Environmental policy and administrative management

Land, water and vegetation are very closely integrated and interwoven in delicate, fragile, and dynamic mountain ecosystem such as the Mahabharat region. Geographical watersheds are well-defined natural units in which flow of water provides linkage between interdependent physical, biological, and human process and form a basic ecological unit. It is now being increasingly realized that watershed is an appropriate planning and management unit for socio-economic development. Upstream and down stream areas are linked through a hydrological cycle. Only the conservation of up stream can ensure the riverbank protection activities downstream, otherwise whatever is done downstream will be no use in medium and long-term periods. In Terai (low land), where about 50% of the population of country lives, is a major food grain producing area in the country. The needs and market forced of the down streamside or the plain mainly drive the demand for the natural resources of the watershed. The proposed upsteam watershed at Mahabharat Mountain range is storehouse of biodiversity and water resources, but the benefits have flown downhill, affecting adversely the economic condition of the upstream rural people. It is, therefore necessary to provide equitable benefits to the rural populationby sustainably managing the upstream watershed management. The Shaktikhor and Dahakhani VDCs have been chosen as a site because it can demonstrates a classic example of the problems between Mahabharat and plain terai rural regions where breaking of the vicious circle of commonly known as the environment preparedness and planning for environmental works for the community, poverty and environmental nexus is an urgent need. The overall aim of the project is to prevent land degradation and improve livelihoods of the local people in both Dahakhani and Shaktikhor VDC`s through (Bassia butiraceas) Chiuri and other species of herbal plants plantation and environmental management

Nepal