residents believe that federal and provincial governments should coordinate and allocate resources to address these gaps. They say a lack of synergy among three tiers of government has hindered progress in tourism and infrastructure development.

Bongjomane and Jyarsha Gothen community forests above Gatlang in Aamachhodingmo Rural Municipality-3 were devastated by a fire 15 years ago. Despite repeated assurances from various government ministers, no reforestation initiatives have been implemented. “Government representatives have visited the area, made speeches, but left without doing anything. No budget has been allocated for reforestation,” he added.

Minister for Forest and Environment of Bagmati Province Government, Krishna Prasad Silwal, recently visited the area and stressed the need for scientific studies before launching reforestation projects. Ashok Kumar Ghimire, chief of the District Coordination Committee, Rasuwa, told Minister Ghimire to formulate plans to rehabilitate the forest instead of just touring the area. 

Ram Sharan Gajurel, who leads a federation of hotels and tourism enterprises, said the government should not merely collect revenue from tourists but also focus on developing tourism infrastructure. He highlighted the need to develop trekking routes, rest areas, water and sanitation facilities, electricity, information centers at various locations, and proper tourist amenities. “While the region has significant potential for religious and ecotourism across all five rural municipalities, there are challenges in development vision and leadership,” Gajurel said. “Local governments should collaborate with businesses and stakeholders to create comprehensive tourism promotion plans.”

Aamachhoding Rural Municipality offers numerous tourism opportunities. “Beyond well-known locations like Paldor Peak, Jageshwar Kunda, Dilpu Kunda, Parbati Kunda Gopa Kunda and Sanzen valley,  there are other interesting destinations like Golsung, Gatlang, Chilime, Tatopani, Nagthali, and Thuman that showcase the depth of Tamang cultural heritage,” said Bikas Lama, a seasoned trekking guide.

Similarly, promising locations in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-2 like Dudh Kunda and Pangsang are also awaiting tourists. Local youth social worker Kaminu Tamang said Dudh Kunda lacks proper infrastructure. “The area lacks adequate accommodation despite having breathtaking views accessible within two days,” he added.

Fikuri highlands in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-2, is a stunning high-altitude scenic spot. From here, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading districts. The Fikuri region, which sits at an elevation of approximately 3,800 meters, offers spectacular views of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Himalayan ranges including Langtang, Gosaikunda, Nargajun, Kakani, Ganesh, and Dorje Lakpa. Additional attractions include Uttargaya Dham and Bhange waterfall. 

Similarly, Jure Dhunga-Naukunda trail in Naukunda Rural Municipality holds significant tourism potential, according to vice chairperson Chandra Bahadur Tamang. “The local government can generate substantial tourist revenue by promoting this trail,” he added.

The national park and its wildlife, including red pandas, snow leopards, and deer, attract tourists but create conflicts with local farmers. Wild animals frequently destroy crops, forcing some farmers to abandon agriculture. “Instead of spending on compensation, preventive measures against wildlife intrusion should be prioritized,” said Jhanknath Neupane, a social worker from Kalika Rural Municipality-2.  

Langtang National Park generates over Rs 40m annually, but this revenue fails to translate into tangible development for the region. The existing revenue allocation policy proposes distributing revenue among different tiers of government: 50 percent to the federal government, and 25 percent each to the provincial government and local government. However, this allocation is not effectively being used for tourism sector development.

Amar Raj Mishra, a member of the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, said royalty is split among five sectors—water resources, electricity, forests, conservation areas and tourism. “The commission can only recommend conditional grants, it is up to the government to take the final decision,” he added.

Locals say the Langtang National Park Buffer Zone Management Committee has not developed a systematic plan for proportional budget distribution. Moreover, there is no mandatory requirement to allocate funds specifically to the tourism sector.

Experts and stakeholders suggest better coordination between federal, provincial, and local governments to ensure fair allocation of resources and foster sustainable tourism development. Unless the government addresses these shortcomings, tourism potential of Langtang Region, like other areas of the country, risks remaining underutilized.

Call to reinvest tourism revenue in Lantang

Although royalty collection from tourism is high, there has not been much focus on tourism sector development in the national park and surrounding areas. Most of the spending made from this share of royalty that the area receives does not contribute to tourism development. Some resources are allocated to nature conservation.

