Women are the architects of resilient households (Chanamuto & Hall, 2015). Previously, the people of Panchase were primarily dependent upon agricultural commodities like rice, wheat and maize. In the past, household income greatly fluctuated due to uneven weather patterns and unstable crop production. Most people were unaware of cash crops. Through homestay businesses, communities have increased their incomes, diversified their livelihoods and acquired new skills. Practices
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such as community agroforestry have also contributed to environmental stewardship. Other multiplier effects include improvements in health.
Engagement with different ecosystem restoration activities, such as water source protection, pond conservation, controlling soil erosion through broom grass plantation and low-cost bioengineering techniques, is enhancing the community’s adaptive capacity.
Communities, and especially the women within them, are realising the intertwined nature of their homestay businesses and the environment.
They understand that the protection of mountain ecosystems directly impacts the success of their businesses. This has enhanced women’s roles in and ownership of nature conservation efforts. The EbA homestay business programme in Panchase is an exemplary case of a programme that connects ecotourism, gender, protection of the ecosystem and climate change. However, homestay businesses are not without their challenges. These include the high out-migration rates of young people in the region. As a result, many homestays are increasingly being run by the elderly. Further, the government continues to pay little or no attention to infrastructure development in the region, which is needed to enhance tourism opportunities. Since the Panchase region is geographically close to urban Nepal, there is potential to link local entrepreneurial activity with urban markets.
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RESEARCH ARTICLE