Impacts of climate change in Forest and Biodiversity sector in Nepal

Developing countries are most affected by climate change impacts in comparison to developed countries. Nepal only contributes 0.027% of greenhouse gas emission in the globe (INDC, 2016) but globally, Nepal is ranked fourth in terms of vulnerability to climate change (UNDP Nepal).

Various sectors like forest and biodiversity, agriculture and food security, human health, hydroelectricity and energy are mainly affected by the impacts of climate change in Nepal. And the climate change impacts on forest and biodiversity sector often comes at the top. With this report, we are going to distinct how climate change has impacted forest and biodiversity sectors in Nepal.

The first study on the impacts of climate change on the forests of Nepal conducted in 2003 found that the tropical wet forest and warm temperate rainforest will disappear, and cool temperate vegetation will turn to warm temperate vegetation. Similarly, the study also concludes that the warming effect will be significant in the subalpine and alpine regions and the vegetation could be pushed up as much as 500m in elevation (MOPE, 2004).

a) Sifts in major vegetation zones; b) Shift in ranges of species and species assemblages; c) interactions between  the  effects  of  climate change and habitat fragmentation; d) changes in ecosystem  functioning ; are the four key effects in accordance to the review of climate change impacts on biodiversity by kappelle et al. (1999).

Effects in nutshell and solutions

Forest fire are increased creating the trouble in forest management. Forest encroachment, wildlife shifting and trade etc. are taking peak in Nepal. Invasive species like Mikania, Water hyacinth, Parthenium etc. are increased due to the adverse effects of climate change.

A combination of preventative and reactive measures combined with financial incentives is indeed necessary to continue to promote biological conservation in Nepal (Castillo et al. 2014) .Agroforestry system should be developed. Agroforestry practices involve cultivating vegetables and crops combined with the trees or shrubs. It is used for various purposes like: for fodder e.g., Ipil-ipil, badahar, bakaino; timber e.g., chap, salla, sissoo; fruit e.g., aap, litchi, aaru. Conserve water sources and plant trees around it. Make a habit of planting a trees in different occasions like: Birthday, Environment day and Soil day and make a provision for regular care.

References:

·         Castillo et al. (2014). Impact of Climate Change on Forests and Biodiversity and Current Adaptation Practices A Case Study of Nepal. Journal of Development Studies.

·         INDC, 2016. INTENDED NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS (INDC). Government of Nepal Ministry of Population and Environment.

·         Kappelle et al. (1999). Effects of climate change on biodiversity: a review and identification of key research issues. http://webpages.icav.up.pt/pessoas/podarcis/BEET/Articles/refuges/fulltext-51.pdf

·         MOPE. 2004. Nepal Initial National Communication to the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change July, 2004. Ministry of Population and Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal.

·         UNDP Nepal. Energy, environment, climate and disaster-risk management. Retrieved from https://www.np.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/energy-environment-climate-and-disaster-risk-management/in-depth.html

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