SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURE TOURISM IN JUGAL - EDUCATE & SYSTEMS

JUGAL ECO RANGER

In 2024, Pauline went with 3 other women (Emma, Sarah and Lucy)  to follow in the footsteps of the first ever all female Himalayan expedition. The history is fascinating. It involved 3 women from Scotland in 1955 going to, wait for it…..JUGAL! 
The 2024 team was called Footsteps 55. They went to Jugal Himal to attempt another first ascent and a first ski in the area in tribute to the 1955 expedition. At the same time they did some community and environmental research. Would this area benefit from introducing adventure tourism? Would the environment cope with adventure tourism?

The overwhelming answer to both questions was YES!
The solution was to work with Equator Expeditons (Mahendra Thapa), Jugal Municipality (Milan Tamang) and local people to employ an Eco Ranger. Our IYH and team from TMO was back in action with another way to support and help local communities.

The role of the Eco Ranger is to:

1) research and project manage the building and maintenance of eco toilets along the trekking trail and Base Camp

2) research and project manage the installation of recycling stations along the trekking route and Base Camp

3) educate and engage the local communities about the benefits and need for environmental practices to support the adventure tourism industry.

Paul Tamang is now the Eco Ranger. He has been sponsored by IYH for the first year and will hopefully be paid by revenue from future trekking and mountaineering expeditions.

JUGAL MOUNTAIN LEADER TRAINING

Following on from supporting Jugal Adventure Tourism development with an Eco Ranger, we saw the natural link to supporting using local people to deliver the treks and climbs. 
Equator Expeditions and Jugal Municipality have chosen 10 local people to support through mountain training. This way expedition companies will use local guides and not have to bring them in from the more established areas of Everest and Annapurna. Keep the team local guide, cooks, porters as well as food and transport. IYH again supported this project as a way of helping to educating more individuals become part of supporting the Jugal economy through adventure tourism.

we are proud to say the Eco Ranger, Paul is also part of this training and will be delivering educational modules on how and why to protect the environment by using the toilets, recycling rubbish and being aware of the environment.