Bupsa is a small Sherpa settlement in Nepal’s Everest region, located on the main trekking route just below Lukla and above Karikola. Set on a ridge with wide views across deep valleys and terraced hillsides, the village is made up of traditional homes and farmland, with families historically relying on subsistence agriculture alongside trekking-related income. Its position on a well-used trail makes Bupsa an accessible and strategic location for long-term environmental restoration that directly benefits the local community.

For generations, the terraced fields around Bupsa were carefully cultivated with crops such as millet, maize, potatoes, and buckwheat. In recent decades, however, traditional farming has become increasingly difficult due to out-migration, labour shortages, low yields, and limited access to markets. As a result, many terraces have been abandoned and now lie fallow, gradually reverting to scrub and unmanaged forest.

In November, Sunita — one of Nepal Evergreen’s local volunteers — visited Bupsa to carry out soil sampling for carbon testing and to meet with local farmer Pasang, working together to plan the tree-planting programme. These baseline soil tests will allow us to monitor improvements in soil health and carbon content over time as the planting matures.

Bupsa is now becoming a showcase site for Nepal Evergreen, with an ambition to plant 10,000 trees across the surrounding terraces. The planting will be phased: the first trees will be planted in December–January, followed by the main planting season during the summer monsoon (July–August).

The planting programme includes:

Fruit trees such as walnut, pear, peach, and apple, providing long-term food security and income for local families ; Soil-enriching and shade trees including alder and bamboo, improving soil structure and water retention ; Native Himalayan species such as rhododendron, oak, and juniper, supporting biodiversity and ecological resilience

By restoring productive use to abandoned terraces, the Bupsa project aims to improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, strengthen local livelihoods, and rebuild a resilient landscape that supports both people and environment for decades to come.