REPORT ON

“ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS WORKSHOP”

FOR TOURISM PROFESSIONALS

Submitted To:

Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)

Submitted By:

Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP)

June 2016

Prepared By:

Sadiksha Basnet (Assistant Program Officer, KEEP)

Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgement

2. Workshop Summary

3. Introduction

3.1 Background

3.2 Location

3.3 Workshop Target Group

4. Methodology

5. Workshop Details

6. Conclusion

7. Annexes

Annex A: Workshop schedule

Annex B: Name list of participants

Annex C: Resource person list

Annex D: Photographs

Annex E: Agreement

Annex F: Promotion materials

1. Acknowledgement

Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) would like to extend its sincere gratitude

towards Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) for the wonderful support in the successful

accomplishment of the "Two Day Environmental Awareness Workshop, for tourism

Professionals” held at Vaishali Hotel, Thamel Kathmandu.

We would also like to take opportunity to thank our resource person Mr. Ian Wall (Leave no

Trace & Climate Change and Tourism), Mr. Thakur Prasad Kandel (Earthquake and Nepali

Tourism), Mr. Sunil Sharma (Ecotourism), Mr. Sanu Kazi Shrestha and Mrs. Kriti Shrestha

(Alternative Fuel) and Mr. Ukesh Raj Bhuju (Natural &Cultural Heritages). Their contribution

in providing knowledge and information with their expertise during this workshop is

commendable.

We would also like to thank all our guest of honours and our chief guest Mr. Sudarshan Prasad

Dhakal for their presence and adding immense value to the workshop.

Lastly, we would like to thank all our participants for their active participation in the workshop.

Thank you all,

Executive Director

D.B. Gurung

2. Workshop Summary

Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) along with Nepal Mountaineering

Association (NMA), organised a two day “Environmental Awareness Workshop - 2016” for

tourism professionals in Nepal at hotel Vaishali, Kathmandu.

This two day Environmental Awareness Workshop included topics which are very relevant in

today’s time such as, Leave no Trace, Earthquake and Nepali Tourism, Ecotourism, Climate

Change and Tourism, Alternative Fuel and Natural and Cultural Heritages.

The Workshop was divided into presentations and discussions, which made it an effective two

way interaction program.

The workshop was targeted towards tourism professionals of Nepal, especially guides, to help

them understand and promote sustainable tourism practices.

3. Introduction

3. 1 Background

Guides are the ones who show the way by leading, directing or advising. They are also role

model for everyone they lead. Hence, it is very vital for guides to understand about the necessity

of ecotourism and promote the concept, so that, the rest following him would practice the same.

Therefore, this year KEEP decided to conduct an ‘Environmental Awareness Workshop’

targeting those working in the tourism industry. This program is aimed at affecting those on the

front lines of the tourism industry in Nepal; the porters and guides, who are in a position to have

the strongest impact in tourism and environment.

The workshop objectives were as follows:

To raise awareness among tourism professionals of the necessity and ways to reduce

negative cultural and environmental impacts.

To encourage tourism professionals to take responsibility for the sustainability of natural

resources.

To raise the question as to why and what reason(s) ecological tourism is so very

important.

To promote and support ecological tourism practices.

To encourage course participants to share their knowledge and experiences with the other

participants.

To promote the exchange of information, knowledge, and experience relating to

ecological tourism.

3.2 Location

The workshop was organised at hotel Vaishali Thamel for two days, 16-17 June 2016,

from 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Figure 1. Location map of the workshop

3.3 Workshop Target Group

The workshop was targeted for tourism professionals of Nepal especially the guides involved

in trekking. However, anyone interested ecotourism were welcomed as well. All total of 50

participants were registered for the workshop, however only 47 & 42 of the total participants

attended in the first and second day respectively.

4. Methodology

The methods used during the workshop are as follows:

MS power-point slide show presentation by resource person

Oral presentations and discussions by the related field experts.

