Environmental policy and administrative management

The Mahabharat range is very important for both ecological and economic perspective of Chitwan valley, which harbors rich biodiversity, wetland and productive arable land. The project site- Dahakhani Village Development Committee, (VDC), which lies at the Northern part of Chitwan in Mahabharat, typically represents the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of hilly region while a small portion about 10 per cent land is flat. Extremely high rates of soil erosion, excessive use of marginal land dominated by subsistence agriculture and a distinct dry season, have exerted extreme demands upon the existing natural resource base to meet the survival needs of the people. High rate of soil erosion degrades the agriculture land uphills while deposition of same debris at the plain has raised the river bed at an alarming rate making the plane more prone to flood. The overall aim of the project is to improve livelihoods of the local people in Dhakahani VDC through participatory bamboo plantation and curbing the rate of soil erosion. Bamboos are perennial woody grasses and important natural resources and important source of livelihood for many rural poor of developing countries like Nepal. Further, the project will support the group to institutionalize the bioengineering process for the rehabilitation of eroded land.

Nepal