Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP), Sagarmatha National Park/Buffer Zone, and Mr. Tony Freake (Papa Tony) of Britain have jointly supported the community of Phortse village, Khumjung VDC in Sagarmatha National Park to construct a 60-KW micro-hydro project. TRPAP in Sagarmatha National Park is being implemented under Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation since January 2003.

Phortse Village

Phortse being one of the traditional model villages of the park and Sherpa community and having much potential for tourism development, the involved parties have jointly initiated the model community owned hydro-power project in partnership approach. Phortse located at an altitude of 13,000 ft, inside the Sargarmatha National Park, energy is one of the major requirements of the local community. In the absence of alternative energy, the pressure in the forest of that high altitude for firewood has caused deforestation and thereby creating threat for endangered wildlife species like musk deer, snow leopard, pheasant and their habitat. It is believed that the project would address the aforementioned problems in the days to come after completion of the 60 KW power project. The power plant has been officially inaugurated on 11 July 2005 by the Chief Warden of Sagarmatha National Park- Mr. Gopal Prakash Bhattarai, the Park and Buffer Zone officials, TRPAP representatives, Papa Tony and his British and Austrian supporters and the local community. Mr. Sonam Gyaljen Sherpa, the chairperson of the buffer zone management committee was also present as guest of the ceremony. Khumbu Bijuli Company (KBC) of Namche Bazar provided the technical assistance to the power project. The electricity is generated from the stream of Khonar behind Phortse village. The budget of the project was around eight million Nepalese Rupees, of which, TRPAP had also provided financial support. Altogether, 365 people of 64 households, 6 hotels, 1 school and 1 health post will benefit directly from the project. Other donors of the project include Sagarmatha National Park/ Buffer Zone, Mr. Tony Freake and the local community.

The Phortse hydro power would perhaps be the cheapest electricity in Nepal. Designed and constructed by local resource, 40 KW electricity has already been generated. It is believed that the project would substantially reduce the pressure on forest resources for firewood and timber, thereby creating more environment friendly tourism in the park.

With the view of promoting Eco-tourism at Phortse settlement, Sagarmatha National Park, with the support of TRPAP, has launched integrated conservation and development package programmes at Phortse settlement since 2003. Notable activities being implemented include exposure visits of locals to village tourism sites and protected areas, drainage and drinking water system, nature guide trainings, cookery and bakery trainings, tourism and environment awareness programmes, maintenance of mani monuments, and support to alternative energy resources.

Phortse village is located at four hours walking distance, north-east from Sagarmatha National Park Head Quarters. It has the potential to strengthen and develop home-stay and wildlife-based ecotourism. So far, the local communities of Phortse, Thamo and Thame do not get proportionate benefit from tourism vis a vis with the locals from other adjoining areas. TRPAP is a pilot tourism programme running since 2001.

TRPAP is being implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation under the technical and financial assistance from the UNDP, DFID and SNV Nepal. It works in partnership with Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The programme works in six rural districts of Nepal to help reduce poverty through pro-poor, pro- environment, pro-community and pro-women tourism initiatives.

In order to address the issues of unequal benefit distribution, TRPAP has been developing and promoting pro-poor tourism models also in Sagarmatha National Park.

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