The religious tourism area of Gosaikunda and cable car projects are under discussion of late. However, investment or economic resources for the project has not been secured.  or investment secured. Likewise, although the district is home to different tourism products and services like Uttargaya Dham, Kalika Mai Temple, Langtang National Park, Gosaikunda, and Ganesh Himal range, no effort has been made to develop the package by including all these attractions.

Similarly, the region is home to globally significant wetland sites and endangered wildlife and plant species. These natural heritage and biological diversity must be preserved and handed over to future generations. Successful tourism development can create employment opportunities for youth within the country.

For this, the government should encourage the private sector to build quality hotel and lodge facilities, build infrastructure for clean and competitive tourism, establish a business revival fund targeting potential pandemic-related challenges, and strategically reinvest a substantial portion of tourism revenue back into sector development.

The impact of climate change is becoming evident not only in the tourism sector but also in agriculture and nature, said Nurpusangbo Ghale, Chairperson of Naukunda Rural Municipality. 

He highlighted that, in collaboration with the National Trust for Nature Conservation and other stakeholders, with support from the Green Climate Fund, efforts are being made in the Gandaki Watershed Climate Resilience Project area. These efforts aim to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems, reduce climate-induced disasters and risks, implement disaster response strategies, and promote nature-based solutions, climate resilience, and climate coding. 

Chairperson Ghale also emphasized the need to mitigate climate change impacts, promote tourism by identifying new destinations, and increase investment in infrastructure development. 

Meanwhile, Information Officer Ashesh Khadka from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Cooperatives of Bagmati Province stated that the provincial government does not collect taxes independently and operates based on budgets and plans prepared by the Ministry of Finance. 

He added that development projects carried out in coordination with local governments and other tiers of government could prevent duplication and increase community ownership. However, locals have complained that funds allocated by the provincial government are often not utilized effectively, as they are distributed based on political influence rather than addressing urgent needs.

This story has been produced with the support of the Internews Earth Journalism Network through the Media for Inclusive Green Growth project

Scores of people were killed on Sunday when a passenger jet crash-landed at an airport in southwestern South Korea, with the aircraft careening down the runway on its belly before bursting into flames, CNN reported.

At least 96 people have been confirmed dead so far, according to the local fire department. Two people, both crew members, were pulled alive from the crash site however rescuers have warned there is little hope of finding further survivors.

Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 from Bangkok was carrying 175 passengers and six crew when disaster struck at the airport in Muan county, just after 9 a.m. local time Sunday (7 p.m. ET Saturday). The accident was caused by a landing gear malfunction, officials said.

 Footage of Sunday’s crash broadcast by multiple South Korean news outlets showed the plane sliding on its belly at high speed, hitting an earthen embankment and erupting in a fireball.

Neither the back nor front landing gear was visible in the footage – broadcast by networks including YTN, JTBC and MBC – as smoke poured from the back of the sliding aircraft, according to CNN.

Firefighters were later seen using water cannons to extinguish the blazing wreckage of the aircraft, which was listed as a Boeing 737-800 on flight-tracking site FlightAware. Several parts of the aircraft were also seen strewn across the runway.

 The victims include 47 males, 48 females, and one child whose gender could not be determined, according to the South Jeolla Fire Service. Both of the survivors were crew members, one male and one female, according to the rescue team.

Two Thai nationals were among those on board, according to the South Korean Land Ministry, which said officers from the national Incident Investigation Committee had arrived to look into what caused the accident.

Rescue workers will search for the “black box” flight data recorders after recovering the bodies of the remaining victims, the Transport Ministry said in a briefing. The recorders offer aviation safety investigators critical facts when piecing together what happened after an incident.

More than 700 personnel from the police, military, and coast guard have been mobilized for on-site response efforts, the ministry added.

Boeing extended its condolences to those who lost loved ones in the crash.

“We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding Flight 2216 and stand ready to support them,” Boeing said in a short statement posted to its X account.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” the company added.

The US aviation giant has had a turbulent time in recent years, including two 737 Max crashes, a tragedy for which the company agreed to plead guilty to deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration during the certification process for the plane, CNN reported.

However, analysts have described the Boeing 737-800 as a reliable workhorse of the skies with an extremely strong safety record.

Jeju Air’s chief executive said the aircraft had shown “no signs of issues” prior to Sunday’s accident.

“At this time, it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident, and we have to wait for the official announcement of the investigation by the relevant government agency,” Kim Yi-bae said during a press briefing at the airport.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at the crash site in the early afternoon. Choi had earlier instructed emergency responders to mobilize “all available” equipment and personnel to respond to the crash, according to a press release by the interior and safety ministry.

