العربية  |  English  |  Español  |  Français  |  Русский

Nepal - Overview

Hide map
Legend:
    CBD Party
    CBD & CPB Party
 
    Non Party
    Selected country
Disclaimer:
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps, graphics and publications do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Remark:
Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Main References

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Nepal, situated in the Central Himalaya, has diverse physiographic zones, climatic contrasts and altitudinal variations, which provide habitats for biological species of both Indo-Malayan and Palaeoarctic realms, including endemic Himalayan flora and fauna. A total of 118 ecosystems with 75 vegetation types and 35 forest types have been identified in these realms... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Over 19% of the total country's land (147181 sq. km), has been designated as protected areas, representing all ecological regions (Terai, Mid-hills, High Mountains and Himalayas). Nepal has so far established 9 national parks, 3 wildlife reserves, 3 conservation areas, 1 hunting reserve and 9 buffer zones. Forests outside the protected areas system are being managed under various forms of community based natural resource management regimes including the community forestry programmes... More »

Percentage of Forest Cover

The total forest area (2000) is 3,900,000 ha, with 3,767,000 ha for natural forest area and 133,000 ha for plantations.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The Nepal Biodiversity Strategy (NBS) provides an operational planning framework for the conservation of biodiversity, the maintenance of ecological processes and systems and the equitable sharing of benefits. Based on an analysis of the status of Nepal’s ecosystems, major threats, and existing mechanisms, policies and programmes, the NBS proposes strategies, including sectoral and cross-sectoral, and mechanisms at various levels to achieve the objectives of the Convention... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

No specific targets have been set in the NBS, but some targets have been set in a number of cross-sectoral and sectoral strategies, policies and programmes. Nepal’s Tenth Plan also contains some goals and targets related to biodiversity. The percentage of protected areas (19.4%) designated by Nepal has exceeded the target of protected areas in the 2010 target... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Nepal has designated over 19 percent of its total land area as protected areas. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (1973) and regulations, such as National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Regulation (1974), Royal Chitwan National Park Regulation (1974), Himali National Park Regulation (1980), Conservation Area Management Regulation (1996), and Buffer Zones Management Regulation (1996), provide ample opportunities to conserve biodiversity in the protected area systems... More »

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

A Bill on Access to Genetic Resources and its regulation has been drafted and is awaiting for approval. The bill provides provisions for the conservation of genetic resources, biodiversity documentation including traditional knowledge, know-how, practices and innovations. It also provides provisions on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing with the local people... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Activities are initiated to document traditional knowledge, skill, technique and practices in collaboration with international and national NGOs. A project was implemented in collaboration with IUCN Nepal to document biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. In order to institutionalise biodiversity documentation process at the local level, District Biodiversity Committees had been established in 10 districts in 2004 and early 2005 (more will be established in all 75 districts) to facilitate documentation of traditional knowledge, skill, technique and practices... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Bishwa Nath Oli
CBD Primary NFP, CHM NFP, ICNP ABS NFP, Resource Mobilization FP
Mr. Sagar Kumar Rimal
SBSTTA NFP
Ms. Madhu Devi Ghimire
GTI NFP
Mr. Barna Bahadur Thapa
Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mr. Bishwa Nath Oli
Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP, BCH NFP

Rate this page - 81 people have rated this page 
  • United Nations
  • United Nations Environment Programme