Water resources policy and administrative management

Narayani River is the deepest and one of the largest rivers in Nepal. It is the final collector of seven extremely complex drainage systems of the Trans-Himalaya having countless creeks, hill streams, rivers, forest lakes, wetlands, floodplains and oxbows and drains its water in the Ganges, India. The fresh water ecosystem of the river is appropriate habitat of a big list of fish and reptiles. However, Majority of them are considered as critically endangered to rare species. Ghariyal (Gavialis gangeticus) and Marsh mugger (Crocodylis palustris), two species of critically endangered crocodile that falls under Appendix I of CITES, are ornaments of the river and its major attributes. Similarly, other four species of reptiles namely, Tricarinate Hill Turtle (Melanochelys tricarinata), Indian Black Turtle (Melanochyles trijuga), Indian Softshell Turtle (Trionyx gangeticus), Peacock Softshell Turtle (Trionyx hurum), Indian Python (Python morulus morulus) and Golden Monitor Lizard (Varanus flavescens) are CITES listed reptiles with high threats found in and along the river. Red Crowned Roofed Turtle (Kachuga kachuga), also found in the river, has been considered in IUCN RED List. Out of more than fifty species of fish found in the river, total nine fish species namely B. jalkapoorei, Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis, Semiplotus semiplotus, Torputitora, T. tor, Botia lohachata, Nemacheilus beavani, G. trilineatus, Anguilla benfalensis, are the rare species. (Dhital, R.R. and Jha, D.K.). The Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is also reported in the Narayani River. (Nepal Biodiversity Strategy, 2002) The project aims to involve local community in the conservation of turtles and crocodile through safe management of turtle and crocodile eggs so that these eggs are successfully hatched.

Nepal