Monday, December 9, 2019

Environmental Management Climate Sustainable Development

Question: Discuss about the Environmental Management for Climate Sustainable Development. Answer: Introduction: The idea of sustainable development can be identified as an approach of utilizing and using the resources in such a way so that no scarcity of it can be identified in the future. As mentioned by Ujvari (2009), sustainable development can be identified as development with sustainability that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. With the three-fold ideas of sustainable development (environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and socio-political sustainability) a region can be achieve growth by utilizing the recourses with sustainable return. Here, the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal has been selected for analyzing the sustainable development with empirical citations. The issues like, huge population growth, lack of access to the amenities, the discriminatory use of the natural resources, lack of conservation knowledge, lack of participation in the political affairs and the increasing amount of pollution in the tracking region have typically contributed to the overall under development of this region (Lama Job, 2014). However, with various approaches, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) authority is introducing the sustainable development within this area. The sustainable growth approaches in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal: The Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal is the largest protected area with 7629 square kilometer in the Annapurna range of Himalayas (Schuett, Dahal Nepal, 2016). This particular area is being under some social and economic issues since a long time. Being a distant and naturally remote place, development were always a concern for the political authorities of the nation. However, with the sustainable development program, the region is being continuously becoming self-sufficient. As mentioned by Baral (2014), in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal the ACAP worked on the basis of three principals: sustainability, local participation and catalyst. Now, as mentioned by Nepal (2002), the idea of sustainable development is typically dependent on these 3 elements. If a discussion on the 3 interrelated parts of sustainable development can be done, it can be noticed that ACAP work principles have fundamentally assisted in augmenting the sustainable developmental approach in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Environmental sustainability: As discussed by KC, Rijal and Sapkota (2015), the major resources those are fundamental for growth, are the environmental resources. Moreover, the regions, which are rich in environmental resources, need to apply strategies to encourage eco-tourism. As mentioned by Baral, Stern and Hammett (2012), the idea of eco- tourism involves visiting undisturbed national areas intended as a low- impact and small-scale alternative of mass tourism. As discussed by Nyaupane and Thapa (2004), many mountain population around the world have endorsed ecotourism ventures to restructure problems of ecological degradation and underdevelopment. The Annapurna Conservation Area has also faced this particular issue. With the rampant trekking and pollution made by the tourists, the region was on the verge of shifting its tourist attractions, which would be a hart to the livelihood of the local people. Hence, the ACAP concentrated on providing training and education both the tourists and the local people, rega rding the garbage disposal, sanitation, use of fuel-wood saving devices and many more. The main ideas those are revolving around the eco- tourism is to train the tourists, to supply finances for ecological conservation, to benefit the fiscal advancement and political empowerment of local population etc (Seltz, 2014). The ACAP authority has intelligently initiated the strategies of eco- tourism within the local people of this area. Moreover, as mentioned by Lama (2016), eco- tourism is also helpful in celebrating and conserving the indigenous cultures in the remote mountain areas. The Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal was also facing this issue. Because of the inaccessibility of the livelihood and basic amenities were being compelled to shift to the urban areas, which was hurting the potentiality of the tourism business in this area. Hence, the ACAP is initiating the social developmental approaches via community participation. It is helping the indigenous people to sustain in their own land and increasing the tourist count in the spot. Moreover, the installation of the alternate source of energy is helping the region to use the natural resources in a sustainable manner. As mentioned by Gurung (1993), the use of the Back-boiler Water Heater, Solar Water Heater, Micro-hydro Electricity Installation, Kerosene Only Policy etc. by the local commercial and well as the familial users is supporting the sustainable use of the environmental resources. As mentioned by Budhathoki (2014), this approach to the eco tourism has provided 5 % income increase to the tourism sector in this area. Moreover, this culture of using the natural renewable energy resources in tourist areas is providing nature- supporting environment to the trekking areas of Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal with minimized pollution level. Economic sustainability: As mentioned by Schuett, Dahal and Nepal (2016), the idea of economic sustainability is the use of varied strategies for employing the existing resources optimally so that a responsible and beneficial balance can be achieved over longer period. As mentioned by Dahal, Nepal and Schuett (2014), it is the obligation of the PA (protected area) authorities to provide livelihood and income for the people living in and around the protected areas. Moreover, they must support different forms of environmental services at the local, national and global level (Dahal, Nepal Schuett, 2014). As mentioned by Rayamajhi (2013), due to their heavy reliance on their immediate environment the mountain people are largely dependent on the agricultural work. In the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal, the scenario was not any different. The subsistence farming, traditional cultivation techniques, over grazing and last but most