Anthropogenic And Environmental Disturbance Factors In The Annapurna Conservation Area Of Nepal

Human-environment interactions in the Nepali Himalaya are a topic of increased interest given the importance of the region from a biophysical, hydroclimatic, and socio-economic point of view. In this paper, we discuss a range of anthropogenic and environmental disturbance factors affecting one of the best-known conservation areas in Nepal: the Annapurna region. Similar to other mountainous environments, this region has been experiencing heightened human and natural pressures resulting in environmental degradation from a variety of multiple causal factors, such as deforestation, over-grazing, improper cultivation techniques on poor soils and slopes and haphazard policy and management decisions regarding conservation and tourism. Mountain ranges are very sensitive to environmental changes and even slight alterations and imbalances can result in exponentially detrimental effects not only for the livelihoods of local and regional communities, but also biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. We utilize a combination of field-collected data such as ground control points and remotely-sensed imagery and datasets and, acknowledging the variability of the constantly changing landscape, we provide a preliminary quantitative analysis of environmental and socioeconomic impacts in the Annapurna Conservation Area to highlight the extent of anthropogenically-induced changes in the region over the last decades.