Role of Vegetation for the Protection of Phewa Watershed, Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

Natural resources as well as watersheds are vulnerable all over the world by a variety of natural and anthropogenic activities. Mountain watersheds in the Nepal Himalaya are severely degraded due to active tectonics and Asian Monsoon. The Phewa watershed is one of the vulnerable watersheds in this region, which is also included in the Ramsar sites. This watershed has degraded due to soil erosion, weak geology, fragile landscape, encroachment and climate change. Therefore, this research focuses on the status of the watershed and the role of vegetation for preserving it from further degradation. Protecting and conserving water, vegetation, and soil, as well as reforesting, have been the most common means of preventing watershed risks. Vegetation can help with slope stability, velocity reduction of water, and surface roughness, as well as soil infiltration, better soil structure, and increased soil strength. Species that are native to the area offer superior erosion control because of their fast growing properties and the ability to reproduce quickly, which are important for the watershed's protection.