2007 Annual Conference

IGU Commission on Geography and Public Policy

Public Policy and Local Development:

Opportunities and Challenges

FIRST CIRCULAR

Friday, February 23 – Thursday, March 1, 2007

Central Department of Geography

TribhuvanUniversity (CDGTU)

Kathmandu, Nepal

Organiser

IGU Commission on

Geography and Public

Central Department of Geography

Tribhuvan University, Nepal

THE COMMISSION

The Chairman of the IGU Commission on Geography and Public Policy is Professor Dr. Doris Wastle-Walter, Department of Geography, Social Geography, Political Geography and GenderStudies
University of Bern, Switzerland.

THEME OF THE KATHMANDU IGU CONFERENCE 2007

“Public Policy and Local Development: Opportunities and Challenges”

Issues to be addressed in the Conference include

  1. Policy strategies/measures in local development: development models, concepts, and policy measures
  1. Opportunities:Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices of resources useLocal resources based livelihood systemsTechnologies in local development – appropriate, information and toolsPlanning process and measurements of local development Structure and functions of local organisations in sustainable developmentUrban rural linkages and local development
  1. Challenges:Issues in local development policiesProblems or failures of public policy strategies, local governance and developmentLocal planning practices: weaknesses and challengesInfrastructure, organisations and local developmentInternally displaced peoples and environmental implications and managementPublic policies and resources conflicts Environmental degradations, geographical approach and development

COMMISSION MEETING AND EXCURSION: PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

Friday 23 February

  • Registration
  • Inauguration of the Conference, Welcome and Introducing Session
  • Reception

Saturday 24 – Monday 26 February

  • Oral paper sessions
  • Local excursions and closing

Tuesday 27 – Thursday 1 March

Excursion by bus will begin early in the morning from Kathmandu (capital city) to Pokhara city, 200 km west and then from Pokhara to Sirubari (see below for brief description) in the west.One and half days will be spent in Sirubari and then back to Pokhara and Kathmandu, the following day. Activities during excursion will include two nights stop: in Sirubari and Pokhara, walking in Sirubari village for enchanting view of the panaromic Himalayas (snow peaks), and folk cultural programmes, etc.

[Note that the excursion should consist of a group of 30 persons for cost effective]

Excursion to Village Community Managed Tourism in Sirubari

Sirubari, an unspoiled village of Gurung indigenous ethnic group, is located in the hills at 1700 masl. The Village is a 4 to 5 hours drive from Pokhara, the major tourist centre in western Nepal. Alternatively, the village is accessed by a steep trail, but well made and most people manage to reach the village by four to five hours walk from the Naudanda, southwestern part of Pokhara city, which is accessed by regular flight and road from Kathmandu. Sirubari is a unique example of eco-cultural tourism in Nepal and is a new tourism product originated by local people.

In Sirubari, one can experience a stay in the village living as a family member. You will be welcomed into the community and invited to stay in the home of one of the village families. Each night there will be entertainment programme provided by the community. This will be in the form of traditional Gurung dancing and singing such as Ghantu and Rhodi. The vibrant traditional rituals of the Gurung community are there to give an instant of Nepali folk culture to the tourists. Equally captivating to the tourists is the panoramic view of the Annapurna range including Machhapuchre, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountain peaks to the north seen from Sirubari. The lush green river basins to the south and picturesque villages next to it have made Sirubari a best choice for village tourism in Nepal.

The accommodation is simple but comfortable with clean room with good beds as well as clean toilet facilities. The food is delicious and you will be eating your meals as one of the family. During your stay, you will be able to feel what it is like to live the life of a Nepali villager. Feel free to wander, safely, by yourself and look at all of the developments that the community have supported and funded.

PRE-REGISTRATION

Participants should submit their pre-registration forms and abstracts (200 words) on or before 31December 2006. The final registration is 31 January 2007. Please use the enclosed application form for registration that can be made by an airmail or electronic mail. The form is available at website: Participants will be selected on a first come first served basis, as well as according to the relevance of their abstract to any issue of the conference theme, if the number exceeds 50 participants.

REGISTRATION FEE

The provisional registration fee is US$ 200. The fee includes lunches, tea/coffe and snacks, reception dinner, conference bags and other materials, transportation cost of local city tours, entrance to cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu, transfer to and from Kathmanduairport and the costs of relevant documentation and the hire of venues etc.

This fee excludes the cost of the fieldtrip which is approximately US$ 200 per person, depending on the number of participants in the fieldtrip.

IGU CONFERENCE VENUE- Park Village Hotel

The Conference will take place at the Park Village Hotel, located to the north of Kathmandu, only 15 minutes (7 km) drive from downtown Kathmandu or 12 minutes (6 km) drive from the only TribhuvanInternationalAirport. The locality is known as Budhanilkantha, which is culturally rich and naturally pristine environment within an exclusive rural setting. The area contains some famous places, such as a meditation center, Shivapuri watershed conservation area, Tibetan monasteries, Asia's largest icon of the sleeping Vishnu (Hindu monastery) i.e. a massive sculpture carved in a huge monolith, the cradle of the holy Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers and so on.