Group discussion, Brainstorming and Participatory presentation by a participant.

Practical demonstration & scenario/situation discussion.

Plain English language at most, Nepali script was also accepted.

Promotional materials of workshop.

5. Workshop Details

16th

June 2016: Day 1

The program was started with registration of the participants at 8.00 am at hotel Vaishali,

Thamel, Kathmandu. After registration, all participants were given a set of stationeries (pen,

paper, workshop brochure and T-Shirt). Wearing the workshop t-shirt was made compulsory

throughout the entire workshop.

The event was started with a welcome speech and brief introduction about the workshop purpose

by D.B Gurung (KEEP). Thereafter, Mr. Ian Wall Coordinator of KEEP continued the program

through his formal presentation on “Leave no Trace”. He highlighted points such as: principles

of leave no trace, how to trekking responsibly in the Himalaya, campsite & solid waste

management techniques and how to dispose waste properly while trekking. The presentation was

very helpful especially in the current time when all the campsite and trekking routes are highly

polluted. The presentation was concluded with discussions and interactions.

After a short 15 minutes tea break, Mr. Thakur Raj Pandey, a seismologist from Department of

Mines and Geology, gave the presentation on “Earthquake and Tourism”. He highlighted the

points such as: what is earthquake hazard, earthquake safety and adaptation strategies in a

sensitive mountain environment, preparation for possible disasters in mountain environment and

post-earthquake recovery technique/actions. Participants were immensely interested in this

section, especially due to witnessing the big earthquake recently. The presentation was

concluded with discussions and interactions.

After an hour of lunch break, Mr. Ian Wall presented a short interactive session on “Good

Briefing” which was appreciated by all the participants.

Thereafter, Mr. Sunil Sharma, Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board, gave and interesting

presentation on “Sustainable Ecotourism”. He highlighted the points such as: what is sustainable

eco-tourism, what are the benefits of sustainable eco-tourism practices, how it helps to improve

the country’s economy and people’s lives and the negative and positive impacts of tourism. The

presentation was very interactive, as the guides and students showed particular interest in this

topic. The presentation was concluded with discussions and interactions.

17th

June, 2016: Day 2

Day 2 was started again with the registration of the participants. After registration there was a

short session on the overview of first day where the suggestions and feedbacks were taken from

the participants. The feedbacks received are as follows:

To increase the number of days in workshop.

To increase the number of hours per presentation.

To include topics such as map navigation.

To choose different participants in different workshop such that many would get benefit

of this opportunity.

To continue these kinds of workshops

The first presentation on day 2 was presented by Mr. Ian Wall again on the topic “Climate

Change and Tourism”. He highlighted the points such as: history of climate change in Nepal,

what are the factors causing climate change and how its impact could be minimized. The

presentation was concluded with discussions and interactions.

The second presentation was given by Mr. Sanu Kazi Shrestha and Mrs. Kriti Shrestha from

Foundation of Sustainable Technologies (FoST) on the topic “Alternative Fuel”. They

highlighted the points such as: what is an alternative source of energy, why it is important to

promote alternative energy in this era of fuel crisis, how to save fuel wood in trekking

destinations and what are the benefits of alternative fuel. They also demonstrated the different

samples of the alternative fuel. The presentation was concluded with discussions and

interactions.

The last presentation of the day 2 was given by Mr. Ukesh Raj Bhuju, Director of Academics

National College on the topic “Natural and Cultural Heritages and Biodiversity conservation”.

He highlighted the points such as: history of Nepal, Nepalese heritage, flora, fauna and national

parks-their necessity and their importance and the importance of Nepalese heritage and

biodiversity to the world. The presentation was concluded with discussions and interactions.

The workshop ended with speech from guest of honours, participant and Chief Guest with

certificate distribution ceremony.

