Final GS11910 Tutorial Presentation

Peril in paradise: the hidden hazards of Everest geotourism

GS11910: F750 Tutorials Assignment 2 Amy Kristanto

Location & Background

• Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone (SNPBZ)
• Home to Mt. Everest and several local settlements.

• Mountaineering permit fees reduced to attract more climbers.
• Visitors tripled in the past 20 years—more than 60,000 visitors in 2019, excluding support staff.
• Nonlocal visitors: 120,000 per year compared to the local population of 5000.
• Results in more rubbish left behind.

Bajracharya, S., Ghimire, A., and Dangi, M.B. (2021) Generation, characterization, and environmental implications of solid waste and its management in the Everest region, Nep J Environ Sci, 9(2), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i2.37381

Litter

• In the past six decades, fifty tons of rubbish were left behind.
• Types: food wrappers, oxygen cylinders, climbing gears, human waste, and even human bodies.
• In 2019, 14 sherpas disposed of more than 22,897 pounds of waste.

DOMA SHERPA/AFP/Getty Images

Becker, K. (2021) 'Nepali Army to Clean Trash on Everest, 5 Other Peaks, The Adventure Blog, 10th March. Available at: https://adventureblog.net/2021/03/nepali-army-to-clean-trash-on-everest-5-other-peaks.html (Accessed: 22nd February 2022). Brändlin, A.S. (2014) 'Taking control of Everest climbers' environmental impact', DW, 19th March. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/taking-control-of-everest-climbers-environmental-impact/a-17502443#:~:text=With%20the%20increasing%20number%20of,mean%20trash%20does%20not%20biodegrade (Accessed: 22nd February 2022).

Waste Management Issues

Solid waste

Human waste

• Trucking or helicopters to move garbage daily are neither feasible nor affordable.
• They practice burning rubbish and use improperly designed waste pits.

• Human waste left behind by hikers would contaminate their only water source in high altitudes.
• Approx more than 7.7 tonnes of human waste in a season of 2 months alone. (Fox News, 2019).

• It is shown to increase in quantity over the years, which correspond to the increase in the number of tourists.

• Plastics and polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles make up 21.4% of solid waste collected.

Bajracharya, S., Ghimire, A., and Dangi, M.B. (2021) Generation, characterization, and environmental implications of solid waste and its management in the Everest region, Nep J Environ Sci, 9(2), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i2.37381

Human & Environmental impact

• Improper location of waste collection pits causes contamination to soil and water sources.
• Heavy metals leach through rockslide material from open dumping pits.
• Transporting waste using animals (yaks, horses, and mules) results in spillage of garbage and leakage of leachate along the way.
• Burning plastic releases toxic chemicals; polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF).
• In large quantity, it directly affects human health. May cause developmental disturbances and cancer.

ALTON C BYERS

Bajracharya, S., Ghimire, A., and Dangi, M.B. (2021), Generation, characterization, and environmental implications of solid waste and its management in the Everest region, Nep J Environ Sci, 9(2), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i2.37381 Byers, A. C., Gustafsson, T., Shrestha, M., and Chhetri, N. (2020), A Sustainable Solid Waste Management Plan for Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) National Park and Buffer Zone, Nepal, Mountain Research and Development, 40(3), A1–A9, https://www.jstor.org/stable/27003482

Mitigation effort

Solid waste

• Policy: pay a $4,000 deposit to make sure all waste are brought back.
• Must bring back at least 8 kg of waste.
• An issue with a lack of clear instructions regarding the policy.
• No record of the quantity of waste brought down from the mountain.
• The enforcement and monitoring of this policy have been difficult.

Awang Zhaxi/Xinhua via AP

• Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)
• SPCC implements waste management strategies around Everest Base Camp and manages to construct waste infrastructures, segregation, waste disposal, etc.
• Further plans to build environmental stations to replace open pits.
• Downside: solid waste is categorised into burnable and non-burnable. Plastics and plastic bottles are classified as burnable waste. Fumes from burning plastics are harmful to humans and the environment.

Namgyal Sherpa/AFP/Getty

Bajracharya, S., Ghimire, A., and Dangi, M.B. (2021) Generation, characterization, and environmental implications of solid waste and its management in the Everest region, Nep J Environ Sci, 9(2), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i2.37381 Nepal, S. (2014) 'Everest tourism is causing a mountain of problems', THE CONVERSATION, 9th April. Available at: https://theconversation.com/everest-tourism-is-causing-a-mountain-of-problems-23953 (Accessed: 22nd February 2022). Graham, R. (2021) 'The environmental cost of climbing Mount Everest', euronews.green, 25th January. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/07/03/the-environmental-cost-of-climbing-mount-everest (Accessed: 22nd February 2022).

Mitigation effort

Human waste

• SPCC and Mt. Everest Biogas Project partnered to create a project.
• Aim to decrease the contamination of water bodies through the management of human waste using anaerobic digestion.
• A biogas digester will be constructed.
• All-around insulation and solar array panels regulate the temperature of the digester.
• The end product would be methane gas - useful for cooking or lighting, and effluent as fertilizers for crops.

• Food waste generated from basecamps can be mixed in for higher energy recovery.
• Still being developed.

Niranjan Shrestha / AP

gagarych / iStock / Getty Images

Bajracharya, S., Ghimire, A., and Dangi, M.B. (2021) Generation, characterization, and environmental implications of solid waste and its management in the Everest region, Nep J Environ Sci, 9(2), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.3126/njes.v9i2.37381

Conclusion

• The negligence of hikers can pose a danger to themselves, nearby communities, and the environment.
• Limitations to waste management is still a recurring issue; however, with suitable methods and strict enforcement of the right policies, sustainability can be achieved.
• A joint effort from authorities, the local Sherpa people, and climbers to mitigate the hazards we pose to our environment would be beneficial in the long run.

Rick McCharles

thank you!