ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to CK Research and Media Private Limited for allowing me to contribute my knowledge and skills to this project. I would also like to thank the company’s chairperson, Mr. Chindum Bhote, for his unwavering support and valuable guidance throughout the project, which made it possible to complete it successfully.

I am grateful to Mr. Sudil Gopal Acharya for sharing and teaching important technical concepts related to the project.

Lastly, I extend my appreciation to every individual who played a role in making this project a success, including Mrs. Sumjok Sherpa, Mr. Sange Sherpa, Mr. Chanak Kulung Rai, Mr. Mingmar Dorji Sherpa, Mr. Jangbu Rai, the laborers, and everyone from Nimchola and Gudel who contributed directly or indirectly.

INTRODUCTION

The Nimchola plantation project is being directed by CK Research and Media Private Limited on private land located in Nimchola village, Mahakulung-5, Solukhumbu district. This project is being carried out in coordination with the Good Plan Academy, and the landowner is Lakpa Sherpa, who currently resides in Japan. The project work has been divided into a five-month duration, from 2079/12 to 2080/04. This report aims to provide a detailed overview of the fieldwork involved in the project.

We have a plantation area of 1 hectare with two types of trees: pine and uttis. For optimal growth, we need to plant a total of 1600 species per hectare. In this case, we will be planting pine and uttis.

To clarify, the total plantation area is 1 hectare, and it requires 1600 species to be planted in plain land and 2000 species in non-plain land. It’s essential to note that due to the mixed land feature of the plantation land, the plants may need to be re-planted 1-3 times with a low survival rate.

Therefore, we need to prepare 3 times the 2000 seedlings in the nursery, which totals 7000 species. Additionally, there are frequent hailstorms in the rainy season, so we’ve decided to stock 1000 extra uttis seedlings as backup measures.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A plantation project was carried out in Mahakulung-5, Nimchola village of Solukhumbu district, on private land owned by Mr. Lakpa Sherpa. The project was directed by CK Research and Media Private Limited in coordination with Good Plan Academy and lasted for a period of 6 months until the final plantation. This report provides a detailed account of all the work that was done as per the project schedule.

According to the schedule for Chaitra of 2079, the land boundary has been surveyed and a map has been prepared. Site clearance has also been conducted, followed by the preparation of a nursery on the site, where the seeds of two species, pine, and uttis, have been sown.

In Jestha of 2080, we completed the renovation of our house on our land. Afterward, we had the pitting and installed a fence for protection from domestic animals.

In Shrawan of 2080, we imported uttis seedlings from Kathmandu and cleaned the site by removing invasive species and cutting the grass. A week later, we successfully completed the plantation.

CHAITRA-BAISAKH 2079

BOUNDARY SURVEYING

First and foremost, we conducted a boundary survey to accurately determine the total area of the site. The land structure and situation made data collection challenging initially. However, based on our survey, the total area is 1 hectare.

NURSERY PREPARATION

I helped Mr. Sange Sherpa make four nursery beds in his house. We gathered all the necessary items for the nursery and sowed seeds of two different species, pine and uttis. We planted two beds for each species.

SITE CLEARANCE

Before becoming a shrubby forest, the plantation site was farmland where chirata was grown for many years. However, it was abandoned for a decade and subsequently taken over by an invasive plant species called Mugwort (titepati), which covered 90% of the area.

To clear the site, a team of 51 male and female laborers was needed, and it took them 8 days to complete the task.

WEEDS BURNING

As a large number of cleared weeds and residue has accumulated, it would be beneficial to burn it. This will not only clean the site but also provide fertilizer for the soil. However, weed burning can be a risky task during the dry early summer season. Despite the challenges, we took necessary precautions to ensure safety while burning the weeds.

JESTHA-ASHADH 2080

SITE VISIT WITH THE DONER

Mr. Lakpa Sherpa, the owner of the land and project donor, has recently arrived in Nepal and decided to visit his village and the project site. He was accompanied by me and Mr. Chindum Bhote during his visit to the site. Mr. Lakpa used to engage in social work in the village and showed us the birth center in Gudel that he helped to build. we also visited the plantation site and the nurseries that were constructed.

HOUSE RENOVATION

The house on our property was in need of renovation due to its age Renovating the house was an additional task included in our project contract with the donor and our office. This house is essential for our staff to stay in while working in the field and to store necessary equipment. Renovating the house was a crucial part of our project.

