PSD Nepal Project Area and Regional Dynamics

Introduction

PSD Nepal (Partnership for Sustainable Development) is a nonprofit community centered organization that runs most of program focused on improving lives of rural communities and vulnerable groups. In 2002, this organization was founded on the principles to work as a bridge to connect rural communities with professionals and volunteers from abroad having better access, resources, and materials; and are willing to invest in these vulnerable communities . In Langtang valley, PSD Nepal is currently running a program based on Participatory communication. The project is on plastic waste and the main objective behind this project is to reduce the plastic waste in mountain ecosystem to minimal.

This is aligned with Nepal Government vision of making Langtang National Park plastic free by 2021.

Langtang National Park is one of the oldest national park in Nepal and is rich in biodiversity in terms of flora and fauna. It is home to eye catching peaks; wildlife and natural resources thrive inside it. For this reason, it is a source of attraction for tens of thousands of tourists every year.

Get quality help now

Doctor Jennifer

Verified writer

Proficient in: Nature

5 (893)

“ Thank you so much for accepting my assignment the night before it was due. I look forward to working with you moving forward ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Last year, Langtang national park welcomed more than 10,000 tourists . The constant high influx of tourists in this valley has resulted in more circulation of plastic waste in form of bottles, packets and bags. Langtang Valley lies in one of the remote areas of the country, even though it lies 50 km far from Kathmandu. Most of the places in this valley are inaccessible by motorable roads. The plastic waste collection centers in the valley are inefficient and nonfunctional whereas there is not a proper landsite for waste disposal.

This has further exacerbated the plastic waste problem in the valley.

The major communities living in Langtang valley are Tamangs whose history you can trace to the time of their origin in Tibet. Tamangs in Langtang valley are known for their craftmanship and costumes and most Tamangs life still gravitate around the forests and retains primeval forest, and the culture is rooted in the old beliefs, taboos, folklores and traditional attitudes (Bista 1980, Khadka et al. 1982, Shrestha 1988). The culture, ritual and practises of this rich community is in threat due to ever growing urban and gulf migration. Project Overview PSD Nepal plastic waste project comprises of different initiatives which are run under the same umbrella. The programs have been co-created prioritizing the fundamentals of listening to local voices as much as possible and understanding what can work for long-term viability in mountain protection .

1. Recycling: Under this program, PSD Nepal provides 1 NPR (0.008 Euros) for every PET bottle collected and brought to them. This project is run in collaboration with KGLS (Kyangen Gumpa Langtang Society). KGLS is responsible in selection and employment of local porters, mule owners for collection of PET waste from national park and community areas. PSD Nepal is responsible for arrangement of sorting, cleaning and storing the collected plastic bottles in the ware house and justifiable payment for plastic waste collectors. PSD Nepal ships these collected plastic bottles to the recycler plant at Pokhara Himalayan Plastic where is it recycled to produce plastic granulates.

2. Upcycling: PSD Nepal along with local community members have been upcycling the plastic waste into meaningful action architecture. PSD Nepal regularly involves the local school students in such upcycling actions. Class activities on local schools are conducted on monthly basis in raising awareness about PET plastic waste and its impact in environment. They are also taught how to minimize it through upcycling and recycling actions.