Energy, Forest, and Indoor Air Pollution Models for Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal

A critical decline of 38% in forest biomass within Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ), Nepal, from 1992 to 2008 has been attributed to rising fuelwood demand driven by tourism growth. This trend threatens the preservation of current forest conditions unless 75% of fuelwood is replaced with alternative energy sources. The study employed a participatory modeling framework to simulate management scenarios, revealing that reducing fuelwood use by 75% and dung use by 80% could lower indoor carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations to WHO-recommended limits. This research underscores the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate environmental degradation and health risks in this remote mountain region.

Salerno, F., Viviano, G., Thakuri, S., Flury, B., Maskey, R. K., Khanal, S. N., Bhuju, D., Carrer, M., Bhochhibhoya, S., Melis, M. T., Giannino, F., Staiano, A., Carteni, F., Mazzoleni, S., Cogo, A., Sapkota, A., Shrestha, S., Pandey, R. K., & Manfredi, E. C. (2010). Energy, Forest, and Indoor Air Pollution Models for Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal. Mountain Research and Development, 30(2), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd-journal-d-10-00027.1