Environmental policy and administrative management

Lekhani VDC lies in eastern remote part of Baglung district, which is 8 hours walk from district headquarter. The altitude ranges from 1400 meters to 2700 meters above mean sea level, revealing typical characteristics of steepness of mid-hills. At an altitude of 2300 meters, there is a Gaja (roof of the village) lake which shrinks to 10,000 square feet during winter but swells during rainy season. The VDC has two community forests with total area of 396.62 hectares- Kadesh Community Forest (267.50 ha with 146 household members) and Dekho Thulo Janti Community Forest (129.12ha with 389 household members). Major tree species are Lali Gurans (Rhododendron arboretum), Kharsu (Quercus semecarpifolia), Loth salla (Taxes baccata). Despite the forest cover at hill tops, Lekhani is suffering from peculiar phenomenon of landslide, gradual slipping and soil erosion. Initiated in some 50 years ago, the landmass has been slipping gradually. The landslide in 2001, displaced 8 families, destroyed their agricultural land and also disrupted water flow system in the village. Thus the project aimed to stabilize the landmass slipping by properly channeling the water flow system, agroforestry and plantation.

Nepal