Rangeland Management in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal: An Ecological Perspective

A significant annual decrease of 3.38% in glacier area was observed between 1978 and 1996 in Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ), highlighting the ecological impacts of environmental changes on this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study identified 168 plant species, with 67% being palatable for livestock, indicating underutilized rangeland biomass despite exceeding current demand. This suggests that grazing reduction could enhance productivity and biodiversity, aligning with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Researchers used multivariate and bivariate analysis, along with geographic information system techniques, to assess land use trends and ecological data, providing critical insights for sustainable rangeland management in the Himalayan region.

Bhattarai, K. R., & Upadhyay, T. P. (2013). Rangeland Management in Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal: An Ecological Perspective. Mountain Research and Development, 33(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd-journal-d-11-00077.1