With its rich biodiversity, illustrious history especially of the religious kind, scenic beauty, heterogeneity in culture and tradition, Yuksam has become an attractive tourist hotspot.

As more visitors arrived, the impacts of tourism became visible. The pressure on the surrounding resources increased, more infrastructure demand led to depletion of the surrounding forests, garbage and litter began to be a problem in the trekking trails and campsites and different conflicts related with tourism began to manifest in their area.

There was a growing concern amongst the local community to do something to mitigate the various impacts of tourism and conserve the resources that attracted visitors to this area. Out of this shared concern, different stakeholders from the community came under one banner in the name of Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC).

Initial activities at the grassroot level started in 1996. KCC was formally registered and recognised by the Government of Sikkim on 19th February 1997.