The tragedy comes only two days into Choi’s acting presidency, the latest chapter in a time of political chaos in South Korea.

The country’s current president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was stripped of his powers by parliament two weeks ago following a short-lived martial law order that plunged the country into political disarray. He is currently suspended while a top court decides his fate.

Han Duck-soo, the man who stepped in to replace Yoon as acting president, was impeached by parliament on Friday, meaning Choi – the finance minister and deputy prime minister – stepped in for him.

Sunday’s crash is “very perplexing” given that both the aircraft and carrier have a strong safety record and flying conditions were excellent, an aviation journalist said.

The Boeing 737-800 is one of the most widely used aircraft in the world and each one is used for about four or five flights per day, Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News, told CNN’s Paula Newton.

“It is the most reliable aircraft in the world, and it’s been in service for 20 years,” he said. “Everybody knows how it works. And it works really, really well. And the maintenance done in [South] Korea is as good as it gets around the world.”

South Korean fire officials have said there may have been a landing gear malfunction and footage showed the aircraft sliding on its belly.

“It’s a little bit unclear whether or not the undercarriage collapsed on landing or whether the undercarriage was not deployed at all. This is a really serious issue that obviously investigators will be very much focused on,” Thomas said.

He added “it is perplexing” that the crash happened, given it was landing under dry and sunny conditions at a good airport.

Local residents in Mustang have long relied on collecting firewood during the winter, a practice that has been followed for centuries. Mustang, divided into upper and lower regions, is home to 16 Conservation Area Management Committees (CMCs) operating under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Among these, 10 CMCs, covering areas from Waragung Muktikshetra to the lower Mustang, organize annual firewood collection during winter. The committees, in coordination with ACAP Jomsom, implement time-specific schedules for collecting firewood from designated forests. This activity takes place across three local levels of Mustang, ensuring firewood needs are met during the harsh winter months.

After harvesting summer crops and sowing winter crops, farmers in Mustang find some respite from agricultural duties, although activities like apple orchard management continue. Firewood is essential for cooking, heating homes, and preparing livestock feed during winter. To meet these needs, the local conservation management committees, in partnership with village communities, arrange joint firewood collection efforts, often in the lakeside forests of Mustang.

Chandra Bahadur Thakali, chairman of the conservation management committee in Ghar Pajhong-4, Jomsom, explained that since December, registered households in Jomsom have been permitted to collect firewood. Residents brave the freezing temperatures, setting out early in the morning to gather firewood, prioritizing dry wood. However, if only raw firewood is available, it is also permitted for use. Pramod Raj Regmi, head of the ACAP Jomsom office, emphasized that the local conservation committees have the authority to manage and use natural resources responsibly, including firewood, except during restricted months like June and August.

Villagers often rely on oxen, donkeys, horses, and mules to transport firewood back home. Those without animals carry the firewood themselves. Strict regulations ensure that raw firewood is not cut, and violations result in penalties enforced by the conservation committees. Regular monitoring by the committees and local representatives ensures compliance with the standards.

Residents from villages like Jomsom, Thini, Dhumba, Syang, Marpha, Chhairo, and Chiwang travel to forests near the Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri foothills for firewood collection. Similarly, in Thasang Rural Municipality, locals gather firewood from forests under their jurisdiction. According to Sojan Hirachan, a resident of Thasang-2 Saura, the conservation management committee and village headmen determine specific periods for firewood collection.

Farmers like Lekh Bahadur Gurung of Jomsom maintain huts near the forests, enabling them to collect multiple loads of firewood daily. Gurung begins his day at 4 am, heading to the forests near Nilgiri Lake to gather enough firewood to last the year. “It’s cold, but I enjoy collecting firewood in the forest more than in the village,” he said. Similarly, farmer Manoj Gotame, who has temporarily set aside his agricultural duties, also collects firewood with the help of his huts. “The forest has been opened for 10 days by the Conservation Management Committee and village representatives,” Gotame noted. “Firewood is essential for families and livestock, and this collection will suffice for a year.”

Storing firewood on rooftops is a longstanding tradition in Mustang, symbolizing prosperity and preserving local art and culture. Villagers believe that having a large stockpile of firewood in front of the house is a sign of affluence. While the development of road networks in Mustang has reduced the dependence on firewood, it remains an integral part of daily life and cultural heritage in the region.