Birdwatching.

Bird-watching to Nepal by specialist tour companies is well established but has been largely focused on a small number of key sites and species. Nepal is an area that has not been fully explored, and presents an opportunity to market the product across the world. Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), together with BirdLife International, has identified 27 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across Nepal that represents the country’s diverse and rich birdlife. With more than 870 species of birds, Nepal is a veritable paradise for birdwatchers but many of these are in danger with 35 globally threatened and 149 nationally threatened bird species. In recent years, international visitors to Nepal’s parks and reserves have increased dramatically. However, the potential to engage more local people in bird-watching tourism have not been fully explored.

Ghachowk, Village Development Committee (VDC) of Kaski District and an IBA lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), one of the 10 most popular trekking destinations globally. The project involves local people in all aspects of conservation and tourism development, both as principal actors and prime beneficiaries. The ultimate goal is to see Bird-watching Tourism managed by local institutions themselves with minimal intervention from government or other institutions.

This project aims to support the government’s nature conservation, tourism development and poverty alleviation programme through strengthening capacity of local institutions by promoting bird-watching tourism. This project seeks to address the problem that nature conservation and tourism development is less successful or difficult unless and until the people living near the conservation area are aware of nature conservation and their livelihoods are enhanced. The project will ensure that local people are involved in all aspects of conservation and tourism development. The ultimate goal is to see that Bird-watching Tourism is managed by the local institutions themselves.