The Forestry Programme

The three nurseries at Phorche, Tashinga and Phurte, are at the core of this programme. The Trust aims at planting 70,000 seedlings a year.  Other activities include monitoring native forest growth and the factors which influencing it (such as wild thar), plus promoting sustaiable use of forest resources to both locals and visitors.

The programme receives major funding from the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada and has received grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the past. Over 100ha have been planted, mostly in unfenced 'open' areas around the forest margin, where natural regeneration has difficulty establishing 

Rangjit Gurung, the on-site supervisor, co-ordinates management and directs the five nursery staff.  He selects the planting sites after consultaion with local people. 
The nursery staff are drawn from local villages, and have over 100 years of combined service between them.  Their nurseries, possibly the highest in the world, are internationally recognised for the first-class seedlings they produce.  Click to see large image

Sagamartha National Park

Sir Edmund Hiallary was the main driving force for the establishment of the Sagamartha National Park begining in 1972.  The New Zealand Government provided the finance for establishing the infra-structure and three NZ Project Managers (over six years ) worked at setting up the Park. The first Warden was Mr Udya Raj Sharma, who later become the Director General of the Department of National Parks, Nepal.

The Park covers a total of 480 square miles and hosts some of the highest mountians in the World including Mt Everest 29,029 ft / 8848m. Many thousands of trekkers come yearly to view the scenery and experience the Sherpa communities here in the Khumbu. Guidlines for trekking in the Khumbu can be found in Available Documents.

 
Home Page     How to make a donation