KATHMANDU – Minister for Forests and Environment Prem Bahadur Ale has called for conservation of the wetlands in the country that were shrinking and disappearing rapidly.
At a programme organized by the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation on the occasion of the World Wetlands Day here today, Minister Ale reiterated coordinated efforts from all quarters to protect the wetlands that are home to many flora and fauna.
Ale also shared that his Ministry was preparing to allocate additional budget for the conservation of the wetlands and Chure Area in the country which occupy around 5 per cent of the total area of the country.
Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment Dr Biswakanta Oli shed lights on the various initiatives undertaken by the Ministry towards conservation and promotion of the wetlands areas.
Member-Secretary at the National Trust for Nature Conservation Sharad Adhikari underscored the need for conservation of water besides wetlands for the usage of water was increasing in the country and the wetlands are diminishing lately.
Director General of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation Man Bahadur Khadka opined that the Ministry should release more budget for the wetlands conservation efforts.
The World Wetlands Day is being observed in Nepal today by organizing various programmes under the slogan – ‘Water, Wetland and Life’ today. The World Wetlands Day is observed across the world on February 2 every year.
According to the World Conservation Nepal, a total of 163 wetlands were recorded in Terai areas while there were 79 wetlands in the mountainous and hilly areas in the country.
Many communities are dependent on the wetlands for their livelihood too. Altogether 172 species of endangered animals and birds are depended on wetlands. Likewise, 246 types of indigenous flowering plants rely on the wetlands.
Various factors such as encroachment of wetlands, excessive usage of wetlands due to increasing demands of people for wetlands resources, lack of coordinated efforts to conserve and promote such places have posed challenges in the conservation and management of wetlands in the country.
