Nepal - Country Profile

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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. The major ecosystems include mountain, forest, rangeland, wetland and agricultural ecosystems. Nepal has only about 0.1% of the world’s total land area but harbors over 2% of the flowering plants, 3% of pteridophytes and 6% of bryophytes of the world’s flora. In addition, about 5% (246 species) of the total flora known is endemic, which accounts for about 30% of the whole Himalayan regions. Nepal also has more than 4.2% and 8.5% of the world’s total mammals and birds known so far. Nepal possesses more than 400 species of agricultural crops, 50 of which have been domesticated for commercial and household consumption. The total known species in Nepal (1992-2002) include 6,937 higher plants, 181 mammals, 274 breeding birds, 119 reptiles, 5 amphibians and 13 fishes. Among them, 6 higher plants, 31 mammals and 25 birds are threatened species.

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.

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. These strategies include: landscape planning, local participation, institutional strengthening, cross-sectoral coordination of the implementation of policies, in-situ and ex situ conservation, endorsing of traditional knowledge, participation of women in biodiversity conservation, development of an ecologically sensitive tourism and increased biodiversity awareness. The NBS also contains strategies related to protected areas and some sectoral strategies related to the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural, forest, mountain, rangeland and wetland biodiversity. The mechanisms proposed in the NBS include institutional arrangements (The National Biodiversity Coordinating Committee, Thematic Subcommittees, National Biodiversity Unit and National Biodiversity Coordiantor), public participation (including research and educational institutions and NGOs) and the financial mechanism and monitoring system. Priority activities identified include ethno-botanical study, bio-prospecting of unutilized and under-utilized plant resources, documentation of forest and agricultural biodiversity, development of biotechnology for Germplasm conservation and utilization, community forest management, promotion of eco-tourism for biodiversity conservation, implementing wetland policy, undertaking studies on high altitudinal biodiversity and conserving biodiversity through watershed management.

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. In addition, several other activities that have been undertaken are contributing to the achievement of the 2010 target. National policies provide opportunities to maintain habitats, and/or reduce population decline of important species. Community participation, public awareness, and promotion of ecotourism constitute some of the important issues being raised in this document.

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. The Environment Protection Act (1996) and its Regulation (1997) oblige the proponent to approve IEE and/or EIA report before the implementation of any prescribed project even in the buffer zones and conservation areas. Three types of management modalities are under implementation in the protected areas. National parks and wildlife reserves are exclusively managed by the government. Conservation areas are either managed by the government or by the national statutory NGO. There is also a possibility to handover conservation areas to local NGOs, registered under the Association Registration Act. However, funds are needed to support research and development activities related to protected areas.

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. Commercial and other uses of genetic resources and materials are regulated through administrative measures, to the extent possible.

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. Some NGOs and research and educational institutions are also involved in related activities. By now, 28 Community Biodiversity Registers (CBR) have been prepared, but awaiting registration.

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