06/04/2005 – A solar lighting
system has been installed for villagers in
north-east Nepal, thanks to efforts by WWF.
WWF Nepal, together with the Kadoorie Agricultural
Aid Association, coordinated the distribution
of solar panels to 193 households in the village
of Tapehthok, which lies within the Kangchenjunga
Conservation Area.
The majority of the rural poor living in
the more remote parts of the country still
depend on kerosene lamps. For those who can’t
afford kerosene, they collect pinewood to
burn.
“The solar lighting system has not only enabled
us to work late but also help our children
to do homework at night,” said Bishnu Kumari
Limbu, one of the villagers who received a
solar panel. “Now there is also no discomfort
from the burning wood and kerosene smoke.”
The aim of the solar lighting system project
is to encourage local people living in the
conservation area to use alternative energy
and to reduce biotic pressure on the surrounding
forests. The solar panels have been provided
to the poorest households of the area who
are largely dependent on forest resources
for energy.
“The local villagers have a positive attitude
towards the project and are highly appreciative
of our efforts,” said Ang Phuri Sherpa, project
manager of WWF’s Kangchenjunga Conservation
Area project.
“We will train some sixteen locals of Tapethok
and other villagers to facilitate the installation
of another 333 sets of solar panels.”
The success of WWF Nepal’s work in the social
mobilization for biodiversity conservation,
capacity building, and improving the socio-economic
condition of local peoples is evident from
the decision of the Nepalese government to
hand over the management responsibility of
the conservation area to the local communities.
Communities in Kangchenjunga will be the
first in the country to have the management
responsibility of their conservation area.
The Kangchenjunga area in Nepal, an area
of 200,000ha including the world's third highest
peak, was declared a WWF Gift to the Earth
in 1997. The area possesses high biodiversity,
including such species as the Himalayan black
bear, red panda, and snow leopard.