Spread in 5 acres of wooded land, each building is individually designed in vernacular architecture blended in a Mediterranean neo-classical style. All rooms face south and have two private balconies to watch the evening glow of Kathmandu metropolis with the magnificent sunset in the south-west and the "flickering lights of hamlets to the north". Other facilities include Farmhouse Cafe, Silver Oak Board Room, Open Amphitheater, ArtGallery, Meditation Grotto, Sun Decks, Lotus pond, nature streams, and a huge parking lot.

The garden in ParkVillage harbors more than two thousand flowering trees and shrubs along with varieties of butterflies, dragonflies and nearly 75 species of birds. On warm summer nights, the garden sparkles bright with flickering fireflies.

ACCOMMODATION IN KATHMANDU

As the Park Village Hotel is the conference venue, its 40 rooms are booked for the conference participants. However, participants are requested to book rooms as early as possible. Please quote "IGU Conference" when making your reservation at the Park Village Hotel with the following contacts:

Mr. Dharmaraj Aryal

Manager - Sales & Marketing

Park Village Resort Hotel, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu

Tel: 977 1 4375 280, Fax: 977 1 4371 656; Mobile: 98510 20727.

email: bsite:

ParkVillage’s ‘special price’ for the IGU conference delegates is as follows:

Single Occupancy:US$ 45.00

Double Room:US$ 55.00

These rates are inclusive of accommodation for one night, buffet breakfast, free use ofbasket ball, swimming pool and gymnasium, and airport transfers. All rates are subjected to 13% taxes as applicable.

All participants should pay directly to the hotels for accommodation in convertible currency such as travellers' cheque or credit cards or in US dollar (1 US$  75 Nepali Rupees) upon arrival.

LOCAL TRAVEL AND TRANSIT INFORMATION

The ParkVillageshall take care of all travel arrangements such as airport to hotel transfers, sight seeing, ticketing, trekking etc.

LOCAL INFORMATION AND WEATHER

The bowl shaped Kathmandu valley is extended over 19 x 25 km at an average elevation of 1,250 masl and encircled by mountains on all sides with above 1,800 m. With population over 1.5 million, the valley contains historic and cultural towns built in ca. 300-800 A.D. The valley holds six out of seven World Cultural Heritage Sites of the country. Having capital city Kathmandu, the valley is also a hub of national and international activities, and contains universities and campuses, international centres such as ICIMOD, IUCN, WWF and so on.

Pokhara valley is about one-third size of Kathmandu valley at average elevation of 800 masl with close panoramic view of Himalayan ranges to the north. With about 200,000 population, Pokhara is also known as a lake valley and renown for its natural sceneries. The valley is one of the most popular tourist places in the world. It is also a centre of education, health and cultural activities.

February is the winter month with occasional drizzle in both valleys. In Kathmandu, the day temperatures range 18–20 centigrade and night temperatures are 0-2 centigrade. The mornings are occasionally characterised by foggy weather till about 10:00A.M. Pokhara is warmer with day temperature of 21 centigrade and night temperature not below 7 centigrade. Most of the days are clear with blue sky.

Participants are requested to bring warm clothing, trekking shoes, and essential medicines.

THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE AND ADDRESS

For detailed information, please contact the conference organiser or convenor

Prof. Pushkar K Pradhan, PhD

Central Department of Geography

TribhuvanUniversity

GPO Box 5488

Tel: 977 1 4410 268 & 4443 230 (R)977 1 4330 329 (O);

Fax: 977 1 4331 319

Email: or

The Programme Committee members consist of all Faculty Members of CDGTU, and Dr. Bishow Shrestha, Geography Department, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara.

Please Communicate This Conference Invitation

To Other Interested Fellows

Welcome to Kathmandu-Pokhara-Sirubari

In February 2007!

(Registration Form in the next page)

CDGTU

Registration Form

IGU Conference on Geography and Public Policy Kathmandu 2007

  1. Name of participant (Surname, First name & others)
/
  1. Nationality
/
  1. Sex

  1. Employer
/
  1. Position

  1. Address
/
  1. Postal code
/
  1. City
/
  1. Country

  1. Phone
/
  1. Cell phone
/
  1. Fax

  1. E-mail

  1. Title of paper

  1. Description of Participation
/ Yes/No
(a)Participation in the commission meeting Feb 23-Mar 1 2007 (US$ 200 per person)
(b)Participation in the excursion to Sirubari Feb 27 -Mar 1 2007 (US$ c.a. 200 per person)
  1. Description of Accompanying Participation
/ Yes/No / Number
(c)Number of accompanying persons in the commission meeting Feb 23- Mar 1 (US$ 200 per person)
(d)Number of accompanying persons in the excursion to Pokhara and Sirubari Feb 27- Mar 1 (US$ 200 per person)
  1. Name of accompanying persons:
(a)
(b)
(c) /
  1. Nationality
(a)
(b)
(c) /
  1. Sex
(a)
(b)
(c)
  1. City
/
  1. Date (Month/Day/Year)
/
  1. Signature

Please note that the participants may pay all the costs
(conference, excursion and accommodation) upon arrival in Kathmandu

Please send your pre-registration no later thanDecember312006to:

Central Department of Geography, TribhuvanUniversity (CDGTU)

PO Box 5488, Kathmandu, NEPAL

Fax 977 1 331319

E-mail: or

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Kathmandu IGU Conference on Public Policy and Local Development: Opportunities & Challenges