Godawari: Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri has raised alarm over the serious challenges posed by land erosion and degradation to livelihoods in Nepal. Addressing the national workshop titled ‘Addressing Land Erosion through Nature-Based Solutions in Nepal,’ organized by the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation under the ministry, Minister Shahi underscored the global challenge of land degradation, emphasizing its severe impact in a geographically diverse and hilly country like Nepal.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Shahi expressed concern over the environmental imbalance and hindrance to sustainable development caused by problems such as land degradation, landslides, forest degradation, and the decline of biological fertility. He highlighted the decline in productivity of arable land as a significant issue affecting the livelihoods of millions globally, exacerbated by unbalanced land use, floods, unplanned urban expansion, deforestation, overgrazing, forest fires, and climate change.
Minister Shahi revealed that over 40 percent of Nepal’s land area suffers from various levels of degradation, impacting agriculture, water availability, biodiversity, and socio-economic growth. He warned that climate change further heightens the risk of land degradation, with soil and nutrient degradation leading to reduced biodiversity and productivity, and exacerbating flood and landslide damage.
Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra, highlighted the link between climate change-induced drought and soil degradation. He advocated for conservation through tree planting and the establishment of multipurpose nurseries, suggesting the Prime Minister’s Employment Programme be linked to these initiatives to curb land degradation and support sustainable development goals.
Director General of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Badri Raj Dhungana, called for effective implementation of policies aimed at halting land degradation. He pointed out budgetary constraints as a weakness in policy execution and recommended adopting nature-friendly land management technologies for sustainable outcomes.
Deputy Director Generals Dhananjay Lamichhane and Ajit Kumar Karna expressed optimism that workshop discussions would inform policy formulation and implementation to mitigate land degradation challenges. Halesi Tuwachung Municipality’s Mayor, Bimala Rai, urged federal prioritization of drought and land degradation issues through budget allocations.
Koshi Province’s Director of Forests, Dr Indra Sapkota, stressed the importance of collaborative programmes across government tiers for effective land degradation control. UNDP’s Assistant Country Director, Bijay Singh, noted the low prioritization of land degradation programmes in Nepal and called for robust implementation of conservation policies.
Dr Ghanashyam Gurung from WWF highlighted the increasing visibility of land degradation and landslides due to climate change’s impact, advocating for nature-based solutions and coordinated conservation efforts by government bodies at all levels.