पर्यापर्यटनका सम्भावना र आयाम (वस्तुपरक निबन्ध)
Introduction
Paryaparyatanka Samvawana Ra Aayam (पर्यापर्यटनका सम्भावना र आयाम, "The Possibilities and Dimensions of Ecotourism") is an objective essay (वस्तुपरक निबन्ध) by Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha (तीर्थबहादुर श्रेष्ठ), one of Nepal's noted writers on nature and the environment. In ten paragraphs, the essay explains what ecotourism is and why Nepal is uniquely suited for it.
Summary
The essay begins with the earth itself: the only living planet, the common home of all creatures. Within its five elements of water, land, air, sky and energy, all beings of water, land and air live their lives in mutual dependence. Aquatic creatures live on grass, leaves and moss; the soil gains its nourishment from decayed plants and animals; and a cyclic ecosystem weaves the whole web of food. But this balance is now in danger: atmospheric pollution is heating the earth's surface unexpectedly, changing the climate and disturbing the whole ecological system. If the process is not checked, human existence itself will be at risk: hence the world's growing concern for the environment.
Against this background, the essay presents Nepal as a wonder of environmental diversity. By climate the earth is divided into tropical, subtropical, temperate and frozen polar belts, and Nepal contains them all, stacked like a five-storey house: the Tarai on the ground floor, Chure and the valleys on the first, the hill region on the second, the mountain region on the third, the high mountains on the fourth, a snow-capped roof above them all, and the attraction of the Bhot region jutting out like a northern balcony.
Such a land is a natural playground for tourism in water, on land and in the sky: rafting, kayaking, boating and fishing on the rivers; mountaineering, trekking, jungle safaris, wildlife watching, rock climbing and mountain biking on land; and mountain flights, paragliding, hang-gliding, hot-air ballooning and bungee jumping in the air. Ecotourism turns all this into a blessing: it financially supports the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, strengthens international goodwill and brotherhood, and creates employment. But the essay ends with a condition: both tourism entrepreneurs and tourists must follow an environment-friendly code of conduct, because every activity we perform touches the ecosystem, and only a healthy ecosystem can sustain tourism itself.
Theme
The essay argues that Nepal's extraordinary natural diversity is its greatest asset, and ecotourism is the way to profit from it without destroying it. Conservation and tourism must go hand in hand: the earth is our common home, and protecting its ecological balance is the foundation of both life and livelihood.