Under the leadership of Mr. Chanak Kulung Rai and his team of eight members, the renovation was completed. Our company’s chairman, Mr. Chindum Bhote, and Mr. Temba Bhote were present throughout the entire renovation process.

During my visit with Mr. Lakpa Sherpa, I hired Mr. Sange Sherpa and Mr. Pach Bir Rai to demolish the house roof. We also finished some other remaining work before I returned to Kathmandu. Mr. Lakpa and Mr. Chindum returned to Kathmandu a few days earlier.

The house renovation has been completed successfully, and it now looks like this. The renovation was carried out after Mr. Lakpa Sherpa’s visit when Mr. Chindum arrived with Mr. Tempa Sherpa. The house now boasts one large room with a kitchen, bathroom, and toilet.

PITTING

During the renovation of the house, the process of creating pits was conducted. The distance between each pit was 2 meters. The rocky terrain made the pitting process quite challenging. Due to the difficult land structure, only 1500 pits were created. Men and women laborers completed the pitting in a total of two and a half days

The pitting should be done about 15 days earlier before the plantation. Sometimes pitting can have one or two days earlier too. Pitting enhances the growth of trees.

A spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m is commonly used for the plantation of both uttis and pine, although closer spacing is desirable for a fuelwood crop.

SHRAWAN 2080

PLANTATION

According to the project schedule, the plantation is taking place during the months of Ashadh and Shrawan. Unfortunately, one of the two species that were sown in the nursery, Alnus nepalensis (Uttis), did not succeed. As a result, we had to transport Uttis seedlings from Kathmandu to the plantation site in Nimchola. The chairman of the company and I loaded and transported a total of 1300 seedlings per trip (600 and 700 seedlings each time) from Kathmandu to Bung. We then hired 13 local porters to transport the seedlings from Bung to Nimchola.

It has been a month since the pitting was completed. Since then, invasive species and grasses have taken over the site, because of the rainy season. To address this, we hired 23 single women laborers to clean up the site within a week.

It has been a week since we transferred our seedlings to the site, and they have fully adapted to the area, growing an additional 2-3 inches in height. We have now begun our plantation, which was successfully completed in just 2 and a half days with the help of 18 female planters.

FENCING

Protecting newly planted trees from large herbivores is crucial for a successful plantation. Fencing is a vital component to prevent ringbarking, leaf grazing, bunting, and rubbing, which can cause significant damage to trees. To ensure long-term protection, permanent fencing can be constructed around young trees, which will continue to provide security once the trees mature.

At our plantation site, Mr. Sange Sherpa was tasked with fencing responsibilities. Our office entered into a contract with him to ensure that the fencing was strong enough to prevent any harmful animals from entering the site. The majority of the fencing was made of stone, while some areas were constructed using biological materials. If the fence needs to be fixed in the future, Mr. Sange Sherpa will take care of it.

RESPONSIBILITY/JOB HANDOVER

Once the plantation is finished, the real journey toward achieving the goal begins. The trees that have been planted require regular care and supplies in order to grow properly. As our plantation site is located in a remote area, we must have a qualified plant guard to keep an eye on the plants and the site to ensure everything is in order.

We have entrusted Mr. Sange Sherpa, a skilled and trained nursery farmer in Nimchola, with the responsibility of guarding the plant and the entire site. Since he has been an important part of our project from the start, we have complete faith in his abilities. We have also given him the keys to the house to ensure that everything is secure.

The plant guard has a mandatory requirement to attend work for at least 10 days per month. His responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of the site’s operations.

SETTING AWARENESS BANNER

We placed two banners at the plantation site, strategically located in prominent areas for easy visibility. The banners aim to discourage the grazing of animals on the site.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

We are pleased to inform you that our project, the plantation, has been completed. The project schedule, which began in Chaitra 2079, progressed smoothly until the end of the plantation, resulting in a successful outcome. The project involved boundary surveying, nursery preparation, site clearing, house renovation, pitting, fencing, and final plantation, all of which were completed according to the project’s work schedule. We are grateful to those who provided constant assistance throughout the project’s various stages.

