Chure forestry conservation and management plan: A case study of Arghakhanchi district, Nepal

Abstract

Chure Region has a distinct geographical and bio-physical specificities lying on the foothill of Himalaya. It is the youngest mountain of the world, and suffers from mass erosion, landslides and other environmental externalities which make the region vulnerable. Resource depletion, for example deforestation, due to natural as well as human induced factors in the Chure Region has accelerated; and livelihood opportunities have been retreating. Degradation of watershed, lowering the underground water and disturbing the ecological niche in and around the region makes the region more sensitive and fragile. Ecological balance and conservation of natural resources of the Chure Region, therefore, is very urgent. For the betterment of the people and resources of the Chure, Bhabar and Terai regions, there is need to design the work plan for conservation and development. The Government of Nepal, at present, has also given greater emphasis to the protection of Chure through initiation of ‘Rastrapati Chure Conservation Program since 2009 in the field of conservation and management of the resources in the Chure Region. The present paper is an attempt to identify the problems and issues of Chure forest conservation and to prepare conservation and management plan using qualitative as well as quantitative methods of analysis. The paper has pointed out that the ecological, geographical and biophysical conditions of the Chure Region have rapidly degraded since the last 32 years. Increasing landslides and flooding; and human intervention makes Chure more fragile and weakest zone where lack of/inadequate livelihood assets and food insecurity are noted. However, Chure Region has many opportunities of employment and income generation through establishment of environmental friendly green enterprises. Thus, the paper concludes an urgent need to formulate short-term to long-term strategies with policy priorities actions and result-oriented efforts. The policies and strategies should be related to establish Chure as a rich bio-diversity zone, with hazardless and improved livelihoods.