Forest Cover Lowers in Nepal, Study Says
8/19/99
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Title: Forest Cover Lowers in Nepal, Study Says
Source: Xinhua
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 19, 1999
KATHMANDU (Aug. 19) XINHUA - A study conducted by the government says
Nepal's forest area has come down to 29 percent from 37.4 percent in
the 1980's, The Kathmandu Post reported Thursday.
The report, however, is yet to be adopted, the paper said. Sources at
the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MFSC) said there has
been a 10 percent rise in the country's shrubland area, indicating
that forest cover has dwindled significantly. Shrubland area was five
percent 10 year ago.
It may be said that densely forested areas with over 10 percent crown
cover are categorized as forests while those with less than 10
percent crown cover are considered as shrubland.
A study conducted in the 1980's had put Nepal's forest, grassland and
shrubland areas at 37.4, 12 and 5 percent respectively, while the
average annual deforestation rate stood at 1.1 percent. Deforestation
rate in the Terai Plain in southern Nepal was 1.3 percent.
Experts have predicted desertification and unprecedented
environmental disaster if the present trend is not curbed on time.
They said forest cover should occupy at least 43 percent of land area
to maintain environmental balance.
Forest cover in Nepal stood at 45 percent until the late sixties when
the tract of land separating the Terai Plain and the hills was not
cleared by settlers from the hilly regions.
The cause of the deforestation are attributed to the negligence of
the government over forest conservation and rampant logging along
with population boom.