Wetland of Nepal range from torpid ponds of subtropical Terai to the glacial lakes of high Himalayas. Wetlands cover over 743,500 hectares of area, i.e. nearly 5% of the country. Terai region contains large number of wetland 163 and followed by 79 of hills and mountain region. Among 27 recognized global freshwater wetland types, 20 are found in Nepal. 9 of the wetlands of Nepal are included in the Ramsar sites. They are Koshi Tappu in sunsari, Gokyo in Solukhumbu, Gosaikunda in Rasuwa, Jagadispur in Kapilbastu, Maipokarai in Iiam, Phoksundo in Dolpa and Rara Lake in Mugu.

During my tour of western Nepal last month, I visited GhodaGhodi Lake. GhodaGhodi is a natural freshwater lake on the lower slopes of Siwalik in Kailai. It was designated as Ramsar on 13-08-2003. The lake is fed by direct precipitation during the monsoon season and by surface flows from the watershed area, ground water springs and small streams. Water depth varies from 1-4m. Secchi depth transparency and high phosphor level indicates the lake as hypertrophic, the nitrogen level as eutrophic, and low Chlorophyll ?A? level (due to rich growth of macrophytes) as oligo to mesotrophic. Dissolved oxygen is low with a minimum of 3-5 mg/l.

Threats to lake are

1. Eutrophication

2. Sedimentation/ siltation and erosion

3. High dependency on forest and wetland

4. Development/ expansion of settlements and developmental projects

5. Drainage/ reclamation for agriculture

Conservation Measures

Department of forest is the management authority of the area and Kailai District Forest Office manages the area. Local communities and NGOs are involved in the conservation process by forming groups.A participatory community centered management plan has been prepared for the conservation of the GhodaGhodi lake area.

Wetlands helps purify static water, its storage and conservation, minimize flood and erosion, ground water recharge and conservation of biodiversity and genetic resource. The National Wetland Policy 2003 of Nepal addresses wetlands management policy based on local participation, classification of wetlands and management policy, policy regarding the wise use of wetlands, policy regarding the promotion of awareness, prevention, control and management of invasive species, institutional policy regarding wetlands management, policy regarding wetlands management, policy regarding prohibition of works with adverse impacts on wetlands, policy regarding disappeared or disappearing wetlands, immediate works pertaining to wetlands conservation and management and future works regarding wetlands conservation and management.