The Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, officially established in 1992 through The Mountain Institute's initiative, is an innovative conservation model that integrates protected area management and community development. From tropical forests along the Arun River to icy mountain summits, Nepal's Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, covering 2,330 sq.km., is the only protected area on earth with an elevation gain of 8000m. Recognized for its tremendous diversity of plants, animals, and people, the area contains 25 species of rhododendron, 47 types of orchids, and 56 rare or endangered plants. Red panda, musk deer, wild boar, snow leopard, and the peregrine falcon are among the wildlife found here. Almost 32,000 people from over a dozen ethnic groups and and two major religions -- Buddhism, Hinduism -- live in the area's ridges, valleys and high plains.

Sherpas live on high ridges of Makalu-Barun, while six distinct Rai groups, including the Kulung and Mewahang Rais, live in the lower valleys. Bhotias, of Tibetan origin, inhabit the high northeastern corner of the area. Other groups include Chhetris, Tamangs and Gurungs, and the occupational castes of goldsmiths and blacksmiths. Among the various ethnic groups there are at least eight distinctive languages. Each group has its own traditions and patterns of adaptation to this most diverse of environments, for example the Rai use a local plant fiber - allo- made from the giant stinging nettle for clothing.

Poverty is endemic to the area with food deficiency, rural indebtedness, illiteracy, and few or no markets for local products being just some of the barriers faced by typical households striving to make ends meet. Women are particularly disadvantaged and have high workloads with few rewards. The rugged and steep terrain around most villages makes daily tasks such as fetching water, fuelwood or animal fodder, difficult and time consuming. Remoteness and lack of basic services increase the risks faced by local people and provide them with few opportunities to improve their lives.

The project is a unique partnership of His Majesty's Government of Nepal, The Mountain Institute and local organizations and communities. Under this partnership, there have been several notable achievements that represent key innovations in protected area policy:

• The first national park established without relying on military force for park protection;
• Recruitment and employment of women protected area rangers for the first time ever in South Asia;
• A comprehensive planning process based on participation by stakeholders, and extensive investigation of ecological and socioeconomic issues; and
• Agreements for managing natural resources and ecotourism across Himalayan boundaries resulting from trans-boundary exchanges among park managers from the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, Nepal, and India
  In its first four years of implementation the program has also recorded significant achievements in increasing local management of natural and cultural resources, and improving local livelihoods.
• Over 70 forest user groups are managing over 5,500 hectares of forest;
• Over 30 self-help cultural conservation activities supporting traditional temples, shrines, sacred natural sites as well as language, dance, and musical traditions;
• Entrepreneur earnings from weaving and handicraft production have tripled -- over half the income now goes to 400 female allo weavers organized in a dozen production clubs;
• Over 40 small scale village projects, mainly water supplies, irrigation, school, trail, and bridge improvements organized in all local administrative areas;
• More than 50 training programs in natural resource management, entrepreneurial skills and participatory planning for over 1000 local people, including over 400 women; and
• Low-impact community-based ecotourism programs have tripled the number of visitors to the area, generating local revenues while protecting the environment.

In its current phase of strengthening local stewardship and increasing opportunities for improving local livelihoods, the project is supporting communities to:

• Manage forests and grazing areas;
• Market local handicrafts including traditional allo cloth woven from the giant stinging nettle plant;
• Design and implement small-scale village projects such as drinking water, irrigation, school, trails and bridges;
• Mobilize village organizations, women, and other groups to develop and manage cultural and natural resources;
• Promote culturally sensitive, low-impact, locally-based ecotourism; and
• Participate in trans-boundary exchanges including Himalayan protected area managers.