importantly the use of traditional energy sources in the commercial purposes we re haring the potentiality of economic sustainability in this area. Hence, as mentioned by Bhatta and Chan (2013), the use of sustainable energy in the commercial purpose, so that the return can ensure future growth is necessary for the remote mountain tourists areas. As mentioned earlier, the initiation of the alternative energy resources has helped the eco- tourism. However, the same happened with the commercial sustainability approach in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. As mentioned by Gurung (1993), motivating the lodge owners to install the Back-boiler Water Heater saved 40% wood consumption in this trekking area. On the other hand, as discussed by Nepal (2002), by introducing the technologies which are easy to use and available in Nepal, the commercial sustainability was being achieved by the locality. The ACAP motivated the local lodge owners to use the small micro-hydro electricity plants, which helped them to reduce their energy usage cost and increase their profit count by minimizing the environmental footprint. On the other hand, the local people have been encouraged to opt for sustainable framing strategy by using the policy of crop rotation, using the bio fertilizers and recycling of the waste materials. As mentioned by Schuett, Dahal and Nepal (2016), by using the sustainable economic processes the people of the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal obtained a high degree of economic sustainability. Socio-political sustainability: The socio- political sustainability is largely dependent on the idea of participation of the local people in the social and political exercises. As mentioned by Schuett, Dahal and Nepal (2016), the idea of social sustainability is the least defined and understood component of sustainable development. As discussed by Seltz (2014), the major approaches of social sustainability are the social equity, health equity, community development, social responsibility and many more. By providing equitable opportunity to all the members of the community, mainly the poorest and the most vulnerable members, and ensuring quality of life Sustainable Human Development can be achieved. It can be seen as the development of the capability of people by utilizing the present resources, without compromising the resource potential of the future generations. Here, as mentioned by Gurung (1993), the ACAP authority has integrated the Catalyst or Lami Approach. With the community health and sanitation program, the committee has started to provide the basic amenities to the local people so that their standard of lives can be improved. With the basic health care facilities and the regular training for toilet facilities and mobilizing the local children for attaining clean village, the ACAP authority is typically encouraging the human resource development in this area with a sustainable approach On the other hand, the success of eco- tourism and the approaches to the sustainable development typically depends on the local participation. As mentioned by Lama and Job (2014), in a country like Nepal, where the existence of the local people is largely dependent on the resources on the Protected areas, it is typically important to involve the local people in the management of the parks as well as in the decision making process. For empirical citation, the ACAP was unable to implement the kerosene policy in the region without consulting, advocating and motivating the local users of this region. As mentioned by Nugkuag, the leader of Coordinating Body for Indigenous People's Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), to save the forest, you must first save the indigenous people who live there (Gurung, 1993). Hence, as mentioned by Schuett, Dahal and Nepal (2016), the traditional top- down approach of decision making regarding the conservation issues was largely failing due to the d isinterest of the people to identify their advantages. Hence, the ACAP authority included the participatory strategies under the rubric of bottom- up conservation. Thus, all the above discussed sustainable development approach and the initiation of the eco- tourism as a part of it, is helping the national economy to grow with a sustainable way, without harming the potential of the future generation. By implementing the strategy of using the renewable energy resources, the region is being environmentally sustainable which is helping in conserving the b for the growth of the eco- tourism (Budhathoki, 2014). The trainings and advocacy on the sustainable farming and recycling of the wastes is providing the knowledge to the local people about the importance of maintaining the environmental sustainability for ensuring sustainable livelihood options. Thus, the socio- economic issue are being eradicated with the sustainable development approach in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Conclusion: Hence, it can be noted that with the approaches to the sustainable development and focusing on the components of it, a region can obtain growth records. In a number of mountain areas the approaches of sustainable development has been proved as helpful for eradicating the issues like health concerns, lack of local participation, lack of sustainable livelihood and many others. With the sustainable developmental approach, the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal is achieving a significant improvement in conserving diversity and promoting eco- tourism. With ensuring local participation, the ACAP authority has successfully integrated a sustainable approach to the development strategy of this region. Community participation is the keystone of sustainable development. By identifying this fundamental idea, the ACAP authority has provided social sustainability, trainings, motivation and advocacy for ensuring local participation in management and decision making process of the eco- tourism in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. Thus, the region is now successfully implementing the developmental strategies and eradicating the socio- economic issues related to this area. References: Baral, N. (2014). Evaluation and resilience of ecotourism in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal.Environmental Conservation,41(01), 84-92 Baral, N., Stern, M., Hammett, A. 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