Building on Eco-friendly dreams in the Himalayas of Nepal

Case story Mr. Sangya Lama

Mr. Sangya Lama climbed down from the high hills of northern Nepal, walking for 4 hours on foot from his Tharepati village to Kutumsang. It was not to reach Kathmandu this time, but he attended a workshop in Kutumsang, where he got an orientation on how to build his eco-friendly dream come true.

Mr. Lama stated that “I am really being optimistic by this project led by atmosfair, where I got to know how we can rebuild our lodges even taking care of our environment, resources and tourists’ satisfaction.” He added that “Now I am feeling like I am very close to my dream to build a green lodge which protects my future and our climate today.”In detail, the German based NGO atmosfair has enacted ‘Climate Trek Nepal’ project since 2016 to support earthquake affected lodge owners of Helambu trail circuit. This was realized in collaboration with SAMARTH a DFID funded project in Nepal working in tourism development, a group of local tour agencies in Nepal and forumandersreisen (an association of more than 100 tour operators in Germany). As the project called out application to participate in the ‘Climate Trek Nepal’, Mr. Sangya Lama immediately said yes and joined as lodge owner to rebuild his completely damaged lodge in eco-friendly method defined by ‘Climate Trek Nepal’ project.

atmosfair’s support in terms of renewable energy mechanism and facilitation on engineering and banking services for deprived lodge owners of 7 remote villages in Sindhupalchok district seems to set a new example building eco-friendly tourism in the highlands of Nepal.