6. Conclusion

The two days “Environmental Awareness Workshop” was conducted by KEEP on June 16-17

2016, at hotel Vaishali, Thamel Kathmandu. The workshop was sponsored by Nepal

Mountaineering Association (NMA). The workshop was targeted for tourism professionals in

Nepal specially guides who are the face of Nepal tourism professional and can contribute

maximum in sustainable tourism practices. The workshop was interesting and interactive and

was successfully conducted.

Annexes:

Annex A: Workshop Schedule

Venue: Hotel Vaishali, Thamel DAY TIME WORKSHOP TOPICS DETAILS OF THE TOPICS. R.PERSON

DA

Y 1

8:00-8:30

Arrival of the Participants

Registration

8:30-9:00

Introduction of the workshop

DB Gurung, KEEP

9: 00-10:00

Leave No Trace Introduction & Principles of Leave No Trace.

Campsite & Solid waste management techniques

How to dispose waste properly in a trekking

Demonstration & Interaction

Ian Wall & Sadiksha Basnet KEEP

10:00-10:30

Questions and Answers

Interaction

10:30 15 Mins Tea Break Tea Break Tea Break 10:45-11:45

Earthquake and Nepali Tourism

What is earthquake hazard, Earthquake safety and adaptation strategy in a sensitive mountain

environment, Learn to become ready for action during disasters, Post-earthquake recovery techniques

Demonstration and practical

Thakur Prasad Kandel,

Department of Mines

and Geology

11:45-12:15

Questions and Answers

Interaction

12:15 1 hour Lunch Break Lunch Break Lunch Break

1:15-2:00

Interaction Interaction Ian Wall

2:00-3:00

Sustainable Eco

Tourism

What is Sustainable Eco-Tourism? What are the benefits of a sustainable eco-tourism practice? How it helps to improve the country’s economy and people’s life? Negative, minimum & positive impact

of tourism

Sunil

Sharma

NTB

3:00-3:30

Questions and Answers

Interaction

3:30 Closing of the First Day

DAY 2

DA

Y 2

8:30 Review of the 1st Day Interaction KEEP 9:00-10:00

Climate Change and

Tourism

History of climate change in Nepal. Factors causing climate change.

Impact on the planet. Adaptation strategy.

Dealing with problem.

Ian Wall and

Sadiksha Basnet KEEP

10:00-10:30

Question and Answer Interaction

10:30 15 mins Tea Break Tea Break Tea Break 10:45-11:45

Alternative Fuel Alternative source of energy. Its Importance & Saving fuel in trekking destinations. Benefits.

Sanu Kazi Shrestha and Kriti Shrestha

FoST 11:45-12:15

Demonstration Demonstration

12:15-12:30

Questions and answers

12:30 Lunch Break Lunch Break Lunch Break

1:30-2:30

Natural and Cultural Heritages of nepal

History of Nepalese heritage.

Flora, fauna and national parks of Nepal.

Conservation of rare and vulnerable species in trekking routes.

Importance of Nepalese heritages and biodiversity in the world.

Ukesh raj

Bhuju National College

2:30-3:00

Questions and Answers

3:00 Conclusion of the program

Closing & Certificate Distribution Ceremony

Refreshment

Annex B: Participants Name

Annex C: Resource Person List

Annex D: Photographs

Picture 1: Registration of Participants

Picture 2: Participants introducing each other in the interactive session

Picture 3: Presentation session

Picture 4: Speech from Mr. Devi Prasad Panta (Vice-Chairperson, KEEP)

Picture 5: Speech from chief guest Mr. Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal (DG, Department of

Tourism)

Picture 6: Certificate distribution from chief guest

Picture 7: Speech from Mr. Santa Lama (First Vice-President, NMA)

Picture 8: Speech from Mr. Thakur Raj Pandey (General Seretary, NMA)

Picture 9: Particpant Mr. Shiva Silwal providig feedbacks on Workshop

Picture 10: Participants

Annex E: Agreement

Annex F: Promotional Materials

Picture 11: Brochure of the workshop

Picture 12: Certificate of the workshop