Nepal: Environmental protection in the high mountains
The area around Karnali is by far the poorest and removed from the 14 administrative zones of Nepal. A total of 50 villages in the districts of Kalikot, Mugo and Humla can only be reached very difficult from the capital Kathmandu. Life of more than 3,000 meters is deprived. The people in this poor area get little from the tourist flows that start their hikes in this impressive mountain country based on Kathmandu. The population in this remote region, in which villages can only be reached in several days of foot marches, has to struggle with completely different problems: electricity is either not at all or only available by the hour.
And the Nepalese in this barren region are particularly struggling with the consequences of the climate crisis: The irregular rainy periods and prolonged dry periods are detrimental to agriculture, which is largely dependent on rainwater and only allows one harvest per year anyway. In addition, the glaciers are melting, which initially leads to flooding of the glacial lakes – but in the long term has a negative impact on the drinking water supply and agriculture in the districts. Therefore, Terre des Hommes , together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, supports several measures to improve energy supply and mitigate the climate crisis and is one of the few non-governmental organizations venturing into this inaccessible region.
The Terre des Hommes project partner HuRENDEC is helping the local population build energy generation facilities, such as biogas plants. These provide energy for gas stoves and thus contribute to reducing deforestation. The same applies to energy-saving stoves, which, while still fired with wood, are more closed systems than conventional stoves, which consume more firewood due to their open design. Solar panels, on the other hand, provide enough electricity to power several light bulbs, reducing the use of lamps and thus saving energy and money for households. The reduced need for wood also makes work easier for women, who are primarily responsible for collecting firewood. The same applies to improving the operation of traditional watermills, which were usually powered by wooden wheels. A simple technical upgrade of the mills with metal wheels increases their grinding capacity and reduces waiting time for women, as they can grind larger quantities in the same amount of time. The program is complemented by workshops in which women and young people learn about their rights and how they can assert them.
The program is co -financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).