We have entrusted the responsibility of guarding the plant to Mr. Sange Sherpa after completing the plantation. He is currently preparing the remaining pine seedlings for the project. The local community was extremely supportive, and overall, the experience of working in a new location through this project was both unique and positive.

As a field supervisor for this project, I have played a vital role and have been involved in every step so far. Fortunately, everything has gone according to plan. As a supervisor, I suggest adding pine species to the site. Additionally, I anticipate potential watering issues after the rainy season, so it would be best to prepare for that from the outset. I hope the plants on the site receive the necessary care to thrive and flourish.

LEARNINGS

– To effectively interact with individuals of all backgrounds and ages.

– Maintain accurate records and reports of daily work

– Provide effective guidance, leadership, and counseling to workers.

– Foster positive working relationships with others.

– Develop minor pre-plans for routine work and adhere to the established schedule.

– Mentally prepare for any potential issues that may arise in the field.

– Quickly establish a temporary nursery if needed.

– Remain alert to the possibility of forest fires while in the field.

– Address and resolve any problems encountered while working.

– I learned the pitting process for the plantation based on the species practically.

– I have acquired knowledge of plantation techniques that involve mulching.

SUCCESS STORY

“New Hopes and Possibilities in The Hidden Land of Sherpa Beneath the Everest”

The word ‘sherpa’ has become a brand in the world. Sherpa people are known as the human leopard of the Himalayas. Their bravery is well-known in the world because of the mountains. Since Mount Everest is in Solukhumbu district, the sherpa people of that district have extra pride in wealth as well. In Solukhumbu district, tourists from all around the world travel and visit there. Solukhumbu is the peak area of tourism. Tourism has contributed a lot to that place, especially in the villages of the Sherpa people. The sherpa people of that region run luxurious hotels and earn well. Mount Everest has benefitted most of the sherpa people in that district. However, there is some Sherpa village in Solukhumbu which is invisible and hidden. Those villages are extremely remote and have no hopes and possibilities of any better change.

Nimchola is one of those villages located in the east of Solukhumbu district. This village is in Mahakulung rural municipality which is a major resident of Kulung rai ethnicity. From Nimchola mount Everest is only 54.5km away. For the reason that Mount Everest is 54.5km far, it made a huge difference in all aspects that place. Nimchola is a small village where are 24 households with a total of 636 population. At the moment, there are only about 100 people who live there. All the people have migrated to the city and other countries for better life and education for their children. The people of Nimchola are not engaged in business and also, they do not do agriculture in large amounts. Now the remaining sherpas of that village are in big sorrow of turning the Village into an unwanted forest and getting invisible.

Some houses in that village turned into a home for insects and it is covered with unwanted invasive plants, which made it wild. The village is very silent and it’s hard to find people in the way as well. The remaining people do not do a lot of work. They farm only in their home garden. They usually hire other people from another village for their work. The daily wages of that area for females are only rupees 400 which is very low compared to the increasing prices of basic needs day by day.

The people who go to work in the Nimchola village are from Gudel village. Gudel is the neighboring village of Nimchola, which is the village of Rai ethnicity. They have their own culture and norms.

In late 2079, the Nimchola plantation project was introduced for the first time in Nimchola village. Before happening the Nimchola plantation project, the project site was farmland that was already turned into a shrubby jungle. The house within the project site was also decayed and damaged. Through the efforts of the doner and CK Research and Media Limited, the project was conducted successfully in Nimchola with the involvement of hundreds of local people.

During the project, the project not only contributed to the local businesses but also helped to generate short-term employment opportunities for the people of Nimchola and Gudel village. The women got an opportunity to work throughout the project while men were involved in the work like carrying the seedlings, pitting, and construction of the house. Throughout the project, people became aware of the plantation and also get to involve in every step of the project. They also learned the plantation techniques through the work. People learned the importance of plantation through our project.

After completing the project, the happiness of Nimchola’s people burst into tears as we brought back them some good changes in their village. Now, some people are already started to plant trees in their barren farmland in Nimchola Village. People from Gudel village also started to invest and plant trees. Moreover, people are buying tree seedlings from a few nursery farmers. People are talking and planning to establish more nurseries in their villages on their own. One of the biggest achievements of our project is to change the mindset of people out there in the village and to encourage them to make their barren lands into productive forests. To conclude, our project is able to promote plantation. Now the road is also connecting to the village, people see possibilities and keep hope.