BIODIVERSITY IN NEPAL :

Nepal is a landlocked country situated in the central part of the Himalayas between China and India. Nepal is divided into three physiographic areas: Himal, Pahad and Terai. Nepal is rich in biodiversity because of its unique geographic features, so we can find many types of flora and fauna here in Nepal.

A total of 118 different ecosystems have been identified in Nepal, including 112 forest ecosystems, four cultivation ecosystems, one water body ecosystem and one glacier/snow/rock ecosystem.These ecosystems range from the tall grasslands, marshlands and tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests along the Tarai and Siwalik Hills to the subtropical and tropical broadleaf and conifer forests in the Middle Mountains.

Forests, together with shrub lands, covered 39.6 percent of the Nepal’s land area in 1994. Nepal is ranked 25th and 11th positions in biodiversity richness in the world and Asia, respectively. Nepal occupies about 0.1 per cent of the global area, but harbours 3.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent of the world’s known flora and fauna, respectively. About 5.2 per cent of the world’s known mammals, 9.5 per cent birds, 5.1 per cent gymnosperms and 8.2 per cent bryophytes are reported in Nepal. A total of 284 species of flowering plants, 160 animal species and 14 species of herpetofauna are reportedly endemic to Nepal. The diverse climatic and topographic conditions in Nepal have also favoured maximum diversity of agricultural crops, their wild relatives and animal species.

Also  there are alpine meadows above the treeline and mixed and conifer forests in the High Mountains. Among the rangeland ecosystems, the tropical savannas and alpine meadows are exceptionally rich in biodiversity. Nepalese wetlands have very significant ecological significance, as they provide habitat for many threatened and endemic species of flora and fauna and serve as resting places for many migratory and globally threatened birds. The wetlands also have high cultural and economic significance.

Importance of Biodiversity in Nepal:

Biodiversity is closely related and important to us. The economy of Nepal is very much dependent on the use of natural resources.

Some importances of Biodiversity are:

-Development and Promotion of Tourism

-Provide more Animal Products and Plant Products

-Speed Recovery from Natural Disasters.

-Environmental Balance

-Economic Development

-Soil and Watershed Conservation

-Integral part of Culture and Identity.

Threats to Biodiversity in Nepal:

The flora and fauna of Nepal have been facing the threat of extinction, which could unfortunately come true in the next few years.

Some of Major threats are:

-Loss and degradation of natural habitats, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands due to the expansion of settlements

-Unsustainable Agriculture and infrastructure

-Human-Wildlife Conflict

-Over Exploitation

-Environmental pollution

-Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade

-Global Warming and Climate Change

- Deforestation and Urbanisation

-Overgrazing by livestock

-Fire, Flood and Landslide

-Invasion by Alien Species etc.

Conservation of Biodiversity:

Nepal is also a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 and has submitted five reports to the CBD.. Nepal has several policies for the conservation of biodiversity. Strict rules should be implemented for the conservation of Biodiversity. All of us should be encouraged to participate in conservation activities of wild plants and animals. Various programs should be organized for its conservation. Also, captive breedings and seed banks play a vital role in biodiversity conservation. Afforestation programs should be done and public participation is very necessary for this.

Let’s Conserve our Biodiversity Together. :) :)

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