Climate change, deforestation and
land grabbing don't only threaten Nepal's rich biodiversity, but the economic
wellbeing of millions of its citizens. Could community-managed forests hold the
key?
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| wood is an essential part of life in Napal village |
From low-lying grasslands and steamy
subtropical jungles, to soaring snowy peaks and pine forests, Nepal is a
country of dramatic extremes. This tiny mountain nation is disproportionately
rich in biodiversity - but it is also home to some of the world's poorest
communities.
Many of those living in the region rely on Nepal's wealth of plant and animal species for their livelihoods. But climate change, deforestation, development and exploitation are putting these valuable resources at risk.
In a bid to combat the problem, conservation organizations are looking at how to combine protection of Nepal's biodiversity with fighting poverty.
Conservation linked with poverty
"If you really are interested in winning the war of conservation, you have to integrate poverty alleviation," says Olivier Langrand, Executive Director of US-based conservation group Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).
"If you don't, you will not change the global trend that we see: that nature is disappearing and poverty is increasing. And you will realize that both are clearly linked."
While poverty has declined slightly in recent years, Nepal scores low on most development rankings. It places at number 145 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, and has one of the lowest Gross Domestic Products (GDP) per capita in the world.
With around 40 percent of the country covered in forest and shrubland, millions of rural Nepalese rely on forest biodiversity for subsistence, and as a source of income. Agriculture, including forestry, employs around 80 percent of the population.
Many of those living in the region rely on Nepal's wealth of plant and animal species for their livelihoods. But climate change, deforestation, development and exploitation are putting these valuable resources at risk.
In a bid to combat the problem, conservation organizations are looking at how to combine protection of Nepal's biodiversity with fighting poverty.
Conservation linked with poverty
"If you really are interested in winning the war of conservation, you have to integrate poverty alleviation," says Olivier Langrand, Executive Director of US-based conservation group Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).
"If you don't, you will not change the global trend that we see: that nature is disappearing and poverty is increasing. And you will realize that both are clearly linked."
While poverty has declined slightly in recent years, Nepal scores low on most development rankings. It places at number 145 out of 187 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, and has one of the lowest Gross Domestic Products (GDP) per capita in the world.
With around 40 percent of the country covered in forest and shrubland, millions of rural Nepalese rely on forest biodiversity for subsistence, and as a source of income. Agriculture, including forestry, employs around 80 percent of the population.
Government and civil society in
Nepal have been working to insure conservation by giving communities a share of
the spoils helping steward the land - but more needs to be done, say
conservationists.
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