Pastoralism and Rangeland Management on the Tibetan Plateau in ...

2.6 Cross border tourism in the northern Tibetan frontier region
Most of the northern frontier of Nepal is remote. The climate is harsh. The
l<strong>and</strong> remains covered by snow in winter for few months. Rain shadow areas
have sparse vegetation with isolated pockets of alpine vegetation. The area is inhabited
by Tibetan-speaking groups namely Sherpa, Dolpo, Lopa, Baragaunle,
<strong>and</strong> Manangi. The Baragaunle <strong>and</strong> Lopa live in the cold semi-deserted areas
of Upper <strong>and</strong> Lower Mustang. The Dolpo live in Dolpa district of West Nepal
isolated villages are located at 4,000 meters. Since they can grow only one crop
a year due to moisture <strong>and</strong> temperature stress, people have traditionally dependent
on raising goats <strong>and</strong> sheep as well as on trade that they conduct during
winter in low lying areas of Nepal <strong>and</strong> in India. Poverty is acute in the border
areas. Natural vegetation is declining due to pressure for firewood <strong>and</strong> grazing.
Dem<strong>and</strong> for firewood is so acute that people burn animal dung to keep them
warm. Livelihood suffers from low productivity <strong>and</strong> limited access to services
<strong>and</strong> information. However, things have changed in areas such as Mustang
where eco-tourism has developed. Eco-tourism has helped in reducing poverty.
Known as Khawachen – ‘L<strong>and</strong> of snow’, ‘the roof of the world’, ‘The Forbidden
Kingdom’ <strong>and</strong> ‘L<strong>and</strong> of enchantment’ by others, Tibet is l<strong>and</strong> unlike any others.
The Tibetan Plateau is a vast, elevated highl<strong>and</strong>, whose average elevation
exceeds 5000 m (Fielding et al. 1994). It is bounded by the deserts of the Tarim
Basin <strong>and</strong> Qaidam Basins to the north <strong>and</strong> the Himalayan, Karakoram, <strong>and</strong>
Pamir mountain chains to its south <strong>and</strong> west. Its eastern margin is more diffuse
<strong>and</strong> consists of a series of alternating deep forested valleys <strong>and</strong> high mountain
ranges that run approximately north-south, bounded by the lowl<strong>and</strong>s of the
Sichuan Basin of China. 18
There is an aura of mystic that surrounds Tibet because of its inaccessibility,
austere environment <strong>and</strong> powerful Buddhist culture. And while Tibet remains
a special <strong>and</strong> fantastic l<strong>and</strong>, it is now a place that may be visited <strong>and</strong> explored
by anyone who is willing to endure to its evaluations. A drive across Tibet is a
journey across the moon; the l<strong>and</strong>scape will look like infinite variations on the
colour brown. The roads are rough, dusty, unending but never dull. 19
18 Geology of the Tibetan Plateau,
http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/wittke/Tibet/Plateau.html. (accessed 4 October 2010).
19 Treks & Tours in Tibet Himalayas, Loben Expeditions.
http://www.lobenexpeditions.com/tibet/index.php (accessed 4 October 2010).
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